All language subtitles for Nicky_s Family.srt - eng(2)

[JOE SCHLESINGER]
THERE ARE SOME STORIES

WHICH WE ARE
NOT ONLY AN AUDIENCE TO,

BUT MAY BECOME
THEIR PARTICIPANTS.

UNTIL 1988,
IT WAS ALL A MYSTERY.

THIS OLD MAN

SAVED MY LIFE,

AND THAT OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS

IN THE 2ND WORLD WAR.

YET, FOR 50 YEARS
AFTER OUR ESCAPE

FROM ALL BUT A CERTAIN DEATH,

WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HIM,

NOT EVEN THAT HE EXISTED.

NOW HE IS CELEBRATED
AS A HERO.

HE INSISTS THAT WHAT HE DID WAS
NOTHING TO MAKE A FUSS ABOUT.

HIS STORY CAME TO FASCINATE
PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER,

ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

THEY WANTED
TO KNOW MORE, MUCH MORE.

AND THEY HAD QUESTIONS.

WHY DID HE DO IT?

HOW DID HE MANAGE
TO SUCCEED

IN WHAT SEEMED
LIKE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?

SO ALONG WITH OTHERS,
I SET OUT TO DISCOVER

AND TELL THE STORY
IN A FILM.

GIVEN THAT I OWE
MY LIFE TO HIM,

I COULD HAVE DONE NO LESS.

NICKY’S STORY
CAME OUT BY ACCIDENT

AFTER THIS SCRAPBOOK SURFACED

AFTER GATHERING DUST
FOR DECADES.

ONCE IT DID, THOUGH,

IT SET ABOUT A WHOLE CHAIN
OF INCREDIBLE EVENTS.

OH, HEY, GUYS, THAT’S ME.

REALLY?

BEFORE I LEFT
FOR ENGLAND.

THE SCRAPBOOK IS FILLED
WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN

CAUGHT UP IN A LOTTERY
OF LIFE AND DEATH,

SOME OF THEIR DRAWINGS, URGENT
TELEGRAMS AND PLEADING LETTERS

FROM THEIR DESPERATE PARENTS--
MESSAGES FROM A LONG AGO PAST

THAT BROUGHT ON A RUSH
OF CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

[LAUGHING]

[CHIRPING]

[LAUGHING]

MEMORIES OF THE 1930s,

OF THE PLEASURES OF CHILDHOOD
IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA--

THE COUNTRY WE ALL CAME FROM.

AS I REMEMBER LIFE IN
MY OWN HOME TOWN OF BRATISLAVA,

THE CAPITAL OF SLOVAKIA,

IT WAS A PLEASANT,
TOLERANT,

MULTICULTURAL
AND MULTILINGUAL PLACE.

[BOAT HORN BLARES]

I LEARNED TO GREET
MY MOTHER’S WOMEN FRIENDS

WITH THE THEN
STANDARD POLITENESS OF:

"I KISS YOUR HAND."

IT WAS,
AND I REMEMBER IT STILL:

"RUKU BOZKAVAM" IN SLOVAK,

"RUKU LIBAM" IN CZECH,

"ICH KUESS DIE HAND"
IN GERMAN,

AND "KESE CZOKOLOM"
IN HUNGARIAN.

WHAT I REMEMBER
MOST VIVIDLY, THOUGH,

ARE THE SMALL THINGS LIKE
GOING TO A CAFE WITH MY FATHER.

AND HE USED TO PLAY CHESS
AND WE USED TO GET...

HOT CHOCOLATE WITH LOTS
OF WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP OF IT.

[MILENA GRENFELL-BAINES]
FROM MY CHILDHOOD, AS A FAMILY,

WE WERE VERY PATRIOTIC.

MY FATHER ENCOURAGED US TO GO

TO ALL THE CZECH
WONDERFUL MANIFESTATIONS

THAT TOOK PART
BECAUSE CZECHOSLOVAKIA WAS,

FOR THE FIRST TIME,
A COUNTRY OF ITS OWN

AND WE ALL BELIEVED
IN ITS GREAT FUTURE.

[LIESL SILVERSTONE]
WE LIVED IN A LOVELY PART OF

SANOV, IN TEPLICE SANOV,

AND ENJOYED MANY GOOD THINGS.

MY BROTHER WAS MARVELOUS.

HE INVENTED ALL KINDS OF
WONDERFUL GAMES FOR US TO DO,

WHICH WERE USUALLY
A BIT RISKY AND A BIT NAUGHTY.

AND I WOULD HAVE DONE
ANYTHING WITH HIM AT ALL.

[ALICE MASTERS]
WE LIVED IN A SMALL VILLAGE

IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF TATRA MOUNTAINS.

