On the 2nd of February 1939, my grandfather and his sister came to Britain as child refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. The Kindertransport, meaning ‘children’s transport’ in German, was a rescue effort of children from Nazi-controlled territory – and was supported by the British government.
Nearly 10,000 unaccompanied children, most of them Jewish, arrived in Britain between 1938 and 1939.
My grandad Hans Georg was only 14 when he left Germany. My great-aunt Marion was 12. Their parents Albert and Lotte, had to stay behind.
Born in Bielefed, my Opa and Marion both witnessed events that changed the course of European history – they almost began new and different lives, when they embarked on a journey to Liverpool Street Station.
Photographs discovered by Inez taken in the 1930s of a pool in Bielefeld; before her grandfather and great aunt left Germany on the Kindertransport. CREDIT: INEZ DALTROP/CITY NEWS
Beginning in 1933, the Nazi-led German government gradually isolated and excluded Jews from public and professional life.
Civil and human rights for Jews in Germany continued to be restricted at every level. One of Marion’s earliest memories was the German election in 1933 after the Nazis seized power.
I was able to hear Marion’s first-hand account of Kristallnacht; after acquiring her interviews with the British Library’s ‘Living Memories of the Jewish Community’ project.
Kristallnacht was a pogrom carried out against the Jewish population throughout Nazi Germany in November 1938.
Meaning ‘night of broken glass’ in German, the pogrom was remembered as Kristallnacht because of the shattered glass which littered the streets following the destruction of homes, synagogues, and Jewish-owned businesses.
My great-grandfather Albert Daltrop, was arrested and held in prison in days leading up to the November pogrom. After Kristallnacht, the British government eased immigration restrictions for certain categories of Jewish refugees; including unaccompanied minors like my Opa and Marion.
I wanted to learn more about how the trauma my ancestors endured, and whether this could be transmitted to younger generations within my family.
I spoke to Gaby Glassman, a Dutch psychotherapist based in London who specialises in the trans generational transmission of trauma – particularly among ‘Holocaust families’.
Gaby explained that in many cases, the taboo surrounding one topic would spreads to others. This often resulted in any emotionally charged topics being avoided, so children growing up in these situations had to keep these things to themselves.
We discussed the relationship between the children who came to Britain on the Kindertransport, and those who had to stay behind. As part of her research and work as a therapist, Gaby observed tension between different groups of Jews.
“The Kinder kept quiet, and carried the guilt of having escaped Nazi Germany with them. Like hidden children, the Kinder missed out on their formative years and were on their own in a foreign country.” – Gaby Glassman
Gaby Glassman also discussed the relationship between Holocaust survivors and their children; and the pattern of silence observed among those who had survived, particularly if they were deported to the camps.
“The silence which was meant to protect did the opposite” – Gaby Glassman
Glassman explained that it was typical for second generation to not ask their parents about their experiences, and for the older generation to keep quiet as a means of protection.
Childhood photograph of a young Inez and her grandfather, in North-West London. CREDIT: INEZ DALTROP/CITY NEWS
I also spoke to Dr Bea Lewkowicz, a social anthropologist and oral historian, about the importance of giving testimony, and the value of subjective memories. She explained that in recent years, subjectivity has become the focus of research when giving testimony.
We also discussed letters as tangible sites of memory, and how these sources can shed light on ‘history from below’.
Dr Lewkowicz revealed that in most cases, the Holocaust survivors she interviewed did not want to be reminded of the past. By talking about it, or even re-reading letters they received from family members, this history comes back.
“For me what is interesting about analysing oral histories is; do people see themselves as agents of their own stories, or do they see themselves as victims?” – Dr Bea Lewkowicz
Although childhood memories of my Opa and Marion aren’t necessarily reliable; these memories often describe more obscure moments in history.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineJourney to Safety: My great-aunt Marion’s Kindertransport story
Short HeadlineTracing my family history; my great aunt's experience of the Kindertransport
StandfirstExploring the Kindertransport through oral histories and subjective memories.
