the annotated 1945 liberation photographs - Hudson Falls Central ...

A Train Near Magdeburg
Matthew A. Rozell
History Teacher
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Fellow
Hudson Falls Senior High School
Hudson Falls, New York 12839
www.teachinghistorymatters.wordpress.com
www.hfcsd.org/ww2

“A Train Near Magdeburg”
Hudson Falls High School
Holocaust Survivor/Liberator Reunion
Photos and text by liberator
George C. Gross, except
where noted.

l. (Train Saved 1) This marvelous picture was taken by Major Clarence L. Benjamin at the instant a
few of the train people saw our tanks and first realized they had been liberated. Many of those close
to the train are not yet aware of their liberation. My tank is just behind the camera.

2.(Train 1) This is a view of the train from the rear, showing boxcars like those in picture
1. On the hill to the left are people resting--some forever. Some sixteen died of
starvation before food could be brought to the train.

3. (Train 2) This is a closer view of the scene in the previous picture. Note how
quickly the starved people have regained their sense of purpose and are scrounging
about for berries and other food.

4. (Train 3) This view shows compartment cars. Most of the train was made up of
boxcars. It looks as though one man at lower left is praying; others are sitting or
lying on the ground.

5 .(Mother and Son) I find this picture very moving: mothers love to show off their
youngsters, no matter what the situation. The little fellow was pleased at having his
picture taken. Note the thin legs and brave smile.

6 .(Saved 2) This is a shot of others on the train… I am moved still by all those
smiles, particularly the one on the thin little girl in front at the left.

7 .(Saved 1) This picture has some moving contrasts. Note the laughing children at
the left, and then look up to top center where a living skeleton sits and, I think,
waves for the camera.

9. (Starvation) This one, too, is very moving. My original note says, "The little girl in
the middle is so weak from starvation she can hardly stand--yet she has a smile for
her 'liberators.'" One might say exactly the same of the two children on either side.

10. (German Prisoner) This picture of an SS soldier was not taken near the train. I
include it to show the type of elite Aryan soldier courageous enough to herd women,
children, and starved men onto trains and into death camps. This young man was
one of the fighting SS troops who were really fanatic soldiers. I do him a slight
wrong, for it was another branch of the SS who handled the death camps. But they
were all monsters.

8 .(Gina) This is Gina Rappaport, who spoke very good English and spent a couple
hours telling me her story. She was in the Warsaw ghetto under terrible conditions,
and then was sent to Bergen-Belsen. She said that the people on the train had been
hurriedly jammed into cars and sent on a meandering journey back and forth across
central Germany to escape the British, American, and Russian troops. The attempt
was evidently to get them to a camp where they could be eliminated before they
could be liberated.

“We were relieved the next morning, started
up the tank, waved good-bye to our new
friends, and followed a guiding jeep down the
road to rejoin our battalion. I looked back and
saw a lonely Gina Rappaport standing in front
of a line of people waving us good fortune.
On an impulse I cannot explain, I stopped the
tank, ran back, hugged Gina, and kissed her on
the forehead in a gesture I intended as one
asking forgiveness for man’s terrible cruelty
and wishing her and all the people a healthy
and happy future. I pray they have had it.”
Sgt. George Gross

11. (George Gross and Red Walsh) This is a picture of two comrades who depended
upon each other in the war and still correspond regularly. I am the one on the
viewer's left; on the right is Judge Carrol S. Walsh, who was with me at the train and
at most of our memorable experiences in combat.

Gina Rappaport of Israel discovers her 1945 liberation
photograph on our school website, Sept. 2007
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 6:35 AM
To: Rozell Matt
Subject: Gina Rappaport
Dear Sir,
I am referring to your amazing World War II project
(http://www.hfcsd.org/ww2/). Mr. George Gross whose testimony is
found in your site (mentions the story of Gina Rappaport (and
includes her photo) who happens to be my mother (!).

• Since September, 2007, over 215 survivors
have found their liberators, the photos of their
liberation day, and each other.

• Source: Matthew Rozell, World War II Living
History Project, http://www.hfcsd.org/ww2
• Matthew Rozell, Teaching History Matters
Project,
http://teachinghistorymatters.wordpress.com
Used with permission. This work may not be
distributed or reproduced without consent of
Matthew Rozell.