Holocaust Audio Tour 15: Parallel Tracks to Germany

On the wall you will see photos of railcars. These are called “forty and eights.” During World War I, many American “Doughboys” traveled to the front in French railcars displaying the notice that each car could carry 40 men or eight horses. Therefore, they quickly became known as “forty and eight” railcars. In World War II, “forty and eights” again transported supplies and troops to the front, but they also carried new cargo. Millions of Holocaust victims were herded into similar railcars on their way to concentration camps. Many Allied prisoners of war, or POWs, rode to German POW camps in them – sometimes with as many as 90 men forced into each car. “Forty and eight” railcars carried 168 Allied POWs from Paris to Buchenwald concentration camp in August 1944. You will find a “forty and eight” railcar located in our World War II Gallery. This artifact was delivered to the museum in 2001 from Istres Air Base in France.