German Women POWs Were Starving in a Train Car for 10 Days — Americans Found Them Locked Inside

The Boxcar of Betrayal: A Story of Survival and Humanity in WWII

Introduction

Somewhere in Bavaria, in April 1945, a single boxcar stood alone on a rail siding, padlocked from the outside, its weathered wood streaked with rust. As American troops advanced through the valley, they heard a sound that initially resembled wind whistling through hollow pipes—thin, rhythmic, almost like breathing. Staff Sergeant Thomas McKenzie, a seasoned soldier from Pennsylvania, approached the boxcar with his rifle ready, expecting to find supplies or perhaps nothing at all. Instead, he discovered a horrifying scene that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

The Discovery

When the soldiers broke the lock and opened the door, they were met with the sight of 23 German women, locked inside the darkness for ten long days without food, water, or light. McKenzie had fought through Normandy and the Ardennes, witnessing the full spectrum of human cruelty in war. But nothing could prepare him for the grim reality of the boxcar. His unit, the 3rd Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, was mopping up resistance in the Bavarian countryside, unaware of the horrors that awaited them.

As McKenzie stepped into the boxcar, the smell of human waste and decay hit him like a wall. The women sat or lay on the wooden floor, their faces hollow with starvation, eyes wide and terrified. They had been abandoned by their own officers, locked away as the war crumbled around them. The sight was a stark reminder of the depths of human suffering and the brutal realities of war.

The Aftermath of Abandonment

Staff Sergeant McKenzie was no stranger to the horrors of battle, but the conditions inside the boxcar shocked him. The women were weak, their bodies gaunt and frail. He called for a medic, and soon, Lieutenant Arnold Shapiro arrived, assessing the situation with a calm professionalism born from experience. Shapiro quickly realized that the women needed immediate medical attention, and the closest field hospital was 15 miles away, a journey complicated by the chaos of war.

As the soldiers worked to evacuate the women, McKenzie felt a surge of determination. They could not leave these women to suffer any longer. He organized the evacuation, using halftracks to transport the survivors to the hospital. The women were fragile and disoriented, but they were alive, and that was a victory in itself.

The Hospital and Recovery

The 67th Evacuation Hospital, located in a converted schoolhouse outside Garmisch, became a sanctuary for the women. Captain Elizabeth Morrison, the head nurse, quickly assessed the situation and began implementing a recovery plan. The women received fluids, nourishment, and care, gradually regaining their strength. Margarite Hoffman, one of the women, emerged as a leader among her peers, translating for those who struggled to communicate and assisting the nurses.

As the days passed, the women began to heal, both physically and emotionally. They shared their stories, recounting the horror of their abandonment and the betrayal by their own officers. The experience forced them to confront the propaganda they had believed, leading to a painful but necessary reassessment of their beliefs.

The Impact of War

Margarite articulated the transformation she and the other women underwent during their recovery. She spoke of the cognitive dissonance that came from realizing that the enemy they had been taught to fear could show them more humanity than their own side. This realization was devastating but also liberating, as it allowed them to redefine their understanding of compassion and humanity.

The women began writing letters to their families, attempting to reconnect with a world that had been shattered by war. Some received responses, confirming that loved ones were still alive, while others faced the painful reality of loss. Each letter became a thread connecting them back to their past, a reminder of the lives they once knew before the war.

The Investigation

As the war in Europe drew to a close, an investigation was launched into the abandonment of the women in the boxcar. Lieutenant Arnold documented their testimonies, gathering evidence against the officers responsible for their suffering. The trial, held in December 1946, aimed to hold those accountable for the atrocities committed during the war.

Margarite attended the trial, witnessing the officers who had locked her and her companions away receive judgment for their actions. While the sentences were not as severe as she had hoped, the trial represented a step toward accountability. However, the emotional scars of their experience remained, a reminder of the darkness they had endured.

Rebuilding Lives

After the war, Margarite returned to Hamburg, a city in ruins. She found work at a Red Cross clinic, helping refugees and displaced persons rebuild their lives. The horrors of her past lingered, but she channeled her experiences into her nursing career, treating patients with compassion and understanding.

In her letters to McKenzie, she expressed gratitude for the kindness she had received from American soldiers, recognizing that their humanity had transcended the boundaries of war. Her letters became a way to process her trauma, to articulate the lessons she had learned about compassion, mercy, and the complexities of human nature.

Conclusion

The story of the women locked in the boxcar serves as a powerful reminder of the capacity for both cruelty and compassion in times of war. It highlights the importance of acknowledging the humanity in others, regardless of their nationality or the uniforms they wear. As the women recovered and rebuilt their lives, they carried with them the knowledge that healing transcends politics and ideology.

In the aftermath of war, the lessons learned from their experiences became the foundation for a new understanding of what it means to be human. The bonds formed in the face of adversity, the acts of kindness extended across enemy lines, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths all contributed to a narrative of resilience and hope.

As we reflect on this story, we are reminded that in the darkest moments of history, it is often the choices made by individuals that define the course of humanity. The boxcar may have been a symbol of suffering, but it also became a testament to survival, compassion, and the enduring spirit of those who choose to open doors rather than close them.