Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 15, 2008 Nisan 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 00:07 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Visitors viewing the Train of Commemoration upon its arrival in Berlin on Sunday. Last update - 18:52 13/04/2008 Holocaust memorial train enters Berlin, despite row with railway By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags:   A vintage engine steamed into Berlin on Sunday, hauling carriages filled with photos of smiling children and poignant last letters to loved ones - the images and words of the youngest victims of the Nazi Holocaust. About 160,000 have visited the train, a memorial to the six million Jews and millions of others carried off to their deaths by Adolf Hitler's railways in World War Two. The train set off across Germany in November on an often tearful journey due to end, like so many of the Nazis' victims, at the notorious Auschwitz death camp in Poland. W Advertisement ith just days to go before the "train of commemoration" terminates its journey on May 8 - the day the war ended in Europe - it has become embroiled in a major row. Germany's current rail operator, state-owned Deutsche Bahn, refused to allow the train to halt in the capital's central station, offering instead the eastern Ostbahnhof. Some critics have compared the heads of Deutsche Bahn with those of the Nazi-era Reichsbahn, which deported many of the Jews who died in the Holocaust. Left Party parliamentarian Petra Pau said the "blockade" by the firm, and the travel charges it had imposed on the train were a reminder of the difficulties still faced when trying to shed light on Germany's past crimes. "The horror of the Nazi regime cannot be forgotten. It would be a betrayal of the victims and the future," said Pau, a deputy speaker of the Bundestag lower house. Demonstrations, protests by Holocaust survivors and pressure from politicians including Berlin's mayor have not swayed Deutsche Bahn. The company said a stop in the Hauptbahnhof would have caused traffic chaos during the train's 10-day Berlin stay. But it has not prevented the train making its point. "I'm just happy...these children could be brought back from the quagmire of the past into the public eye, and their dignity restored, at least to some degree," said 84-year-old Herbert Shenkman, who survived deportation. Defenders of the rail operator point out that Deutsche Bahn has already organised exhibits documenting the Reichsbahn's role in the genocide, and that the Hauptbahnhof - newly built on the site of an old station - is not integral to the history. "The train of commemoration should continue its journey," wrote daily Die Welt. "But without all the rumblings that only serve the posturing of those who organised it." Rose Braun, a 63-year-old Berliner, said the project, staged by a citizens' initiative, was "very late, but very important." "Very few firms have admitted to their past -- let alone actually made an effort to come to terms with it," she said. "I hope the turn-out here today gives the Bahn pause for thought." Organizer Hans-Ruediger Minow said the idea came about after Deutsche Bahn blocked an earlier effort to mark deportations. "Time and again there are very painful moments on the train," he said. "In particular, Germans born at the end of the war often start to cry, especially the men. That's when they see their parents hid the truth and covered up these crimes." Related articles: Holocaust memorial train sparks bitter dispute in Berlin Police: Vandals attack Berlin 'Platform 17' Holocaust memorial Bookmark to del.icio.us   Security.com Shin Bet is reaching out to English and Arabic worlds with new web sites. Obama's blunder As Penn. primary approaches, Clinton has latched on to 'values' remarks by Obama.   1.   Scandalous behaviour of German Railways 19:32  |  Jonathan S 13/04/08   2.   "`PALESTINIAN CHILD VICTIMS MEMORIAL TRAIN" 19:56  |  JACKAL 13/04/08   3.   for jackal and the Palestinian Child train 21:27  |  Londoner 13/04/08   4.   Berlin`s railway stations 22:04  |  TOBIAS RÜGER 13/04/08   5.   German railway 23:28  |  Sarah 13/04/08   6.   #4 TOBIAS 23:56  |  roland 13/04/08   7.   Sarah 00:00  |  ta 14/04/08   8.   memorial train 00:10  |  amnon 14/04/08   9.   The Ongoing campaign by the anti Jewish brigade 01:35  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 14/04/08   10.   TOBIAS RÜGER SO 02:02  |  Dr David I. Gross 14/04/08   11.   Don`t be so pathetic about Rüger 03:27  |  Habakuk 14/04/08   12.   Palastinian Child Victims Train 03:59  |  Liz 14/04/08   13.   Habakuk 04:19  |  Dr David I. Gross 14/04/08   14.   2: Jackal, it would have to visit all the Arab League 15:47  |  David Teich 14/04/08   15.   Dr. Gross 21:20  |  Habakuk 14/04/08   16.   Dr Zinger... 21:28  |  Habakuk 14/04/08

Read & React Jimmy Carter: Israel must talk to everyone Responses: 242 Livni to tell Gulf leaders in Qatar: Iran the threat, not Israel Responses: 68 IDF probing why Palestinians held 16 hours at checkpoint Responses: 77 Israel and U.S. sign nuclear cooperation agreement Responses: 55 Rosner's Domain Is neoconservatism Jewish? (WTR) Hillary Clinton and queen Esther Poll: Were you convinced that America should stay in Iraq? Is Israel finished? (WTR) More Headlines 23:27 Livni, in Doha: Gaza becoming 'obstacle' to Palestinian statehood 23:25 Barak orders renewal of diesel fuel supply to Gaza Strip 23:17 Obama hits the G-spot 23:21 Carter offers to act as 'communicator' between Hamas, U.S., Israel 23:33 Despite terror warnings, Israelis expected to flock Sinai over Passover 18:59 U.K. Jews to ex-pats in Israel: Fight far-right in London vote 21:04 Shin Bet reaches out to English, Arabic world with new web sites 19:03 Court: No state funds for Sderot homes under Qassam threat 22:01 Blair: Int'l aid would flow into Gaza if political change occured 21:12 Kiryat Shmona mayor convicted of series of bribery, fraud charges Previous Editions Select Day 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved