In 1938 and 1939, over 10,000 children and young people fled to Great Britain to escape persecution by the Nazis. This operation, known as the “Kindertransport”, was long celebrated as a humanitarian rescue – but behind the many stories of those who were saved lie uncomfortable truths.
The British government exempted the young – mostly Jewish – Kindertransport refugees from visa requirements, but the organisation and funding of the programme had to be undertaken by volunteers. The British government required a guarantee to cover any potential costs and refused to admit the refugee children’s parents. The selection criteria favoured those who were expected to make the greatest contribution to British society, rather than the most urgent cases. Some children and young people were placed in unsuitable foster homes, where many experienced further trauma.
Andrea Hammel’s expert analysis, written with impressive empathy and insight, sheds new light on the actual events during the Kindertransport operation and the years that followed. This illuminating and passionate book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of flight from Nazi Germany, and offers food for thought on how we can make life easier for children fleeing conflicts today.
Andrea Hammel is Professor of German and Director of the Centre for the Movement of People at Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Andrea Hammel: The Difficult History of the Kindertransports to Great Britain, 1938/39
Published by hentrich&hentrich
ISBN 978-3-95565-760-4
