4K restoration of Holocaust footage presented at Nuremberg brings overlooked Black American servicemen into clearer view

Spaceship Earth, a UK registered charity, has completed the 4K restoration and responsible colourisation of the first of six reels of Allied Holocaust footage filmed in 1945 and later presented as documentary evidence at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Examination of the restored and colourised footage has brought Black American servicemen into clearer view among US personnel at Ohrdruf concentration camp. Their identities have not been confirmed. Their presence is historically significant because the US Army remained racially segregated during the Second World War. The work comes ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg verdicts on 1 October 2026 and draws attention to the historical contradiction of Black servicemen helping to confront Nazi persecution in Europe while serving within a segregated military.

Project Empathy, an initiative led by UK charity Spaceship Earth, is restoring and responsibly colourising six reels of Allied footage depicting Nazi concentration camps, killing centres and their liberation. Filmed in 1945, the material was later presented as documentary evidence at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. The first reel has now been professionally restored and colourised in 4K. It contains footage from Ohrdruf concentration camp and the Hadamar Killing Centre. During examination of the improved footage, Black American servicemen became easier to distinguish among US personnel at Ohrdruf. Their presence is historically significant because the US Army remained racially segregated during the Second World War. The images add an important dimension to familiar accounts of liberation by showing Black servicemen among those who encountered and documented the consequences of Nazi persecution in Europe. The original black-and-white film remains preserved. The restored and colourised version has been created as an additional educational interpretation, intended to help modern audiences recognise details within the authentic historical record and engage more closely with the people and events shown. “Project Empathy is not about replacing the original footage or changing history. It is about helping people examine authentic historical evidence more closely,” said Matt Mason, Voluntary CEO of Spaceship Earth and Project Lead for Project Empathy. “The clearer images have brought Black American servicemen at Ohrdruf into greater focus. Their presence raises important questions about military service, segregation and whose contributions have been overlooked in familiar accounts of liberation.” Seventy-four non-graphic educational segments have been created from the completed reel. The footage has already been used, or confirmed for future use, in university teaching, educator training and Holocaust education internationally. A LinkedIn post featuring one of the Black American servicemen visible in the footage received 43,843 impressions, demonstrating substantial public interest in this overlooked detail. Spaceship Earth can provide journalists with access to the completed 4K reel, side-by-side comparisons of the original and restored footage, non-graphic press images, educational segments and further background information. Project Empathy is seeking approximately £200,000 to restore and responsibly colourise the remaining five reels. Historians, military researchers and families who may be able to help identify the Black American servicemen are also encouraged to contact the project.

Trend context

October 2026 brings together the 80th anniversary of the International Military Tribunal’s verdicts and Black History Month in the UK. The official Black History Month UK theme for 2026 is “Honouring Our Communities”. Because the servicemen shown in the footage are American rather than British, Project Empathy is not presenting the footage as a direct expression of that UK theme. Instead, Black History Month provides a wider context in which to examine overlooked Black military service and consider whose contributions are visible within familiar accounts of the Second World War. The 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg verdicts remains the principal news peg, while Black History Month provides relevant supporting context.

About Spaceship Earth

Why we exist

Spaceship Earth was founded to encourage empathy, understanding and independent thought in response to division and misinformation. We want to help people recognise their shared humanity and approach difficult subjects with curiosity and care.

How we do it

We preserve the original black-and-white footage alongside restored, colourised versions and provide clear historical context. We work with educators and specialists to make the material accurate and accessible, taking care to avoid sensationalising suffering. Our learning resources turn critical-thinking principles into practical, everyday skills.

What we do

Our Project Empathy programme restores and responsibly colourises original Holocaust footage for education and remembrance. Alongside this, we produce critical-thinking resources, educational courses and public-awareness content.

Why it matters

Holocaust education depends on people engaging with the historical record. Archival film can bring viewers closer to the individuals and events it documents, while critical-thinking skills help them assess claims and recognise misinformation.

Who it's for

Teachers and Holocaust educators who need trustworthy, accessible material for lessons, training and discussion. We also support learners and members of the public who want to examine evidence and evaluate information more confidently.

Proof points

Spaceship Earth is a UK-registered charity (number 1164631). Project Empathy has completed the restoration and colourisation of the first of six reels in 4K. A public test sample on Reddit recorded more than 941,000 views, a 97% upvote rate, 938 comments and over 11,200 shares.

Traction & credibility

The Jewish Chronicle featured Project Empathy in January 2025. The restored footage has been presented to educators through the Network for Innovative Holocaust Education and used by the Robert H. Jackson Center in Holocaust teacher training.

Spokespeople

Matt Mason

Voluntary CEO of Spaceship Earth and Lead of Project Empathy

Matt Mason is the voluntary CEO of Spaceship Earth, a UK charity creating educational projects that strengthen critical thinking, preserve historical evidence and challenge misinformation. He leads Project Empathy, which restores and responsibly colourises original Holocaust footage to support remembrance, education and the fight against denial.

