Here is a general description of what a boxcar from the Holocaust might have looked like:
Size and Appearance:
- Large, enclosed, rectangular metal cars, typically around 10 to 12 meters long and about 2.5 to 3 meters high.
- Painted in dark colors, often black or dark brown, with no distinguishing markings.
- Sliding or hinged doors at one or both ends for loading and unloading.
Windows:
- Small, barred windows along the sides of the car, sometimes covered with mesh or grates.
- The windows were often too small and too high for people inside to see out or have proper ventilation.
Interior:
- Designed to maximize the number of people that could be held inside, with little to no space for movement.
- Shelves or bunks installed along the sides of the car, sometimes stacked multiple levels, for people to sit or lie on.
- Lack of basic amenities, such as heating, ventilation, and sanitation facilities, creating unsanitary and inhuman conditions.
- Straw or other materials might have been placed on the floor for basic bedding.
Crowded Conditions:
- Hundreds of people were often packed into a single boxcar, resulting in extreme overcrowding.
- Individuals were forced to stand, sit, or lie in cramped and uncomfortable positions for extended periods.
- The combination of overcrowding, poor ventilation, and lack of food and water led to unimaginable suffering and death during the long journeys to concentration camps.