"for the sake of humanity"… A small town American high school history project changes lives worldwide. These are the observations of a veteran teacher- on the Power of Teaching, the importance of the study of History, and especially the lessons we must learn, and teach, on the Holocaust. Click on "Holocaust Survivors, Liberators Reunited" tab above to begin.
Newly discovered US Army footage of the Train Near Magdeburg surfaces after 78 years.
‘Three Cheers For America.’ Note numbers on car, Car #16 out of 52. Colorized still from newly discovered film.
American soldier handing out food, backing up as starving people swarm him. Colorized still from newly discovered film.
If you are coming to this website cold, as a public high school history teacher, 22 summers ago I sat down with an 80 year old WWII veteran, initially reluctant to tell his story, and almost forgetting to tell this part of it, but eventually, the following came out.
In the closing days of the war, fighting across central Germany, he and another tank commander came across a train stalled by the tracks with desperate people milling about. They were 2500 Holocaust victims from Bergen-Belsen. And they needed immediate help. Their major and one of the tank commanders had a camera. After my interviews with them, they gave me permission to place the photos on the school website.
Farsleben train, moment of liberation, Friday the 13th of April,1945. Two American tank commanders and their major in a jeep liberate the train. Major Benjamin snaps the photo.
Four years ticked by. Then I heard from a grandmother in Australia who had been a seven-year old girl on the train. Others followed. I was able to re-unite the liberators with the people and the families they saved as young men. Over eleven reunions on three continents took place. So now, twenty-two years after our initial interview, this footage of the event appears in my life.
Another miracle in a story of miracles. And this one is HUGE.
A contact in Germany, Susanne at the museum in Wolmirstedt near the Farsleben, Germany liberation site outside of the city of Magdeburg on the Elbe River, recently emailed to say that she had seen part of a German documentary that included footage of people milling about a long train transport, and US Army soldiers helping, dispensing food and the like. She wondered if it was our train. Having been to the liberation site in person, and studying this story for decades, I was sure from the five seconds or so of a liberated train I watched that it was indeed our train.
Our team led by Mike Edwards inquired at the National Archives and just four weeks later, they sent the following footage to us. Of course, it had been filmed by the US Army Signal Corps in the aftermath of the Friday the 13th of April 1945 liberation, when our tankers of the 743rd came upon the train.
Newly discovered US Army footage of Farsleben train, April 1945. National Archives, public domain.NARA photo of film reel can.
US SIGNAL CORPS footage reel dated 4.17.1945, in the immediate aftermath of the train’s liberation by the 743 Tank Battalion and 30th Infantry Division. No sound. From NARA: “Summary: Numerous scenes, freed Jewish prisoners in groups along railroad tracks. Their expressions furnish a clue to the suffering they endured. Individual shots: Men, women, and children, some of them in various stages of emaciation. Flashes of US soldiers distributing food. The group surrounding the soldiers push forward to receive meager bits of food. LS, village being shelled by German artillery from across the Elbe River.”
My best guess is that it was taken on Saturday 4.14.45, given the other US Signal Corps photographs from that day. What is fantastic is that this footage gives us a better perspective on liberation and its aftermath. Poignant and moving scenes: men crushing lice in their clothing. Families sprawled out, resting in the mid-April sunshine. Crowds swarming a soldier distributing food, bring to mind the Chuck Kincaid letter dated April 17, in which he expresses shock and horror at what he was seeing. A father holding his young daughter up so she can witness, and also put her hand out with the others. People in obvious distress, some likely very sick, some so exhausted they can hardly make an expression for the cameraman. The unsmiling little boy in hat, looking into the camera. The European script writing, numbering the cars, 52 of them, on the side of one of the cars; my guess is that it was done at Bergen-Belsen as they loaded the cars. And, of course, the beautiful American soldiers, trying to distribute food. Just who are they?
Red Walsh and George Gross and their tanks had departed for the final battle by the time of the Signal Corps arrival. Frank Towers was there, in and out that day, and medic Walter Gantz remembered being there that day.
I have been asked how I feel about this, surfacing 22 years to the day of my original interview with Red Walsh. With many of the stills, we have an entirely new portfolio of pictures to go through. We have already made one positive identification: the family of poet Yaakov Barzilai writes to confirm that he is visible in the footage, along with Yaakov’s mother and sister.
Top to bottom, in circle: Yaakov Barzilai, his sister Yehudit, his mother Iren, seated.Yaakov and author this spring in Israel.
