Off to England
Kindertransport
The Kindertransport (Children’s Transport) happened between the months of Kristallnant (Night of Broken Glass) and the start of World War II, when Jews were allowed to leave. Lola Hehn-Warburg set out the scheme of the rescue in 1933 while still in Germany, and many others rose to the movement, making the rescue a success. The event happened everywhere in Europe. Nearly 10,000 Jewish children were sent out from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland to the Great Britain. This was to rescue endangered children from the Nazis. The event of the Kristallnant fueled up the rescue plan into higher gear. On night of November 9, 1938, the Nazis attacked Jewish communities, thousands of Jewish houses, businesses, synagogues (Jewish temples), and other stores owned by Jews were completely destroyed. Response to the outrage of Kristallnant against the Jews, British government agreed to let 10,000 Jewish children, from three months old to the age of seventeenth, to enter the United Kingdom on temporary travel documents, with the belief that these children will someday return to their parents. The British Foreign Minister Samuel Hoare pleaded the British citizens to have sympathy and consideration on the Jews. The British Committee of the Jews of Germany and the Movement for the Care of Children from Germany, along with the Jews, Christians and Quakers worked together on the project. Lord Baldwine, Prime Minister of Britain, helped raise money for the rescue plan. Private citizens and organizations had to pay for each child’s care, education, and for the journey as well to guarantee. The first Kindertransport began on December 1, 1938, carried 200 Jewish children to Harwich, Great Briatin. Most of the transports left by trains from Berlin and other mojor cities. Children from small villages or towns traveled to meet the transportation. When the trains crossed the Dutch and the Belgian borders, the children continued to travel by ships to England. These Jewish children left their homes with no parents. There were few babies carried by children during the journey. Some adults (Jews, Christians, and others) volunteered to help supervise the Jewish children during transportation. Arriving in the United Kingdom, each with bags of clothing, Jewish children were sent to their foster families, hostels, group homes, or to a farm place. The rescue plan went on for about nine months when war broke out. The last Kindertransport left Germany to Britain on September 1, 1939, when World War II was introduced.
Adalia Amsel
December 1, 1938
My dear brother always told me that Jews are a bunch of asshead and bullshits. As much as I love my brother, I love the Jews. I sometimes pretended to listen to his complaints about the Jews and how Hitler will guide us through the misfortune into the light. I live in a town right next to a Jewish community. I’m not allow to go there, because Armon, my brother, think that if I go there, I will catch some of their misfortune. What a child? How old is he again? There is no such thing as “the Jews are misfortune and will bring you bad luck.” Trust me, I’ve live a whole week with a Jewish family before, and they’re all nice. I was lucky that Armon didn’t find out about it. It’s a good thing he doesn’t visit me often like he used to, because now, I can befriend more with the Jews and not have to worry about Armon having to cut my head off if my secret let out. That is, if my secret were letted out, and Armon found out about it, would he cut his own little precious sister’s head off? I bet he would not do it. He love me so much that he would leave his “important” task just to be with me when I feel lonely or have a cold. I don’t get why he hate the Jews that much. Just because Hitler had told us that the Jews are bad and all, it doesn’t mean to change your feeling of the Jews to hatred. Armon was fine with the Jews before, he even brought chocolate bars from work and gave them to Jewish kids. He is such a fool to be following and obeying Hitler every move. He need to learn how to think for himself, and not have other people to think for him. Oh that remind me, my going to the train station to wish all the Jewish kids good luck.
As I’m walking down the hill to the main train station of the town, I see figures of someone near the wood. It didn’t bother until I heard shattering sounds of glasses. I quickly turn back and ran to the location. A Nazi? One of my Armon’s friends. What the hell is he doing here? Wasn’t he suppose to be with my brother at the city? Who is he with? I got closer, and hid behind a tree. I gasped. A Jewish family? It can’t be. I erased the thought away. I sneaked in a bit more, just to get a clear look at the family. The fist thing I notice was the blood the Jewish man’s head. Then, I looked at Arlo, the Nazi, and see him holding on a broken glass bottle, blood still dripping to the ground and little pieces of glass were shattered around Arlo and the Jewish man. Holy crap! The soil, all soaked up blood, and with every steps he takes, looked like he’s walking in mud. The Jewish family, that’s the family I used to go live with for a week when Armon doesn’t visit me. The kids are terrified, holding on to their mother, who is half behind one of the trees back there. Sift as a rock, I could not do anything. What can I do? What should I do? Arlo dropped the bottle, pulled out his blade, and stabbed the Jewish man. With the crying of horror from the kids and their mother, the corpse laying down in the middle of the wood, and the crazy Nazi covered with blood, I left them and continued to walk to the train station, continuing what I was going to do in the first place....to wish the Jewish children “good luck.” They will need it.
