Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

uhnope

(6,419 posts)
Mon May 19, 2014, 05:40 PM May 2014

UK: Rescuer of Jewish children from Holocaust turns 105

Source: Romea

Today Sir Nicholas Winton, the man who saved 669 Jewish children from the Nazis in Czechoslovakia, celebrates his 105th birthday. After celebrating yesterday with his family at his home in Maidenhead, he is scheduled to attend another party today at the Czech Embassy in London to which many of those whom he saved have been invited and where his daughter, Barbara Winton, will launch a book about her father's life.

Just before the outbreak of WWII, Winton organized the transport of 669 Czechoslovak Jewish children from what was then the Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to Britain. He arranged documents for them and found British families to take them in.

The first of Winton's trains carrying the Jewish children left Prague's main train station in May 1939. In total he managed to get 669 children out, most of whose families perished during the war; one train which was supposed to depart Prague on 1 September 1939 with 250 children on board was forbidden to leave by the Nazis.

The public did not learn of Winton's meritorious actions for a long time. Holocaust historian Elisabeth Maxwell helped publicize them.

Read more: http://www.romea.cz/en/news/uk-rescuer-of-jewish-children-from-holocaust-turns-105#

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
UK: Rescuer of Jewish children from Holocaust turns 105 (Original Post) uhnope May 2014 OP
Happy Birthday Sir Nicholas. COLGATE4 May 2014 #1
May this man be remembered forever for the heroic actions he committed. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #2
Heard this man interviewed a week or so ago. GETPLANING May 2014 #3
Happy birthday! shenmue May 2014 #4
Such people inspire us madamesilverspurs May 2014 #5
Happy Birthday Sir Nicholas !!! WillyT May 2014 #6
whenever I think of what the word HERO truly means Skittles May 2014 #7
Sir Nicholas on BBC version of This is Your Life, 1988 Jack Rabbit May 2014 #8
A happy, happy birthday, Sir Nicholas! theHandpuppet May 2014 #9
Good to know that not only the evil live to a good old age. (n/t) Nihil May 2014 #10
Happy birthday Sir. May we never forget that there are good people among the bad. Thank you. jwirr May 2014 #11

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)
1. Happy Birthday Sir Nicholas.
Mon May 19, 2014, 05:55 PM
May 2014

One of the very few persons who correctly understood the threat to Jews that Hitler's Germany posed and who proactively took steps to rescue almost 670 Jewish children who, he had not intervened would almost certainly have perished. A real mensh.

Skittles

(153,164 posts)
7. whenever I think of what the word HERO truly means
Mon May 19, 2014, 07:34 PM
May 2014

people like Sir Nicholas Winton are at the very top of my list - I like to think I would be that kind of person under those circumstances

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»UK: Rescuer of Jewish chi...