This paper gives a brief overview about the rescue mission for over 10.000 Jewish children before the World War II started. In April 1933, only a few weeks after the victory of the Nazi party in the general election, a call for a general boycott of Jewish businesses was issued by the Nazis. Members of the SA distributed leaflets and painted yellow Stars of David and anti-Semitic slogans on shop windows: “Germans, defend yourselves, don’t buy from Jews!”. Anti-Jewish legislation with the aim of completely excluding Jews from the economic, social and cultural life in Germany would soon follow.
On November 9 in 1938, open violence broke out against the Jewish population in the German Reich. These pogroms which were euphemistically called “night of broken glass”, as if only a few shop windows of Jewish businesses had been broken. The Nazis wanted it to appear as an outbreak of spontaneous anger of German citizens about the murder of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris by Herschel Grynszpan, a young Jewish man on 7 November 1938 but in reality it had been meticulously prepared and organized by the Nazi administration and party organizations.
The pogroms lasted for two days, 250 synagogues were burned down as the fire brigades and police stood watching, thousands of Jewish businesses were destroyed, Jewish facilities like hospitals, schools and cemeteries were attacked and devastated, dozens of Jews were killed and thousands were humiliated and injured. After the pogroms thousands of Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps, limitations on the free movement of the Jewish population became more and more severe. Jews were more or less barred from public life, children were expelled from public schools, a system of complete segregation of the entire Jewish population was introduced.
Table of Contents
1. Pogroms of 1938 – The “Night of Broken Glass”
2. Kindertransporte
3. World War II
4. After the war
Objectives and Themes
This work examines the historical context, organization, and humanitarian impact of the Kindertransporte, a rescue mission that enabled thousands of Jewish children to escape Nazi-occupied territories and find refuge in Great Britain between 1938 and 1939.
- The escalation of anti-Semitic persecution and the 1938 pogroms.
- The political negotiations and public appeals leading to the Kindertransport mission.
- Logistical challenges of relocating children and their integration into British society.
- The long-term personal and social consequences for the refugees and their families following the outbreak of World War II.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Pogroms of 1938 – The “Night of Broken Glass”
In April 1933, only a few weeks after the victory of the Nazi party in the general election, a call for a general boycott of Jewish businesses was issued by the Nazis. Members of the SA distributed leaflets and painted yellow Stars of David and anti-Semitic slogans on shop windows: “Germans, defend yourselves, don’t buy from Jews!”. Anti-Jewish legislation with the aim of completely excluding Jews from the economic, social and cultural life in Germany would soon follow.
On November 9 in 1938, open violence broke out against the Jewish population in the German Reich. These pogroms which were euphemistically called “night of broken glass”, as if only a few shop windows of Jewish businesses had been broken. The Nazis wanted it to appear as an outbreak of spontaneous anger of German citizens about the murder of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris by Herschel Grynszpan, a young Jewish man on 7 November 1938 but in reality it had been meticulously prepared and organized by the Nazi administration and party organizations.
The pogroms lasted for two days, 250 synagogues were burned down as the fire brigades and police stood watching, thousands of Jewish businesses were destroyed, Jewish facilities like hospitals, schools and cemeteries were attacked and devastated, dozens of Jews were killed and thousands were humiliated and injured.
After the pogroms thousands of Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps, limitations on the free movement of the Jewish population became more and more severe. Jews were more or less barred from public life, children were expelled from public schools, a system of complete segregation of the entire Jewish population was introduced.
Summary of Chapters
1. Pogroms of 1938 – The “Night of Broken Glass”: This chapter details the rise of systematic state-sponsored persecution in Nazi Germany, culminating in the orchestrated violence of the 1938 pogroms.
2. Kindertransporte: This section covers the emergence of the rescue mission, the public and political efforts to secure safe passage for refugee children, and the logistical realities of their arrival in Britain.
3. World War II: This chapter analyzes how the outbreak of war halted the rescue operations and changed the status of the refugee children, leading to internment and restricted communication with their families.
4. After the war: This section explores the post-war experiences of the survivors, their efforts to reconnect, and the commemorative legacy of the Kindertransport movement.
Keywords
Kindertransporte, Nazi Germany, Holocaust, Jewish refugees, Great Britain, World War II, Kristallnacht, Neville Chamberlain, Nicholas Winton, rescue operation, foster homes, persecution, internment, displacement, human rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the history of the Kindertransporte, detailing how children were rescued from Nazi Germany and occupied territories to Britain between 1938 and 1939.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the systemic persecution of Jews, the mobilization of international humanitarian efforts, the difficulties of forced migration, and the lasting social impact on the children involved.
What is the core objective of this study?
The objective is to document the historical timeline and human experience of the rescue mission, providing a clear overview of the events from the 1938 pogroms to the post-war reunions.
Which historical methodology is applied?
The text employs a historical approach, utilizing archival records, personal testimonies, and secondary literature to reconstruct the events of the Kindertransport.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers the transition from the pre-war pogroms to the organization of the transport, the wartime experience of the refugees, and the long-term documentation of their stories.
Which keywords define this document?
Key terms include Kindertransporte, Holocaust, Jewish refugees, Great Britain, and Nazi Germany.
Who were some of the key figures mentioned in the organization of the transports?
The text highlights figures such as Nicholas Winton, who organized the rescue of children from Prague, and Bertha Leverton, who later organized reunions for former Kindertransport children.
How were the children treated upon arrival in Britain?
While many were welcomed into foster families, the children faced significant challenges, including language barriers, separation from their families, and, in some cases, exploitation as laborers.
What were the consequences of the outbreak of World War II for these children?
The war led to the end of transport operations, the loss of contact with parents, and the categorization of many refugees as "alien enemies," which resulted in internment in camps.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bernd Müller-Knospe (Autor:in), 2017, Rescue Operation for Jewish Children from Nazi Germany. The "Kindertransporte" of 1938-1939, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/379374