AND WE HAD
A VERY HAPPY CHILDHOOD.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
IN THE WOODS,

PICKING STRAWBERRIES AND
MUSHROOMS AND WILD FLOWERS.

AND WE HAD ANIMALS.

I HAD A CHICKEN,
AND WE HAD ONE COW,

AND WE PLANTED VEGETABLES.

AND MY MOTHER TAUGHT US
ALL THE SLOVAK SONGS,

AND WE SANG TOGETHER
A GREAT DEAL.

[SINGING IN SLOVAK]

[DOG BARKS]

WE USED TO GO EVERY SUNDAY

TO KARLOVY VARY
ALONG THE PROMENADE.

MY FATHER WAS AN AMATEUR
DANCER AND WON MANY PRIZES

AND IT WAS A WELL-KNOWN
FAMILY OUTING.

WE HAD A GOOD LIFE TILL
THE NAZIS TOOK OVER IN 1938,

BEFORE NAZISM WAS BORN AND GREW
AND STRENGTH IN CENTRAL EUROPE.

HEIL, HITLER!

[CHILDREN SINGING IN GERMAN]

[SCHLESINGER]
IT STARTED WITH GERMANY’S

NAZI DICTATOR, ADOLPH HITLER,

INSTILLING HATRED
IN GERMANS FROM CHILDHOOD UP,

FOR EVERYTHING
HE CONSIDERED FOREIGN,

MOST OF ALL,
FOR JEWS, GYPSIES AND SLAVS.

AND HE USED
THE HATE HE HAD WHIPPED UP

TO PREPARE
HIS NATION FOR WAR.

[HITLER ANNOUNCING
IN GERMAN TO CROWD]

[SCHLESINGER]
YOU COULD HEAR HITLER’S VOICE

RAVING ON THE RADIO.

YOU COULD SEE
THE HITLERJUGEND--

HITLER YOUTH,
MEMBERS OF THE GERMAN MINORITY,

MARCHING THROUGH OUR STREETS,
AND YOU COULD FEEL THE DANGER

GETTING CLOSER
AND CLOSER AND CLOSER.

WE WERE SEVEN-YEAR-OLD
CHILDREN IN 2ND GRADE,

AND ONE DAY,

A GIRL COMES UP TO ME
AND SLAPS ME ON THE FACE,

LEFT AND RIGHT,
LEFT AND RIGHT AND SHE SAID,

"MY FATHER TOLD ME
TO DO THAT."

SO I WAS STUNNED,
I WAS FLABBERGASTED.

HOW CAN SHE DO THAT?

[JOHN FIELDSEND]
I WAS ONLY ABOUT
FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD,

BUT I HIT MY HEAD
ON A CENTRAL HEATING RADIATOR,

AND I CUT MY HEAD OPEN,

AND I REMEMBER
MY FATHER TAKING ME

TO THE DOCTOR, AND THE DOCTOR
LOOKED AT IT AND HE SAID,

"THAT DOES NEED STITCHING,

BUT I DON’T STITCH JEWS."

[SCHLESINGER]
THE HATRED COMING FROM GERMANY

DIDN’T JUST ENDANGER JEWS,

BUT ALSO THE CZECHS AS WELL.

THEY TURNED OUT
TO PROTEST HITLER’S DEMANDS

FOR A CHUNK
OF THEIR COUNTRY,

THE SO-CALLED
SUDETEN BORDERLANDS.

THE CZECHS MOBILIZED
TO DEFEND THEMSELVES,

BUT THEY NEEDED HELP
FROM THEIR ALLIES IN THE WEST.

NEITHER IN BRITAIN,

NOR FOR THAT MATTER
IN ANY OTHER DEMOCRACY,

WAS THERE ANY GREAT WILL
TO CONFRONT HITLER AND RISK WAR.

SO THE BRITISH AND FRENCH
PRIME MINISTERS WENT TO MUNICH

AND ENDED UP SIGNING
A HUMILIATING DEAL WITH HITLER.

THE WORD MUNICH
HAS EVER SINCE THEN

STOOD FOR
COWARDLY APPEASEMENT.

AT THE TIME, THOUGH, WHEN PRIME
MINISTER NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN

RETURNED HERE TO PARLIAMENT
AND WAVED THAT PIECE OF PAPER

HE BROUGHT BACK FROM MUNICH
AND DECLARED IT

TO HAVE BROUGHT PEACE
FOR OUR TIME,

A WAVE OF RELIEF SWEPT
THROUGH MOST OF EUROPE.

BUT NOT IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA,
OF COURSE.

[JOSEPH GINAT]
WE LIVED IN SUDETENLAND,

IN THE TOWN OF POHBEROVICE,

WHICH IS NEAR
TO THE BORDER OF GERMANY.

