The Holocaust: Jacob's escape from a Nazi Phantom Train
" The reason they call them Phantom Trains is because once you get on, you're on a one way trip to Hell"-Prisoner 45064
Jacob stood on the platform , waiting to be loaded into the cattle car that would take him, as it did to so many others, to Auschwitz concentration camp. The prisoners near him were standing stock-still, not moving an inch. Two SS officers strolled down the platform, waiting for the all clear signal from the police. Then they were loaded into the train car and sent on their way. Jacob was sitting in a corner of the cattle wagon, contemplating the day's events. In the beginning, no one understood the new rules that were being set up by the Nazi government. These " Nuremburg Laws" forbid Jews from doing everyday activities. One of Jacob's neighbors, Mr. Stein said" what's going on, haven't we been through enough?" Jacob replied angrily" NO! there is much worse coming. They aren't going to just remove us from our homes!". Another prisoner suggested that they break out of the cattle car and make a run for it. Jacob replied, surprised " are you mad? We'll be shot if we try to escape." " If we do we will be able to tell everyone about this horror." Jacob and the other prisoners beat on the boards until they broke. Jacob and three other prisoners leapt out of the wagon and started running for their lives. The rattle of machine gun fire wasn't far behind. Behind them, dirt and mud was sprayed up as bullets slammed into the ground. One of the prisoners ducked as bullets perforated the tree nearest him, shattering the trunk. They followed the tracks back to Warsaw, Poland. As soon as they reached the platform, the four men leapt up onto the platform and ducked onto side streets until they reached a large house. They ran inside, closely followed by the police. They hid in the basement of the house for three days. Jacob had stolen some Nazi uniforms and the men were able to disguise themselves as Nazi officers. A week later, it was discovered that Jacob and his companions were Jewish. They were executed on May 2nd,1944.