In 1942, Leo Bretholz managed to pry open the bars of a French train bound for Auschwitz and jump out before it reached the France-Germany border.

This weekend, his timing was not so fortunate. Bretholz, 93, died Saturday, a few days before he was to testify on behalf of a Maryland bill making railroad firms accountable for their actions during the Holocaust.

On this Washington Post video, he shares the details of his escape:

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Julie Wiener Julie Wiener is a features writer for JTA. Previously, she was the associate editor of The New York Jewish Week, where she wrote about education, food and assorted other topics along with intermarriage.