Read remarkable stories of the Kindertransport children: 10,000 - mostly Jewish - children who came to Britain to escape the threats of Nazi Germany. Leaving behind their homes and families, some would never see their parents again and all of their lives would change irrevocably.
To commemorate National Kindertransport Day 2021, we have been speaking with u3a members whose lives have been touched by the Kindertransport migrations of 1938/1939. With stories from the Kinder themselves, from the generations that followed and from the British hosts whose families took in these refugee children.
You can also watch a recording of the special u3a event, hosted by Dame Esther Rantzen, which took place on 2nd December 2021
Kindertransport: Conversations with Dame Esther Rantzen
You can also read member's memories of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz
The Kindertransport Refugees
Norman Freund
Towcester u3a
Image:Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-S69279 / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Renate Beigel
North Cotswold u3a
Fred Stern
Chorleywood u3a
Ruth Hayter
Brunswick West Hove u3a
Ruth Parker
Wolverhampton u3a
The Host Families
Helen Ruddock
Little Hampton u3a
Family hosted Fanni Bogdanow
Jacky Schiller
Bushey u3a
Family hosted Susanne Kenton
Rachel Williams
Crawley u3a
Family hosted Pieter Zadec
Russel Cleaver
Watford and District u3a
Family hosted Ruth Halova
Children of the Kinder
Ruth Gwinnell
Hullbridge u3a
Daughter of Walter Fulop
Shira Sleight
Arun West u3a
Daughter of Elga Kitchener
Sue Dickie
Shepway u3a
Daughter of Markus Goldberger
Ian Goldsmith
Trust u3a
Son of Robert Goldschmidt
Ruth Speirs
Hounslow & Richmond u3as
Daughter of Ursula Rosenfeld
Peter Kammerling
Member of Ringmer u3a
Son of Walter & Herta Kammerling
The Rescuers
Anna Cordon
East Suffolk u3a
Grandmother Dolly Thornycroft hosted children and helped bring many more to safety
Jane MacKenzie
Shrewsbury u3a
Grandfather Alan Overton hosted & rescued over 250 children
The Spouses
Una Kary
Lymington u3a
Sharing John Kary's Story
Rosalind Stuart
North London u3a
Sharing Geoffrey & Gerda's story
Friends & Other Connections
Lawrence Collins
Thorpe Bay u3a
Writing about Harry Grenville
Lawrence Collins
Thorpe Bay u3a
Writing about Judy Benton
Mick Oliver
Harrow u3a
Writing about Clement Atlee
Mo Wright
Maidenhead u3a
Writing about Sir Nicholas Winton
You can also a collection of member's memories of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz
Contributions in alphabetised list index:
- Kindertransport Memories - Anna Cordon
- Kindertransport Memories - Fred Stern
- Kindertransport Memories - Helen Ruddock
- Kindertransport Memories - Ian Goldsmith
- Kindertransport Memories - Jacky Schiller
- Kindertransport Memories - Jane Mackenzie
- Kindertransport Memories - Lawrence for Harry
- Kindertransport Memories - Lawrence for Judy
- Kindertransport Memories - Mick Oliver
- Kindertransport Memories - Mo Wright
- Kindertransport Memories - Norman Freund
- Kindertransport Memories - Peter Kammerling
- Kindertransport Memories - Rachel Williams
- Kindertransport Memories - Renate Beigel
- Kindertransport Memories - Rosalind Stuart
- Kindertransport Memories - Russell Cleaver
- Kindertransport Memories - Ruth Gwinnell
- Kindertransport Memories - Ruth Hayter
- Kindertransport Memories - Ruth Parker
- Kindertransport Memories - Ruth Speirs
- Kindertransport Memories - Shira Sleight
- Kindertransport Memories - Sue Dickie
- Kindertransport Memories - Una Kary