Expertise

Holocaust footage restoration and responsible colourisation; historical preservation; Holocaust remembrance and public education; critical thinking and misinformation; charity leadership; fundraising and public engagement.

Notability

Led the completion of the first of six reels of restored and colourised Holocaust footage in 4K. Project Empathy has been featured by The Jewish Chronicle, and a public test sample reached more than 941,000 Reddit views and over 11,200 shares. Previously raised $210,000 for End Polio Now, increased to $630,000 through matched funding, and was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Talking points

The asset

Restored and colourised Holocaust footage presented at Nuremberg brings overlooked Black American servicemen into clearer view

www.spaceshipearth.org.uk/project-empathy

The story

Project Empathy is restoring and responsibly colourising six reels of Allied footage depicting Nazi concentration camps, killing centres and their liberation. Filmed in 1945, the footage was later presented as documentary evidence at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. The first of the six reels has now been professionally restored and colourised in 4K. During examination of the improved footage, Black American servicemen became easier to distinguish among US personnel at Ohrdruf concentration camp. Their presence is historically significant because the United States Army remained racially segregated during the Second World War. The restored and colourised version does not replace the original black-and-white film, which remains preserved. It has been created as an additional educational interpretation intended to make details within the historical record easier to recognise and help modern audiences engage with the people and events shown. Project Empathy plans to restore and colourise the remaining five reels and use the completed material in Holocaust education and future documentary work. One complete reel and 74 non-graphic educational segments have already been produced.

Why it matters

Age, deterioration, image instability and poor contrast can make surviving Holocaust footage difficult for modern audiences to interpret. Professional restoration improves stability, clarity and visible detail, while historically researched colourisation can help viewers distinguish people, uniforms, surroundings and interactions. In this reel, the process has also drawn attention to Black American servicemen whose presence has received little recognition within familiar accounts and images of camp liberation. Their appearance alongside white American troops reveals a striking historical contradiction. Black servicemen were helping to confront and document Nazi persecution in Europe while serving within a US military that continued to impose racial segregation. At a time when Holocaust denial and distortion seek to undermine the historical record, preserving authentic evidence and making it more accessible has continuing educational and public importance.

Who does it impact

The completed footage can support Holocaust educators, museums, historians, researchers and documentary makers by providing a clearer and more accessible version of important primary visual evidence. It may also contribute to research into the experiences of Black American military personnel during the Second World War and encourage efforts to identify the servicemen shown. For students and members of the public, the work can make the historical record feel less remote while opening wider conversations about camp liberation, segregation, military service and whose contributions are remembered. Completing all six reels would create a substantial educational resource. Project Empathy expects to produce approximately 150 non-graphic educational segments across the complete collection, with additional material possible where appropriate.

Proof points

The first of six reels has been professionally restored and responsibly colourised in 4K, with five reels remaining. Seventy-four non-graphic educational segments have been created from the completed reel for use in classrooms and digital learning environments. The footage has already been used or committed for use in university teaching, Holocaust education and professional educator training. This includes engagement with educators connected to Western University in Canada, Chandigarh University in India, the Robert H. Jackson Center in the United States, and the Network for Innovative Holocaust Education. A LinkedIn post featuring one of the Black American servicemen visible in the footage received 43,843 impressions and generated substantial discussion. Project Empathy can provide journalists with access to the completed reel, before-and-after comparisons, non-graphic press images, educational segments and further information about the historical observations.

CTA

Project Empathy is inviting journalists, Holocaust educators, historians and researchers in Black military history to view the completed footage and examine the significance of the servicemen shown. The project is also seeking funding and institutional partnerships to restore and responsibly colourise the remaining five reels and develop the completed material into accessible educational resources. Historians, military researchers, relevant organisations and families with information that may help identify the Black American servicemen are encouraged to contact Project Empathy.

Key facts

Organisation: Spaceship Earth, UK registered charity 1164631
Project: Project Empathy
Historical material: Allied Holocaust liberation footage filmed in 1945 and later presented as evidence at the Nuremberg Trials
Project scope: Six reels of original Allied footage
Progress: One full reel has been restored and colourised; five reels remain
Completed Format: The completed reel is available in high resolution for educational use
Original preserved: The original black-and-white footage remains preserved; the colourised version is an additional educational interpretation
Educational material: 74 non-graphic educational segments have been created
Projected output: Approximately 150 non-graphic educational segments are expected across all six reels
Historical observation: The restored and colourised Ohrdruf footage brings a Black American serviceman into clearer view; his identity has not been confirmed
Educational use: The footage has already been used in university teaching, educator training and Holocaust education internationally
Public engagement: A post featuring the Black American serviceman received 43,843 LinkedIn impressions
Funding required: Approximately £200,000 is needed to restore and colourise the remaining five reels
Footage Locations: Ohrdruf concentration camp and the Hadamar Killing Centre