Covering Their Tracks Tablet Studios

During the Holocaust, France’s National Railway (SNCF) transported Jews toward concentration camps. The SNCF went to great pains to obscure that narrative, but one survivor who leapt from a train headed toward Auschwitz never forgot, and begins to seek justice.
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After running from Nazi occupation for three years, Leo Bretholz is forced onto a SNCF cattle car bound for Auschwitz. He manages a daring escape just miles from the German border, but his journey is long from over. Eventually, he settles in America, and begins to open up about his story.  
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The debate over the SNCF’s complicity expands to modern day, when the rail company attempts to bid on high speed rail in Leo Bretholz’s backyard. We also meet Rosette Goldstein, whose father was transported by the SNCF to his eventual death. Through retelling their stories, lobbyists, lawyers, and politicians begin to act. 
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 Now that multiple states and countries are involved with the SNCF’s past narrative and present political aspirations, lobbyists, politicians and diplomats become involved. As negotiations reach a fever-pitch, Leo’s time to share his story begins to run out. 
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The team reels after Leo’s death, but is more motivated than ever. The French finally admit culpability at the highest levels, and the team discusses how far they have come, and how they’ve honored the work Leo began. 
Check out all of our podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.