So if you are a person who follows my blog from the early days, you know that not just is this an astounding development, but also one that confirms again that the past still has secrets to reveal, that in contextualizing the photos and film into the story of the Train Near Magdeburg, more healing is already taking place in our mission to ‘repair the world’. [And if you can see yourself, your family, or recognize any of the people, reach out to me here in the comments, or drop a line to matthew@matthewrozellbooks.com.]
A boy after liberation.
So, how does this make me FEEL? Frankly, it is immensely gratifying, though even without this footage, this is an incredible story. But to actually see the newly discovered film is another nail in the coffin of Holocaust denial. The soldiers didn’t lie. They WITNESSED it with their own eyes, and suffered the consequences themselves.
I cannot say that I am entirely shocked or stunned at this amazing development, because, as I told my wife, this is larger than any of us. We are part of a cosmic, maybe holy process, a process of the unfolding of the ‘so many miracles’ of this story. I’m sad that my four soldier friends mentioned above and all my survivor friends who have also now passed, are not with us to see it, to comment on it, to share in it with me and the living survivors and their families. But I am grateful to be able to live it now, and I am proud that those twenty-two years ago I had the audacity to want to have a conversation with a reluctant World War II veteran, and the curiosity to pause and take note of what he revealed upon his daughter’s prompting, to begin what would become this never-ending journey to help heal the world, and now with a team dedicated to telling this story to the world on film. It is with an undying sense of Wonder that we get to witness yet again the Power of LOVE transcending Time and Space. Of the GOOD countering the evil.
Seventy-eight years vanishes in an instant. This project is a portal, evidenced many times over. So I’m proud of it, but also humbled by it. And I’m humbled by all the people all over the world who have also come believe in it, and champion the message, and healing the world with their own love and compassion. This is larger than all of us.
Below you will find a gallery of stills of the train and the people captured on that film 78 years ago, which I derived/created this weekend from the public domain film, and also added some color to, to highlight the scenes. [Tap the thumbnails for the information icon with my labels/captions; please write for permission if you wish to use any of them.] And don’t forget to write or comment below if you recognize someone!
Hi, this is truly amazing! It hurts so much that I cannot show this to my mother as she just passed away around a month ago
Unfortunately, my mother who was a child of this train, just passed away
How long is this film? I see only around only 3 1/2 minutes is it longer? I’m hoping to find my grandfather mother and uncle on it. They are in the group picture in front of the train.
Hi Matt. Wow! It’s fantastic to see this! The still photos which we were familiar with were stunning but this film footage takes the event to a new level. I had a good look but I could not find my Oma Henderina. She was sick with Typhus so I am guessing she was still lying on the train or had already been transported to the hospital at Hillersleben. A big thank you to you and everyone who helped bring this film to light.
Yes I agree. Needle in a haystack. Three seconds used by German documentary. Sharp eye and reflexes of German associate. Timely email with accession number. Our nimble film director made the inquiry to NARA. Timely delivery. I watched it on the anniversary of my interview with Red Walsh. Can’t make this up.
I am writing to you on the advice of Daniel keweloh.
My father was in that train with his family. It IS very Moving for me to see the film you just discovered. Real images of that day.
At the first look i did not recognise anybody. But i will have to go through it again.
Are there other images that were discovered recently ?
What IS this New archive that was discovered son recently, i mean where was it kept for all those years ?
Thank you for your work, that matches my own research of the History if my family.
Best regards
Anne Saporta from France
Matt–This ranks as one of the most amazing finds to add to your Train story. Congratulations on opening this eternal mission of life. As I read your Teaching History Matters above I felt this post could serve as an addendum or revised version of Train. (if you revise and reissue keep my name in, OK?) The film progress, after my more than mere acquaintance with your fine Train work, continues to entice and amaze. (tied that 1st & last sentence w/amaze)–you’re a writing/discovering Hero, Matt. Godspeed. Alan
Today, an extraordinary event unfolded in my life that I simply cannot overlook without expressing my profound gratitude. I discovered the film from 78 years ago that captured the liberation of my mother near Magdeburg. This treasure from the past has left me deeply touched and emotional.
The story of the liberation, my mother’s second birthday, accompanied me since I remember myself. My dear mother Dina Matzkel (Rubinstein) died 5 years ago.
Matt, I was surprised, amazed, shocked… to see the woman’s face in the second picture, on the left side, partially covered by another woman’s outstretched hand. I’m almost certain that was my mother – Maria Rosenthal, née Goldschmidt. My children think so, too, even though in the picture her face is much thinner than when my kids knew her. Elisabeth
Matt, Looking at the whole film clip, in the portion from 1:38 to 1:52, I’m now quite certain that I see my mother there. She is at first on the right side, wearing a white scarf which comes off in the jostling of the crowd, and she ends up in the lower left side of the film. Elisabeth Seaman
Matt, this is amazing, thank you for your role in bringing this to the world! Per our past communications, my grandmother Rajzla Mondszajn was on the train. I do not recognize her in the film so far, but if you will be releasing further stills it will help. Best Regards.
Thank you so much. Perhaps it will educate those who still deny this took place. My father, mother brother and I were in Santo Tomas concentration camp in Manila PI. I was ages 3 to 6. Papa didn’t die in the camp but after due to 5 pieces of shrapnel he incurred during the bombing. He had been a boxer in the Marine, big and muscular. He weighed 105 at liberation. God bless you sir!
Teaching History Matters 
Hi, this is truly amazing! It hurts so much that I cannot show this to my mother as she just passed away around a month ago
Unfortunately, my mother who was a child of this train, just passed away
How long is this film? I see only around only 3 1/2 minutes is it longer? I’m hoping to find my grandfather mother and uncle on it. They are in the group picture in front of the train.
Sent from my iPad
over 8 minutes at the full link at the bottom, but the rest is the link up at the Elbe. Sorry to hear about your mother. MR
Hi Matt. Wow! It’s fantastic to see this! The still photos which we were familiar with were stunning but this film footage takes the event to a new level. I had a good look but I could not find my Oma Henderina. She was sick with Typhus so I am guessing she was still lying on the train or had already been transported to the hospital at Hillersleben. A big thank you to you and everyone who helped bring this film to light.
Yes I agree. Needle in a haystack. Three seconds used by German documentary. Sharp eye and reflexes of German associate. Timely email with accession number. Our nimble film director made the inquiry to NARA. Timely delivery. I watched it on the anniversary of my interview with Red Walsh. Can’t make this up.
I am writing to you on the advice of Daniel keweloh.
My father was in that train with his family. It IS very Moving for me to see the film you just discovered. Real images of that day.
At the first look i did not recognise anybody. But i will have to go through it again.
Are there other images that were discovered recently ?
What IS this New archive that was discovered son recently, i mean where was it kept for all those years ?
Thank you for your work, that matches my own research of the History if my family.
Best regards
Anne Saporta from France
It was buried in the US National Archives.
Wow!
Amazing and so very beautiful….
Breaks my heart 🥹
thanks Stacey
Matt–This ranks as one of the most amazing finds to add to your Train story. Congratulations on opening this eternal mission of life. As I read your Teaching History Matters above I felt this post could serve as an addendum or revised version of Train. (if you revise and reissue keep my name in, OK?) The film progress, after my more than mere acquaintance with your fine Train work, continues to entice and amaze. (tied that 1st & last sentence w/amaze)–you’re a writing/discovering Hero, Matt. Godspeed. Alan
will be in the sequel. thanks ab
Today, an extraordinary event unfolded in my life that I simply cannot overlook without expressing my profound gratitude. I discovered the film from 78 years ago that captured the liberation of my mother near Magdeburg. This treasure from the past has left me deeply touched and emotional.
The story of the liberation, my mother’s second birthday, accompanied me since I remember myself. My dear mother Dina Matzkel (Rubinstein) died 5 years ago.
Joseph, do you see her in the film?
No I don’t
Matt, I was surprised, amazed, shocked… to see the woman’s face in the second picture, on the left side, partially covered by another woman’s outstretched hand. I’m almost certain that was my mother – Maria Rosenthal, née Goldschmidt. My children think so, too, even though in the picture her face is much thinner than when my kids knew her. Elisabeth
Wow Elisabeth, how meaningful! Thanks for sharing.
Matt, Looking at the whole film clip, in the portion from 1:38 to 1:52, I’m now quite certain that I see my mother there. She is at first on the right side, wearing a white scarf which comes off in the jostling of the crowd, and she ends up in the lower left side of the film. Elisabeth Seaman
Matt, this is amazing, thank you for your role in bringing this to the world! Per our past communications, my grandmother Rajzla Mondszajn was on the train. I do not recognize her in the film so far, but if you will be releasing further stills it will help. Best Regards.
I wanted to add that the Israeli news site Ynet posted an article with a link to this footage this past week, in both English and Hebrew.
Thank you so much. Perhaps it will educate those who still deny this took place. My father, mother brother and I were in Santo Tomas concentration camp in Manila PI. I was ages 3 to 6. Papa didn’t die in the camp but after due to 5 pieces of shrapnel he incurred during the bombing. He had been a boxer in the Marine, big and muscular. He weighed 105 at liberation. God bless you sir!
thank you Nancy.
People who today deny these horrors took place are worse than evil.