What Happens Next in 6 Minutes Should the Allies Have Bombed Auschwitz?
Nov 29, 2025
Richard Breitman, an Emeritus Professor of History and author of Calculated Restraint, dives into the complex decisions faced by Allied leaders during the Holocaust. He discusses whether bombing rail lines to concentration camps could have made a difference and reflects on the silence of the U.S. and British governments at crucial moments. Breitman examines the role of local collaborators, the limits of wartime strategy versus morality, and the impact of delayed warnings, revealing the tragic nuances of history that may have changed lives.
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The SS St. Louis Refugee Voyage
- The SS St. Louis sailed from Hamburg in June 1939 with 937 mostly Jewish refugees seeking refuge in Cuba, not the U.S.
- After Cuba changed its visa policy, Britain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands ultimately accepted the remaining passengers.
Rhetorical Caution Aimed To Counter Nazi Propaganda
- Churchill had earlier intercepts suggesting mass killings but avoided explicit Jewish-focused rhetoric to deny Nazi propaganda claims.
- Breitman links leaders' caution to fear of validating Nazi claims that Allies fought a 'Jewish war.'
Local Diplomacy Saved Tens Of Thousands
- The War Refugee Board and diplomats like Raoul Wallenberg directly saved many Hungarian Jews through protective papers and local action.
- Breitman credits such interventions with enabling over 100,000 survivals in Budapest.
