Anchor Artifacts

The Holocaust Documentation and Education Center Museum features the unique combination of two iconic anchor artifacts. The first is an authenticated Holocaust Railcar which was used to transport prisoners from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka Death camp. Our second anchor artifact is an authenticated United States U.S. Army M-4A3E8 Sherman Tank of the type that liberated Dachau. These two artifacts provide impactful moments of reflection for visitors.

In 2007, the Center acquired a Railcar from Poland. It is one of only eleven on display in the world.

To view the Railcar in 3D format, please CLICK HERE

History of our Holocaust Railcar:

  • As a result of the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center, Inc making a case to the Polish authorities for the acquisition of a Holocaust Railcar for our museum, the Bureau of Polish Railroad lines in Wroclaw, Poland agreed to the shipment of a Railcar. On December 15, 2006, the Railcar was finally loaded on a flatbed and shipped from Gdynia, Poland and by December 21, 2006, the Railcar was on the high seas. It arrived at Port Everglades on January 25, 2007, and was offloaded the next morning. A press conference was held at Por Everglades noting the arrival of the Center’s anchor artifact.
  • On February 13, 2007, an official Railcar unveiling event was held at the Broward County Convention Center. Over 1,000 Holocaust Survivors, legislators, and members of the community were there to witness this unveiling. We wish to acknowledge Senator Bill Nelson, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Mel Dick for all their efforts in helping ensure the acquisition of the Railcar.

Restoration Process:

  • From September 2007 until November 2011, thanks to a State of Florida grant, the Railcar underwent major restoration and preservation to restore the Railcar to its wartime state.
  • During the restoration process, German designation number were revealed on the undercarriage of the Railcar. As a result, the Railcar has been identified as a Karlsruhe number 37657 G. This Railcar transported men, women and children from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka Death Camp.

Sherman Tank Exhibit

To view the Sherman Tank in 3D format, please CLICK HERE

About the M-4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank:

The following information and specifications were issued by Dr. Charles H. Cureton, Director of the Museum Division of the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

  • The Tank, which was driven on a flatbed from Fort Benning, Georgia, arrived on May 11, 2016.
  • The Model Number of the Tank is M-4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank. It features a 76mm cannon and was assembled in January 1945, TM 9-759.
  • Interior was gutted and the tank weight is approximately 32 tons.
  • The turret travel lock has been engaged inside the tank with the main gun locked forward and the hatches welded shut.
  • Measurements are 9′ 9″ (width) x 24′ 8″ (length, including gun forward) x 12′ 6″ (height, including dummy .50 cal mg)
  • Cubic footage is 22,293.
  • The Tank has the markings of the 20th Armored Division, 9th Tank Battalion, Bravo Company, 1st Platoon, 4th Vehicle, of the type that participated in the liberation of Dachau.

The Tank, which is on permanent load to the HDEC from the U.S. Army, was a seven-year effort in the making.

We are indebted and grateful to Senator Bill Nelson, his staff, and all members of the departments of the U.S. Army for their tremendous efforts and commitment to help secure this incredible and historic artifact for our Museum, which will tell the story of Liberation when Allied soldiers entered the camps and confronted the horrific and tragic enormity of what had been done there.