It was caused by a misreading of signals, owing to one train not being equipped with automated protection, due to wartime shortages.

[3] The driver later stated that all signals were showing a "green" aspect, which was denied by the signalman at Belicke.

Speculation regarding the misinterpretation of the signals included difficult signal-sighting at night or driver error.

This was seen by the driver of the preceding D 10, who made an emergency brake application and the train came to a stand at Genthin station at 00:51.

[4] Together with the 1948 BASF tank car explosion in Ludwigshafen, where 207 died and around 4,000 were injured, this is the worst railway accident in Germany.

Many firemen were drafted for military services and were unavailable; in addition, temperatures sank to −15 °C (5 °F) in the night and many injured froze to death.

Railway historian Albert Kuntzemüller described the day as ‘the darkest in German rail history’.