1. The Kindertransport

2. What is it?
“Children’s transport” to save Jewish children in Nazi Germany by sending them to Great Britain

3. Background
Following Kristallnacht, Britain recognized the Nazi threat upon German citizens
Britain eased immigration restrictions
No formal, regular entry visas were required, just a simple “document of identity” issued with the automatic approval of the British authorities in Germany
Eased restrictions for certain categories of Jewish refugees
As far as we know, the NAZIs did not interfere, but we do not have a lot of information on this. We believe that NAZI authorities did deny exit permits for a few of the children selected. We do not know on what basis this was done. The names were then forward to the RCM to obtain British approval. As far as we know British approval was pro forma. We do not know of any children refused entry. The Wehrmacht seized Czechoslovakia (March 1939). The RCM hastily organized Kindertransport groups in Prague. The selection process there was thus different. Bill Barazetti and Miss Warminer, ocersaw the Czech Kindertransport rescue operation from a Prague hotel room, Some Polish groups were organized (February and August 1939). We are not sure about the selection process there.

4. Allowed children under 17 to enter Britain temporarily to be cared for by British citizens or organizations
About 50% of the children lived with foster families, others stayed in groups in schools or hostels
Citizens /organizations had to guarantee payment for each child’s care, education, and eventual emigration from Britain
Temporary travel visas
older children were put up on hostels, many of the younger children were adopted
Any infants included would be cared for by other children on the transport
It was believed at the time that when the crisis was over, the children would return to their families
The British Government refused to accept any financial responsibility. The Government also insisted that the children would have to eventually emigrate from Britain. Not the most hostpitable conditions, but at least they were out of Germany. The Government agreed to permit the unaccompanied children to enter on a simple travel visa. Parents or guardians were not permitted to accompany the children. There were also a few infants cared for by the older children.

5. The Transports
First kindertransport was in December ’38; last September 1939 (Germany)
Organized by Jewish organizations
Prioritized children
Parents no longer able to care for them
Homeless/orphans
First transport took 200 children from a jewish orphanage in Berlin which had been destroyed in Kristalnacht
Absolute final transport was from Netherlands in May 1940

6. 9,000-10,000 children were rescued from:
Germany Czechoslovakia
Austria Poland
About 7,500 of them were Jewish
About 10,000 children were saved--the largest group of children to be saved from the NAZIs. There had been optimistic hopes of saving 50,000 children, but the War intervened cutting off the Kindertransport escape route. Hitler as the war approached made it clear what his plans were for the Jews

7. After the War Became British citizens after the War
Emigrated to Israel, U.S., Canada, or Australia
Most never saw parents again
Parents murdered in the holocaust