Genthin rail disaster
The Genthin rail disaster occurred on 22 December 1939, when an express train crashed into a stationary express train in Genthin station, in today's Saxony-Anhalt state of Germany. There were up to 278 deaths, making it the worst passenger train accident in German history. It was caused by a misreading of signals, owing to one train not being equipped with automated protection, due to wartime shortages.
| Genthin rail disaster | |
|---|---|
Crash scene | |
| Details | |
| Date | 22 December 1939 00:55 CET |
| Location | Genthin, Landkreis Jerichow II, Regierungsbezirk Magdeburg, Province of Saxony, Free State of Prussia, Germany |
| Coordinates | 52°24′11.63″N 12°9′23.48″E |
| Country | Germany |
| Line | Berlin–Magdeburg railway |
| Operator | Deutsche Reichsbahn |
| Incident type | Rear-end collision |
| Cause | Signal passed at danger and signaller’s error |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Deaths | ~186−278 |
| Injured | ~106−453 |
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