When we speak about the Kindertransport, we refer to the rescue of approximately 10,000 Jewish children from Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom between 1938 and 1939.
From the moment of their arrival, the children struggled to maintain contact with their parents. At first, letters between parents and children flowed fairly easily, and many were filled with hopes and plans for reunion. The beginning of the war in 1939 meant the end of this dream. In addition, the German government restricted the delivery of mail to and from Jews, forcing parents and children to rely on intermediaries or the Red Cross. In 1942 many stopped receiving letters for reasons they could not understand until later.
About 1,000 German and Austrian teenagers served in the British armed forces, including combat units.
Once the war ended, around 40% of the Kinder were reunited with at least one member of their families. And while the majority of the 10,000 remained in Great Britain, some left for North America, Australia and Israel and only a very few returned to Germany and Austria. The three stories in this volume were told to us by three teenagers from Vienna who returned home.
"Kipindi cha ""Kindertransport"" kilitumiwa kuokoa watoto 10,000 kutoka Ujerumani, Austria na Czech Republic hadi Uingereza." Tangu walipofika, watoto hao walijitahidi sana kudumisha mawasiliano na wazazi wao. Mwanzoni, barua kati ya wazazi na watoto ziliendana kwa urahisi, na wengi walikuwa na matumaini na mipango ya kuungana tena. Kuanza kwa vita mwaka 1939 kulimaanisha mwisho wa ndoto hiyo. Serikali ya Ujerumani ilizuia usafirishaji wa barua kwa Wayahudi, na hivyo kuwafanya wazazi na watoto wao wawatumie wajumbe wa shirika la Msalaba Mwekundu. Mwaka 1942 wengi wao waliacha kupokea barua kwa sababu ambazo hawakuweza kuzielewa hadi baadaye. Wanafunzi wa Ujerumani na Austria walihudumu katika vikosi vya Uingereza. Baada ya vita, karibu asilimia 40 ya watoto hao waliungana tena na angalau mmoja wa familia zao. Ingawa wengi wa wale 10,000 walibaki Uingereza, wengine waliondoka kwenda Amerika Kaskazini, Australia na Israeli, na wachache sana walirudi Ujerumani na Austria. Hadithi tatu zilizo katika kitabu hiki zilituelezwa na matineja watatu kutoka Vienna waliorudi nyumbani.