The story of the Kindertransport - 85 years on
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Essex Rainer Schulze tells the story
Last updated 14th Feb 2024
85 years ago, nearly 10,000 unaccompanied children arrived in Britain in the shadow of World War II.
An Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Essex, Professor Reiner Schulze, has unravelled the historical tapestry of the Kindertransport; telling us the lessons from this chapter of histroy - are just as important to acknowledge today.
Professor Schulze sets the stage with the anti-Jewish pogroms that erupted across Germany on the night of November 9th, 1938. "In early November, specifically the night from the 9th through the 10th of November, there were anti-Jewish pogroms all across Germany," recounts Professor Schulze. These violent events, instigated by the Nazis as a response to the murder of an attache at the German Embassy in France, served as a grim precursor to the escalating danger faced by the Jewish community.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Professor Schulze notes, "It became very clear, although it should have been clearer much earlier, that the Jewish position in Germany was becoming increasingly endangered, and that Jews would be persecuted." The ensuing months witnessed the burning of synagogues, the plundering of Jewish shops, and the arrest of individuals, with the ominous specter of concentration camps looming over the community.
In response to the unfolding crisis, the British Government took a decisive step, waiving all immigration requirements for non-accompanied minors under the age of 17. "In a very generous step, the British Government decided to waive all immigration requirements for non-accompanied minors," Professor Schulze emphasizes. This unprecedented move allowed children, often orphaned or separated from their families, to find refuge in Britain. The Kindertransport, originally conceived as a temporary measure, would ultimately bring approximately 10,000 children to safety.
The first Kindertransport arrived in Harwich on December 2, 1938, with nearly 200 Jewish orphans from an orphanage in Berlin that had been ravaged during the infamous Kristallnacht. Professor Schulze vividly describes the scene, "It was 196 Jewish orphans from an orphanage in Berlin that had been ransacked during the rise program night, or as it was known in Germany, the Reich Crystal Night or the night of broken glass."
Over the next ten months, until the outbreak of World War II, the Kindertransport continued its lifesaving mission. Professor Schulze provides insight into the logistics, stating, "The last transport from Germany left on the day that the war broke out, although there were still some subsequent transports from the Netherlands until the Netherlands were fully occupied by Germany in 1940." Despite challenges and limitations, Britain's Kindertransport program remained unparalleled in its scope and generosity.
Reflecting on the ethical complexities, Professor Schulze acknowledges, "No, of course it wasn't fair or humane to force parents to give up their children." He emphasizes the moral dilemmas inherent in separating families and the emotional toll it exacted on both parents and children. "There's also quite a bit of sadness amongst many of the children who were rescued," he adds. The joy of rescue was accompanied by the trauma of separation, with many children discovering the tragic fate of their parents after the war.
Professor Schulze sheds light on the varied backgrounds of the foster families, stating, "Many ended up in non-Jewish families, which today probably would not be possible because of all the provisions that need to be taken." While acknowledging the care provided by these families, he underscores the cultural disconnection that some children experienced, leading to a post-war generation grappling with the trauma of their past.
Describing the journey from major German cities to Harwich, he explains, "They were found by Jewish organizations that were still active on the ground. They were identified, often orphans, but also families desperate to get their children out and at least rescue their children if they themselves couldn't get out." The urgency of the operation is palpable, with children often boarding ships with minimal belongings, symbolic remnants connecting them to their past.
As the Kindertransport unfolded, Professor Schulze highlights Britain's unique role, asserting, "Britain was the only country that had such a substantive program in the period leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War." He acknowledges the financial and organizational challenges faced by the Jewish relief organizations working in Britain, emphasizing the determination to rescue as many children as possible within the constrained timeframe.
"British society was enriched by taking in these Kindertransport refugees, and they would be just as enriched today if they were showing the same generosity that they showed in 1938 and 1939."
Professor Schulze paints a vivid picture of the Kindertransport recipients as they arrived in Britain. "Many were not educated in their Jewish heritage," he explains, emphasizing the cultural disorientation faced by these children in their new surroundings. "In many cases, they were not educated in their Jewish heritage, so we are faced with quite a few children who experienced quite a bit of trauma," he adds, underscoring the long-term impact on the identity and psyche of the Kindertransport generation.
Addressing the challenges faced by the relief organizations, Professor Schulze acknowledges, "The children needed to be funded, and those were Jewish relief organizations working in Britain." He describes the selection process, which involved Jewish organizations in Nazi-occupied Europe, stating, "They were to be distributed over the whole of the UK into foster families." While praising the brilliance of the system, he also notes, "Many children ended up in non-Jewish families," an outcome that, while providing care, led to a loss of connection with their Jewish roots.
Professor Schulze emphasizes the emotional toll of the dramatic farewells at the train stations, where parents, realizing the gravity of the situation, bid tearful goodbyes to their children. "Some parents did make it out some way or another, but some made it into the Netherlands and got out of the Netherlands before it was occupied by Nazi troops. But those numbers are very, very small," he adds, underscoring the heartbreak faced by families separated during this critical moment in history.
The Kindertransport's lasting legacy
Professor Schulze reflects on the enduring impact of the Kindertransport on British society.
"Let's not forget the economic situation, social and political situation in Britain at the end of the 1930s, with war pretty clearly on the horizon, was pretty grim," he states. Despite these challenges, Britain embraced the Kindertransport initiative, showcasing a generosity that, in Professor Schulze's view, contrasts with contemporary debates on refugees.
"If you look at the list of names, you can see how many made a good name for themselves, contributed to society in various functions, as did Alfred Dubs," he states. Drawing attention to the positive contributions made by Kindertransport survivors, he suggests that a similar approach today could enrich British society, today.