Deborah Oppenheimer

In January of 1933 Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers party came to power. The repercussions of this had far-reaching consequences that reverberate today.

Representing only 1% of the population, approximately 600,000 Jews lived in Germany. Unlike the majority of Germany’s population who lived in rural areas, the Jewish population was highly concentrated in the cities of Germany. ¾ of the Jewish population were employed and were high contributors to society. They were three times more productive than the general population.

Why then, they wondered, were they chosen as brutal targets of a man they perceived would not last long in a government role. German people were, after all, perceived as highly intelligent and surely, the craziness would be temporary. As the inhumanity escalated, why then, they wondered, did the world turn away from stopping this insanity.

On November 9th, 1938, the Nazi’s let it be known, in no uncertain terms, that to be Jewish in Germany meant persecution and a systematic purposeful dissolving of their culture and their existence.

When, on that evening, broken glass was smashed, when, on that evening, 1,000 synagogues were burnt and 7,500 Jewish business’ were destroyed, and when, on that evening 30,000 men were taken away to concentration camps, there was little doubt that Hitler had power and meant business.

Horrified at the brutality, England alone decided that something must be done to save the children. Sadly, the United States turned their backs, thus in effect they were responsible for the death of the innocents.

Quickly, a major, remarkable event occurred. Within a nine month period, the people of England opened their hearts and homes to 10,000 Jewish children. This book is the story, told by some of those children who were transported away from their parents and Into The Arms of Strangers.

Sadly, tragically, of the 10,000 children, a mere 1,000 were re-united with their families. Heartbreakingly displaced, so many of the children never saw their parents again. Throughout the years when no word arrived, all worried and all feared the fate of their family.

At the age of 14, Lorraine Allard arrived in England. Later, she learned both her parents were killed in Auschwitz.

Lory Cahn’s father arranged Kindertransport for her, but at the very last minute could not bear to let her go. As a result, when liberated, she weighed a mere 58 pounds after spending years barely surviving in one concentration camp after another.

Hedy Epstein was fourteen when transported to London. Returning to German after the war, she learned that both parents were murdered at Auschwitz.

Ursula Rosenfeld’s father was taken on the evening of Kristallnach and murdered at Buchenwald.

As she received word that she was to be a refugee in England, ten year old Lore Segal was given directions to find help for her parents and family. At this tender age, the burden was placed on her shoulders to get her parents safely out of Austria. Remarkably, she was successful and her parents were given domestic jobs in Liverpool.

Kurt Fuchel was one of the very lucky children who had the stability of a loving English family with whom he lived for nine years and the great fortune of having parents who survived. However, reunited with his biological parents when he was sixteen initially proved problematic. His life, and theirs, had changed dramatically.

I highly recommend this book and the academy award-winning documentary of The Kindertransport.… (meer)