On the 2nd of February 1939, my grandfather and his sister came to Britain as child refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. The Kindertransport, meaning ‘children’s transport’ in German, was a rescue effort of children from Nazi-controlled territory – and was supported by the British government.
Nearly 10,000 unaccompanied children, most of them Jewish, arrived in Britain between 1938 and 1939.
My grandad Hans Georg was only 14 when he left Germany. My great-aunt Marion was 12. Their parents Albert and Lotte, had to stay behind.
Born in Bielefed, my Opa and Marion both witnessed events that changed the course of European history – they almost began new and different lives, when they embarked on a journey to Liverpool Street Station.
Photographs discovered by Inez taken in the 1930s of a pool in Bielefeld; before her grandfather and great aunt left Germany on the Kindertransport. CREDIT: INEZ DALTROP/CITY NEWS
Beginning in 1933, the Nazi-led German government gradually isolated and excluded Jews from public and professional life.
Civil and human rights for Jews in Germany continued to be restricted at every level. One of Marion’s earliest memories was the German election in 1933 after the Nazis seized power.
I was able to hear Marion’s first-hand account of Kristallnacht; after acquiring her interviews with the British Library’s ‘Living Memories of the Jewish Community’ project.
Kristallnacht was a pogrom carried out against the Jewish population throughout Nazi Germany in November 1938.
Meaning ‘night of broken glass’ in German, the pogrom was remembered as Kristallnacht because of the shattered glass which littered the streets following the destruction of homes, synagogues, and Jewish-owned businesses.
My great-grandfather Albert Daltrop, was arrested and held in prison in days leading up to the November pogrom. After Kristallnacht, the British government eased immigration restrictions for certain categories of Jewish refugees; including unaccompanied minors like my Opa and Marion.
I wanted to learn more about how the trauma my ancestors endured, and whether this could be transmitted to younger generations within my family.
I spoke to Gaby Glassman, a Dutch psychotherapist based in London who specialises in the trans generational transmission of trauma – particularly among ‘Holocaust families’.
Gaby explained that in many cases, the taboo surrounding one topic would spreads to others. This often resulted in any emotionally charged topics being avoided, so children growing up in these situations had to keep these things to themselves.
We discussed the relationship between the children who came to Britain on the Kindertransport, and those who had to stay behind. As part of her research and work as a therapist, Gaby observed tension between different groups of Jews.
“The Kinder kept quiet, and carried the guilt of having escaped Nazi Germany with them. Like hidden children, the Kinder missed out on their formative years and were on their own in a foreign country.” – Gaby Glassman
Gaby Glassman also discussed the relationship between Holocaust survivors and their children; and the pattern of silence observed among those who had survived, particularly if they were deported to the camps.
“The silence which was meant to protect did the opposite” – Gaby Glassman
Glassman explained that it was typical for second generation to not ask their parents about their experiences, and for the older generation to keep quiet as a means of protection.
Childhood photograph of a young Inez and her grandfather, in North-West London. CREDIT: INEZ DALTROP/CITY NEWS
I also spoke to Dr Bea Lewkowicz, a social anthropologist and oral historian, about the importance of giving testimony, and the value of subjective memories. She explained that in recent years, subjectivity has become the focus of research when giving testimony.
We also discussed letters as tangible sites of memory, and how these sources can shed light on ‘history from below’.
Dr Lewkowicz revealed that in most cases, the Holocaust survivors she interviewed did not want to be reminded of the past. By talking about it, or even re-reading letters they received from family members, this history comes back.
“For me what is interesting about analysing oral histories is; do people see themselves as agents of their own stories, or do they see themselves as victims?” – Dr Bea Lewkowicz
Although childhood memories of my Opa and Marion aren’t necessarily reliable; these memories often describe more obscure moments in history.
