How One Canadian Soldier’s “Crazy” Idea Rescued 34,000 Jews From Extermination Camps
The Miracle of Bergen-Belsen: A Canadian Officer’s Unyielding Resolve
In April 1945, the world bore witness to one of the most harrowing chapters of human history at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. As British tanks rolled through the gates, they were met with a scene that was both shocking and heartbreaking. Instead of liberation, they found hell on earth. The air was thick with the stench of death and disease, overwhelming even the most hardened soldiers. Thousands of Jews and prisoners, skeletal and emaciated, stumbled through mud mixed with human waste, their bodies a testament to the horrors they had endured.
The Reality of Liberation
Upon entering the camp, the British soldiers were confronted with the grim reality of what liberation meant. Bodies lay stacked like firewood, and the survivors were in such dire conditions that medical teams struggled to keep them alive. In the first week after liberation, 400 people died each day—not from Nazi brutality, but from the aftermath of their suffering. Medical professionals worked tirelessly, following every protocol and doing everything they could, yet the death toll continued to climb. The situation was desperate, and the conventional approach to treatment was failing.
British commanders, faced with the grim statistics, feared that 30,000 more lives would be lost in the coming months, even with the best medical care available. The standard medical wisdom dictated a slow and careful approach to feeding the starving and treating their ailments. However, this method proved disastrous; many prisoners who received their first real meals after months of starvation died within hours, their bodies unable to cope with the sudden intake of food. The grim reality was that the very protocols designed to save lives were contributing to the loss of life.
A Soldier’s Determination
Amidst this chaos stood Lieutenant Colonel Ben Dunkelman, a Canadian officer who had fought bravely across Europe. At just 28 years old, he was not a doctor, but he felt an unshakeable obligation to save the lives around him. Dunkelman was Jewish, and the faces of the dying reminded him of his own family back home in Toronto. He could not accept the notion that thousands would die simply because the medical protocols were not designed for such an unprecedented crisis.
Dunkelman spent hours observing the camp, witnessing the conditions that led to so many deaths. He realized that the medical teams were treating individuals when they needed to think about the population as a whole. The idea struck him: they needed to move the prisoners out of this death trap and spread them across multiple locations where they could receive proper care. It was a radical idea, one that went against the established medical protocols, but Dunkelman believed it was the only way to save lives.
A Bold Proposal
The following morning, Dunkelman presented his plan to senior officers in a command meeting. He proposed moving 34,000 people out of Bergen-Belsen within 72 hours. The reaction was swift and dismissive; many officers laughed at the idea. They believed moving critically ill patients would only lead to more deaths. But Dunkelman stood firm, presenting his calculations and the grim statistics of daily mortality. He argued that even if they lost some patients during transport, they would ultimately save more lives by getting them to safer conditions.
His determination caught the attention of Brigadier Glenn Hughes, a senior medical officer who had seen the horrors of war firsthand. Hughes recognized the potential in Dunkelman’s proposal and agreed to support the operation. With his backing, Dunkelman was given the resources he needed to implement his plan.
The Evacuation Operation
Dunkelman mobilized every vehicle he could find—trucks, buses, and ambulances—commandeering them for the evacuation. He organized medical personnel and volunteers to assist in the operation, emphasizing the need for careful planning and execution. The evacuation began with the sickest patients, those most likely to die if they remained in the contaminated camp.
As the first trucks rolled out, Dunkelman ensured that each patient received proper care during transport. Nurses accompanied the vehicles, monitoring vital signs and administering food and water according to a strict schedule. The journey was treacherous, with rough roads and the constant threat of collapse, but the urgency to save lives drove Dunkelman and his team forward.
A Transformative Success
The results of the evacuation were staggering. Within just a few days, the death rate among the evacuated patients dropped significantly compared to those who remained in the camp. The new facilities provided clean air, space for recovery, and the medical attention that had been sorely lacking in Bergen-Belsen. The success of the operation proved Dunkelman’s theory correct: moving patients to safer conditions saved lives.
As the operation continued, Dunkelman faced challenges from the military establishment. Critics questioned his methods and the risks involved in moving critically ill patients. However, the results spoke for themselves. The survival rates improved dramatically, and the success of the operation garnered attention from higher command.
A Legacy of Courage
By the end of the evacuation, Dunkelman had successfully moved 34,000 people to safer locations, saving countless lives. His actions demonstrated that sometimes, the most effective solutions come from unconventional thinking and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The impact of his work extended beyond Bergen-Belsen, influencing military medical practices in future conflicts.
In the years that followed, Dunkelman returned to Canada and lived a quiet life. He rarely spoke of his experiences during the war, but the legacy of his actions at Bergen-Belsen lived on. The lessons learned from that harrowing time would shape medical protocols and humanitarian efforts in the years to come.
Conclusion
The story of Lieutenant Colonel Ben Dunkelman and the evacuation of Bergen-Belsen is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. It highlights the importance of compassion, innovation, and the unwavering determination to save lives. Dunkelman’s refusal to accept the inevitable and his willingness to act in the face of overwhelming odds remind us that even in the darkest of times, hope and humanity can prevail.
As we remember the horrors of the Holocaust and the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom, we must also honor the legacy of individuals like Dunkelman, who exemplified courage and compassion in the most desperate of circumstances. Their stories serve as a reminder that the fight for human dignity and life is a battle worth waging, no matter the cost.