My dear brother always told me that Jews are a bunch of asshead and bullshits. As much as I love my brother, I love the Jews. I sometimes pretended to listen to his complaints about the Jews and how Hitler will guide us through the misfortune into the light. I live in a town right next to a Jewish community. I’m not allow to go there, because Armon, my brother, think that if I go there, I will catch some of their misfortune. What a child? How old is he again? There is no such thing as “the Jews are misfortune and will bring you bad luck.” Trust me, I’ve live a whole week with a Jewish family before, and they’re all nice. I was lucky that Armon didn’t find out about it. It’s a good thing he doesn’t visit me often like he used to, because now, I can befriend more with the Jews and not have to worry about Armon having to cut my head off if my secret let out. That is, if my secret were letted out, and Armon found out about it, would he cut his own little precious sister’s head off? I bet he would not do it. He love me so much that he would leave his “important” task just to be with me when I feel lonely or have a cold. I don’t get why he hate the Jews that much. Just because Hitler had told us that the Jews are bad and all, it doesn’t mean to change your feeling of the Jews to hatred. Armon was fine with the Jews before, he even brought chocolate bars from work and gave them to Jewish kids. He is such a fool to be following and obeying Hitler every move. He need to learn how to think for himself, and not have other people to think for him. Oh that remind me, my going to the train station to wish all the Jewish kids good luck.
As I’m walking down the hill to the main train station of the town, I see figures of someone near the wood. It didn’t bother until I heard shattering sounds of glasses. I quickly turn back and ran to the location. A Nazi? One of my Armon’s friends. What the hell is he doing here? Wasn’t he suppose to be with my brother at the city? Who is he with? I got closer, and hid behind a tree. I gasped. A Jewish family? It can’t be. I erased the thought away. I sneaked in a bit more, just to get a clear look at the family. The fist thing I notice was the blood the Jewish man’s head. Then, I looked at Arlo, the Nazi, and see him holding on a broken glass bottle, blood still dripping to the ground and little pieces of glass were shattered around Arlo and the Jewish man. Holy crap! The soil, all soaked up blood, and with every steps he takes, looked like he’s walking in mud. The Jewish family, that’s the family I used to go live with for a week when Armon doesn’t visit me. The kids are terrified, holding on to their mother, who is half behind one of the trees back there. Sift as a rock, I could not do anything. What can I do? What should I do? Arlo dropped the bottle, pulled out his blade, and stabbed the Jewish man. With the crying of horror from the kids and their mother, the corpse laying down in the middle of the wood, and the crazy Nazi covered with blood, I left them and continued to walk to the train station, continuing what I was going to do in the first place....to wish the Jewish children “good luck.” They will need it.
Armon Amsel
December 8, 1938
The Jews. Thinking about them make me want to vomit. They are nothing but a bunch of assheads. They don’t deserve to be help, or even to be treat like a human. They’re bitches, that’s what they truly are. They are assfuckers, who like to fuck the same kind of them. They don’t even deserve to live in this world. Who do they think they are? Adolf Hitler? Don’t make me laugh. Those British should not have agreed on helping the shitbrains. What’s up with this “Kindertransport” thing? Is it some sort of a new way to make peace with the Jews? Please, even a kid with the age of five would know that Jews are not people. They’re devils from hell, but not just any devils, the idiot kind. The Great Britain think they’re so great and powerful that they can do anything they want at anytime. They chose the time to do something by helping the Jews. Those British need to learn some manners and not interfere with other country’s business. We can do anything we want with the Jews and it’s none of their business. We don’t interfere with the things that’s going on with their country, so they should not interfere with ours. The British government need to step back from it. We are doing the right thing here. We got nothing to worry about, because we have the mighty Hitler by our side. We don’t need outsiders in our country, and to that, the Jews have to go. They are the bad luck to us, and it’s their fault everything in Germany was falling apart in the first place. If shits were not there in the first place, it would not have fucking sicken the whole place. The Jews should not have been in our country in the first place, because now, everything is full of bullshits. What were they trying to do by pretending to be the innocent one? They make us look bad as if we’re criminals. I can tell you loud and clear that we are not criminals. We have the legit to abuse the Jews and to drive them out of this world. That is what Hitler had told us, that we are to beat the Jews and get rid of them forever. Hail, my rightful and mighty leader...hail, Adolf Hitler!
