The Trains

The people were lulled into a false security. They were told that they were going to different places, better conditions, work camps, on and on and on.

The transports were usually cattle cars. At times, the floor of the car had a layer of quick lime which burned the feet of the human cargo.

There was no water. There was no food. There was no toilet, no ventilation. Some boxcars had up to 150 people stuffed into them. It did not matter if it was summer, winter, boiling hot or freezing cold. And an average transport took about four and a half days.

Sometimes the Germans did not have enough cars to make it worth their while to do a major shipment of Jews to the camps, so the victims were stuck in a switching yard - "standing room only" - for two and a half days.

The longest transport of the war, from Corfu, took 18 days. When the train got to the camps and the doors were opened, everyone was already dead.

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VISITORS COMMENTS: 21

(1) Anonymous 6/21/2008 8:59:00 PM
Hitler was evil and did whatever he could to gain power even if it meant killing people
I am not a jew. I am an American of German descent. I know the German people knew what was going on because my family had relatives that visited in 1937. They spoke with much animosity toward anyone who was a jew. It disturbed me as a young child because I was able to pick up on the contempt in their conversation. I remember asking my father about it and he said our church tells us to love everyone. The relatives were angry with my father for saying this to me. It did not stop him, however, he continued telling me not to listen to such nonsense.
After the war when people would say they didn't know about what was happening, I knew better. Our German relatives told us they did not believe in Hitler and they knew nothing about the camps and what was happening there. How could they not know? Did they think all the missing people visited the land of Oz?
I read Mein Kampf and that book oozed such hatred that it sickened me. After world war I, Hitler wanted to have power and the people in Germany were starving. He gave them a scapegoat and made it the Jews. If he could give them something to hate and behave as their "savior" then he would gain much power.
I believe in forgiveness, but only for those that didn't realize their sin. Hitler knew what he was doing. He did it perfectly, and he will answer to God for all eternity for the suffering, pain, and loss that he inflicted on the Jewish people. I hope the Jews can find it in their hearts to forgive the German people for their learned hatred and find peace for themselves.
I will pray for you always. And I will also pray for the German people that they will never again be lead around in such a malevolent way.

(2) anoymous 6/4/2008 9:26:00 PM
WHY???
Have you ever wondered why Hitler actually did what he did? I mean many poeple think that he had on mind that he was doing a deed towards god by murdering all those Jews. Jews are like any other people. They eat sleep breathe and do everything else that the Americans, Canadians and Mexicans do. So why did Hitler only torture the Jews and not other people of different nationalties. There is many cofusion both online and in novels about the Holocaust. Many poeple say that he was beaten and abused by his father at a young age. Sometimes this can lead to a mass murderer...but think about all of the other things that could have caused this. Hitler was a dangerous man that caused families to be separated, families to be killed and devastation all around the world. People had their identities taken away from them, and when they were out in lines to go the either the smoke chambers or the barracks, it was like a path to either life or death. Today, we have it really good. Our ACTIONS speak for themselves, and we have the option to CHOOSE what we do in life. The poor Jews back in the Holocaust had no idea or choice where their life and family was headed. It was a very upsetting time and if you ever get the chance to pick up a copy of Mein Kampf anywhere get it and read it. That is the only way that you are going to know anything about what when through Hitler''s mind. God Bless all Jews!

(3) Anonymous 4/3/2008 3:56:00 PM

we are watching a movie about the holocaust at my school it is calles "paperclips" it is very interesting but sad at the same time. hitler was an evil man. god bless you and all the jews

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