Covering Their Tracks

Covering Their Tracks is the extraordinary story of a young man’s escape from a moving train bound for the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust, and his fight to hold the French national rail company, the SNCF, accountable for their actions as they later bid for lucrative high-speed rail contracts in the United States.

Episode 1
Rafi Prober Rafi Prober

Episode 1

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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Episode 2
Rafi Prober Rafi Prober

Episode 2

After running from Nazi occupation for three years, Leo Bretholz is forced onto an 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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Episode 3
Rafi Prober Rafi Prober

Episode 3

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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Episode 4
Rafi Prober Rafi Prober

Episode 4

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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Episode 5
Rafi Prober Rafi Prober

Episode 5

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.

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