The Jews. Thinking about them make me want to vomit. They are nothing but a bunch of assheads. They don’t deserve to be help, or even to be treat like a human. They’re bitches, that’s what they truly are. They are assfuckers, who like to fuck the same kind of them. They don’t even deserve to live in this world. Who do they think they are? Adolf Hitler? Don’t make me laugh. Those British should not have agreed on helping the shitbrains. What’s up with this “Kindertransport” thing? Is it some sort of a new way to make peace with the Jews? Please, even a kid with the age of five would know that Jews are not people. They’re devils from hell, but not just any devils, the idiot kind. The Great Britain think they’re so great and powerful that they can do anything they want at anytime. They chose the time to do something by helping the Jews. Those British need to learn some manners and not interfere with other country’s business. We can do anything we want with the Jews and it’s none of their business. We don’t interfere with the things that’s going on with their country, so they should not interfere with ours. The British government need to step back from it. We are doing the right thing here. We got nothing to worry about, because we have the mighty Hitler by our side. We don’t need outsiders in our country, and to that, the Jews have to go. They are the bad luck to us, and it’s their fault everything in Germany was falling apart in the first place. If shits were not there in the first place, it would not have fucking sicken the whole place. The Jews should not have been in our country in the first place, because now, everything is full of bullshits. What were they trying to do by pretending to be the innocent one? They make us look bad as if we’re criminals. I can tell you loud and clear that we are not criminals. We have the legit to abuse the Jews and to drive them out of this world. That is what Hitler had told us, that we are to beat the Jews and get rid of them forever. Hail, my rightful and mighty leader...hail, Adolf Hitler!
Alice Ebostarkova Masters
June 1939
For the first time in our life, Father cried. He cried loud and it was difficult to leave, but we have to. At the train station, it was crowded with parents and children. Mother wouldn’t let Ellie go. They’re attached to each other. How could you blame her? Ellie’s only 10. Mother put Ellie on the train, and she pick her off. She put Ellie on the train again, and pick Ellie off again. She finally decide to put Ellie on the train at the last minute, and we wave good-bye. Parents, children, and babies were crying as the train start to move. There were hundreds of children on the train, each with bags of clothing. Everywhere you turn, you see people crying. It was very emotional. Some kids got on the train by themselves, and some, as little as Ellie, have babies with them. We were lucky to have each other, me, Josephine, and Ellie. I notice some Czech men, in their 20s standing beside the doors of the train. They must have volunteers to accompany us. Some kids are already missing their parents and wanting to go home. I tried to brave, and looked out the window. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t want to be afraid, but I am. Out from the window, I see beautiful landscapes. It was different than where we live. This one’s fascinating and wide. I wanted to go run around and play. It put me at ease looking at the countryside. I dream of how London will be like, and seeing Uncle Hine. I love my uncle, he is the best uncle I could ever have. He’s funny and he played with me a lot when he visit. A voice startled me. It belongs to a Czech man, he asked if we were free, and we said yes. He asked us to look after a baby, and we accepted. I didn’t know if the baby is a girl, or a boy. I think it’s a girl, but I don’t know. I notice the same Czech man again, going around asking kids to look after babies for other children. I think it’s because the children with babies could not look after the babies by themselves. Eva join us. She’s the same age as Ellie. I think she’s the daughter of my uncle’s friend. She’s nice, and a little shy. I’m a little shy too. We were on the train for several days. The food was not as great and wonderful as you would think it would be. Mother’s cooking is way better. I often pretend that I was eating Mother’s special soup or one of her heart-warming breads, because then, I eat it all. Josephine, my older sister, seem to have no problem. Ellie tried to eat, because she know she have to. When night fall, we all slept together. It’s warm and comfy, just like at home. It’s fun being far away from home. Sometimes I feel homesick, but I have my sisters to comfort me. We played games of hide-and-seeks, and tic-tac-toes. When we came in Holland, it was very exciting and frightening. It was a different feeling when we first left. The Dutch authorities told us not to get off the train. What is that suppose to mean? Did they not want us? I think it’s because they did not want so many refugees getting off at the same time. That would be pretty crowded, and troublesome. People came by the railways and hand us hot chocolates, chocolate bars, and cookies. I feel grateful that they did this for us. My heart was fill with joy, but I still hate the Dutch authorities for not letting us off the train. We’ve been on the train for many days, and we tried of sitting down all the time. Letting us go for a little walk would be nice, but that’s not happening. Then, we came across an inspection. German soldier got on the train, and went through our luggage. How rude of them to do that? After that they got off the train, and we were out of Germany. Everyone cheers loud. Now, we are free.
