Kindertransport
The German word Kindertransport translated literally into English means the transportation of children and in desperation it was how Jewish parents tried to get their children out of the growing Nazi territory.
In Britain, a coalition of Jewish, Quaker and other groups appealed to Parliament, which agreed to admit a limited number of refugee children between the ages of 5 and 17, provided each posted a £50 bond "to assure their ultimate resettlement." The coalition provided the money and throughout 1939, children left Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia by train.
In the final nine months before World War II, nearly 10,000 unaccompanied Jewish children escaped from Germany on trains headed for the freedom of Britain. All hoped it would be a brief separation, for most it was a final farewell. The last train left Germany just two days before the start of the war.
From Holland, the children sailed to England then fanned out to Ireland, Scotland and Wales as well. They were sent to foster families, orphanages, group homes and farms, where some of them worked. Unfortunately though there were cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation most are said to have been well -treated but most never saw their parents again.
In the United States, immigration quotas stayed strict. A congressional committee studied a proposal to bring in refugee children and piously declined, saying it was "contrary to the rules of God" to take children away from their parents. Nevertheless, it's estimated that 20 to 25 percent of Kindertransport veterans eventually moved to North America.
 

The Kindertransport's Arrive in England
Image shown above: Members of the first Kindertransport arrive in Harwich, England
Picture credit: USHMM

The Journey
The Nazis made sure the journey was humiliating and terrifying. Trains were grimly sealed. Parents were sometimes not permitted to say goodbye in public. The children had to take trains to Holland so that they would not "sully" German ports. Their luggage was torn apart by guards searching for valuables.
In some cities, parents were not even allowed to say goodbye at the train stations so as to avoid any public spectacle. In Holland the trains were met by committees of volunteers who gave the children refreshments and helped them board the boats taking them to their new homes.


Arriving in Britain
image shown right: Refugee girl, part of a Children's Transport (Kindertransport), shortly after arrival in Harwich. Great Britain, December 2, 1938
Picture credit: Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris
The first Kindertransport ferries arrived in Britain in early December 1938 each carrying about 200 children. Thereafter, about two transports per week landed until June and July 1939, when they landed daily. The organisation, which found accommodation for the children in Britain, was called the Movement for the Care of Children from Gemany? (later shortened to the Refugee Children's Movement) The Movement generally billeted or fostered the children with local families or settled them at orphanages or other institutions around the country.
Great Britain welcomed the children into their homes, schools, and group camps. Even under the stress of wartime bombings and shortages, hundreds of households welcomed the children into their fold. Remarkably few of the displaced children were abused or exploited. Hearts closed the gaps left by language, culture, and religion. As war raged on the mainland, the children settled into their new land, older ones clinging to memories and hopes, younger ones leaving their roots and mother tongue behind.




Left Behind
Image shown right: Children left behind in a Jewish Ghetto orphanage
Picture credit: Australian memories of the Holocaust

Of the children who stayed in Europe after 1939, over a million were murdered immediately by the Nazis or deported to camps and killed or died there. There were some special children's camps, but usually children were killed immediately because they had no capacity to work. In some camps, such as Auschwitz were the subjects of horrific medical experiments, after which they usually died or were killed. Twin and dwarf Jewish and Gypsy children were special targets for such abuse. In total, 1.5 million children were murdered during the Holocaust.

Kindertransports Remembered -

Kindertransport commemorative statue unveiled at
Liverpool Street Station

above: Photographs from the Unveiling of Kindertransport Commemorative Statue at Liverpool Street Station,

'

'Children of the Kindertransport who, as mainly Jewish refugee children, had arrived in London’s Liverpool Street Station in 1938 and 1939, on 16th September 2003 gathered together once again at this main London railway terminus to unveil a commemorative statue dedicated to perpetuating the memory of their first arrival in such harrowing circumstances.

Rescuer of many Czech Kinder, Sir Nicholas Winton, now in his 94th year, unveiled a plaque some 65 years after the event, thanking Britain for offering a home to 10,000 children whose parents desperately wanted to protect their children’s lives from Nazi persecution in Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Two of the rescued Kinder, Harry Heber and Erich Reich, assisted Sir Nicholas in unveiling the bronze statue of a child refugee standing next to a giant transparent case containing some of the preciously few items of clothing, toys, family photographs and other memorabilia which the children were permitted to take with them.

The unveiling ceremony was addressed by the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, the Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, and founder of the Reunion of Kindertransport (now KT-AJR), Bertha Leverton who spoke on behalf of the Kinder. Others among the distinguished gathering, which took place under warm sun and clear blue skies, included the ambassadors of Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Israel, and the statue’s sculptor, Flor Kent.

The Association of Jewish Refugees was among the first generously to support the project and contributed to the organisation of this historic commemoration ceremony. The project was conceived and brought to fruition by World Jewish Relief, established in 1933 as the Central British Fund, which carried out the major part of the rescue and found sponsors and homes for the children.'

Quoted from Association of Jewish Refugees, http://www.ajr.org.uk/archive.htm

The monument, the sculpture, 'Fur Das Kind (for the child)' commissioned by world Jewish relief to mark its major role in organising the Kindertransports that saved ten thousand Jewish youngsters from across occupied Europe, is now a major landmark.
Created by sculptor Flor Kent, it depicts a child standing beside a glass suitcase, containing original artefacts such as books, toys and photos carried by youngsters when they arrived in Britain in 1938 and 1939.

Rt. Hon David Blunkett said:
The Kindertransport illustrated this nation's willingness to reach out, to embrace both our duty and our responsibility for helping others.
These people and organisations committed selfless acts that had a far-reaching impact. They serve as a reminder to all humanity today that we must not stand by, we must show moral courage and we must confront prejudice in all its forms.
I was very moved by these refugees' stories and am pleased that Furr Das Kind will help ensure these human experiences are valued and kept alive in people's memories.

The Plaque above was unveiled by the Speaker of the House of Commons,Betty Boothroyd, in the Palace of Westminster on 14 June 1999