Chattering objects

Items from the train

Two archive documents also report in detail about the circumstances of the departure of the gold train on March 30, 1945.

The Hopfgarten Protocol of April 13, 1945 also stipulates that Dr. Avar László (former commandant of the train) on the orders of Dr. Toldi Árpád, listening, had 2-3 wagons of porcelain and carpets unloaded.

The wagons were emptied because no newer wagons could be obtained, and the ministry officials and family members charged with managing war production had to be rescued.

The log does not mention the number of unloaded boxes, it only reports the unloading of 15-20 pieces of carpets.

Dr. Mingovits István excise officer wrote in his declaration of July 24, 1945 that the boxes in which the porcelain were, were unloaded next to the carbide store (now the post office). Later, the German soldiers threw the goods left for them from the railroad car, “and the assembling crowd took them.”

Lovas Gyula concluded his letter in his book, “Hungarian Railways in the Years of World War II”, published in 1996: “The people of the mining settlement carried away the jewels, watches and valuable textiles they left behind”.

Together with my wife, we decided earlier that we would contribute to increasing the collection of objects in the Sopron Jewish Museum with a larger item. We have a large toilet mirror with a silver frame ... Renate, my wife used it for many years, but since she has just turned 80, she can do without it. The beautiful piece also comes from the gold train... dr. Zeltner Ernő eyewitness

I was always there, after school I always hung around there. I got this watch (DOXA) so that I was there when things were sorted and one of them said to me: You, get me some lard! I brought two and got two watches, one of them was a DOXA, it is here, the other is an Omega, that one broke. I've never worn a wristwatch, but I used this watch when I was a soldier at 56. The watch strap is not original, just the watch. The watch strap had to be replaced, a simple leather strap was on it. Dorwekinger József eyewitness

Porcelain of all kinds - I remember the Herend best - they were in larger boxes, like this table, in boxes like this. And when the soldiers were already tired and could no longer carry the boxes, they kicked them off the wagon (there were two of them). Everyone went there, and what was good enough he carried home. Then these items were sold to the Austrians for food. We went to Austria with our father with two plates, and we got bread and honey for it. They also exchanged items for food with relatives. Dorwekinger József eyewitness

One couldn't even trample it, it took two. I remember the sound when the box from the wagon full of plates and glasses landed on the floor. With the Persian carpets and hand-woven carpets was not a big problem as they were not fragile. People took these too. Dorwekinger József eyewitness

Chattering objects

Items from the train

Are you interested in the exciting story of the gold train? Request the newsletter!

Availability

Pages

Follow us!

Can't find something?

Are you interested in the exciting story of the gold train?