For the first time in our life, Father cried. He cried loud and it was difficult to leave, but we have to. At the train station, it was crowded with parents and children. Mother wouldn’t let Ellie go. They’re attached to each other. How could you blame her? Ellie’s only 10. Mother put Ellie on the train, and she pick her off. She put Ellie on the train again, and pick Ellie off again. She finally decide to put Ellie on the train at the last minute, and we wave good-bye. Parents, children, and babies were crying as the train start to move. There were hundreds of children on the train, each with bags of clothing. Everywhere you turn, you see people crying. It was very emotional. Some kids got on the train by themselves, and some, as little as Ellie, have babies with them. We were lucky to have each other, me, Josephine, and Ellie. I notice some Czech men, in their 20s standing beside the doors of the train. They must have volunteers to accompany us. Some kids are already missing their parents and wanting to go home. I tried to brave, and looked out the window. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t want to be afraid, but I am. Out from the window, I see beautiful landscapes. It was different than where we live. This one’s fascinating and wide. I wanted to go run around and play. It put me at ease looking at the countryside. I dream of how London will be like, and seeing Uncle Hine. I love my uncle, he is the best uncle I could ever have. He’s funny and he played with me a lot when he visit. A voice startled me. It belongs to a Czech man, he asked if we were free, and we said yes. He asked us to look after a baby, and we accepted. I didn’t know if the baby is a girl, or a boy. I think it’s a girl, but I don’t know. I notice the same Czech man again, going around asking kids to look after babies for other children. I think it’s because the children with babies could not look after the babies by themselves. Eva join us. She’s the same age as Ellie. I think she’s the daughter of my uncle’s friend. She’s nice, and a little shy. I’m a little shy too. We were on the train for several days. The food was not as great and wonderful as you would think it would be. Mother’s cooking is way better. I often pretend that I was eating Mother’s special soup or one of her heart-warming breads, because then, I eat it all. Josephine, my older sister, seem to have no problem. Ellie tried to eat, because she know she have to. When night fall, we all slept together. It’s warm and comfy, just like at home. It’s fun being far away from home. Sometimes I feel homesick, but I have my sisters to comfort me. We played games of hide-and-seeks, and tic-tac-toes. When we came in Holland, it was very exciting and frightening. It was a different feeling when we first left. The Dutch authorities told us not to get off the train. What is that suppose to mean? Did they not want us? I think it’s because they did not want so many refugees getting off at the same time. That would be pretty crowded, and troublesome. People came by the railways and hand us hot chocolates, chocolate bars, and cookies. I feel grateful that they did this for us. My heart was fill with joy, but I still hate the Dutch authorities for not letting us off the train. We’ve been on the train for many days, and we tried of sitting down all the time. Letting us go for a little walk would be nice, but that’s not happening. Then, we came across an inspection. German soldier got on the train, and went through our luggage. How rude of them to do that? After that they got off the train, and we were out of Germany. Everyone cheers loud. Now, we are free.
Lola Hahn Warburg
February 12, 1989
The pride feeling of the Kindertransport. My duty here is done. 10,000 Jewish kids have been rescued from those disgusting Nazis. 10,000 Jewish kids that Adolf Hitler had missed, for he who know so little or nothing about. All hopes and dreams can once again be redeem. These children will dream of what others could not dream, do the things others could not do, and see the things others could not have a chance to see. Satisfaction and achievement is what we’ve all earned. The feeling of pride and joy overwhelmed me at the time. All I could think was how safe the kids will be from here on out. I’ve done every I could possibly do, and gave it the best shot I’ve got. The kids deserve more, more than anyone. They know nothing, and those scumbags bruised them every possible way. My delicate flowers need not of any more beating and misfortune. Everyone need a second chance to live and redeem themselves, and that was what I did. I gave those flowers a second to live and see the world for themselves. Those kids deserves to live a better life, have a better future. They don’t need any more beating. Death was near them. No one was willing to stand up for them, and do the right thing, but I did. Still in Germany of 1933, I set the framework of the Kindertransport. Friends and family members was happy to help. The British government finally agreed to get involve from meetings after meetings. Many organizations rose, and helped together, working side by side, making the rescue a success. 10,000 Jewish kids from three months old to the age of seventeenth was allowed to enter the United Kingdom. Tears came down my face when I heard the news. THANK GOD! This was enough. I could not ask for more. Jewish kids traveled alone all over Europe to meet the transports, and crossed the sea over to the United Kingdom. They were brave, braver than I thought. With little knowledge of what was going on, those innocent kids escaped from the nightmare that was about to happen. They did not know whether they will be able to live with their parents again. They pushed that lonely feeling and tired to keep positive. I knew it was hard for them, but for their survival I had to take them away.
Sitting down in this lonesome house of mine, reflecting on the past, tears of joy run down my face. Those children we saved 51years ago now are all grown up, being successful on their career. My eyes start to close, everything is a blur now. Rest in peace, my dear self.
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