IT ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY.

MY MOTHER
TOOK US FOUR CHILDREN,

WE DIDN’T MANAGE
TO TAKE ANYTHING AT ALL,

WE JUST RAN FOR OUR LIVES.

THIS WAS FRIGHTENING
FOR CHILDREN.

[AMOS BEN-RON]
I REMEMBER STANDING
IN FRONT OF A SHOP WINDOW,

WHERE THERE WAS A MAP
OF CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC,

AND IN BLACK INK
WAS MARKED IN THE PART

WHICH WAS HANDED
OVER TO HITLER.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE
ALL AROUND THE SHOP

MAKING ALL KINDS
OF BAD REMARKS:

"WELL, YOU CAN’T DO THAT,
WE WILL FIGHT,

AND WE WILL FIGHT,
WE WILL FIGHT."

[DAVE LUX]
I REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING DAY,

LOADING ALL
OUR FEW BELONGINGS,

THERE WEREN’T TOO MUCH,
ON A HORSE AND CART,

AND WE WERE OUT OF THERE.

MY PARENTS,
MY BROTHER AND I,

AND AT THE TIME,
I WAS JUST SIX YEARS OLD.

WE HAD NO CLUE
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

[VERA GISSING]
THERE WAS A NEW REFUGEE GIRL

IN OUR CLASS,

AND I WAS
MOST SURPRISED TO SEE

THAT SHE HAD NO SHOES
ON HER FEET.

WHEN BREAK CAME,
I RAN ACROSS THE ROAD

AND TOOK OUT
OF MY WARDROBE MY BEST SHOES,

AND BROUGHT THEM TO HER.

I TOLD MOTHER
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

TEARS APPEARED ON HER FACE,

AND SHE HUGGED ME.

AND SHE SAID, "YOU DID THE RIGHT
THING, MY LITTLE GIRL."

[SCHLESINGER]
THE FIRST PAGES
OF THE SCRAPBOOK

AND OF OUR STORY

CAME TO BE WRITTEN
IN DECEMBER, 1938.

YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES,
AND THE LIST OF ALL OF US,

AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT
MADE A 29-YEAR-OLD ENGLISHMAN

DO SUCH A THING?

[BIG BEN RINGING]

IN A WAY, WHAT WINTON DID
WAS SURPRISING.

THE WORLD WAS HIS OYSTER.

IN THE DEPTH
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION,

HIS JOB AS
A STOCK BROKER ALLOWED HIM

TO ENJOY THE GOOD LIFE.

HE WAS A CHAMPION FENCER
WHO ALSO LOVED TO SAIL,

TO SKI, AND TO TRAVEL.

[WHISTLING]

IN 1938,
WITH CHRISTMAS APPROACHING,

WINTON HAD HIS MIND SET
ON GOING TO SWITZERLAND

FOR A SKIING HOLIDAY.

IN OTHER WORDS,
HE WASN’T EXACTLY

THE KIND OF YOUNG MAN

YOU WOULD NORMALLY ASSOCIATE
WITH A PASSION FOR ALTRUISM.

AT LEAST NOT UNTIL
THAT PHONE CALL THAT CHANGED

HIS LIFE, MY LIFE

[PHONE RINGING]

HELLO?

HELLO?

THE PHONE CALL WAS
FROM PRAGUE, FROM MARTIN BLAKE,

A FRIEND WITH WHOM
NICKY HAD PLANNED

TO GO ON THAT SKIING TRIP.

BLAKE SAID
HE COULDN’T MAKE IT

BECAUSE HE HAD GONE
TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA

TO HELP PEOPLE IN TROUBLE
WITH THE GERMANS.

SO NICKY DECIDED
TO FORGET THE SKI TRIP

AND JOIN BLAKE TO TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

HELLO.

[NICHOLAS WINTON]
I WENT TO PRAGUE WITH
THE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

OF PEOPLE IN ENGLAND
WHO FELT THEY KNEW MUCH MORE

ABOUT WHAT HITLER WAS UP TO
THAN THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT.

THE FIRST THING I DID THEN
WAS TO GO AROUND THE CAMPS

WHERE ALL THOSE PEOPLE
ENDANGERED BY THE NAZIS

WERE LIVING IN MISENHUTS

WITH ONE LITTLE STOVE
IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THE CONDITIONS
WERE PRETTY TERRIBLE.

IT WAS VERY COLD,
SNOW ON THE GROUND--

A LOT OF THE REFUGEES
WERE IN A VERY BAD SHAPE.

THEY FELT THAT
THEIR DAYS WERE NUMBERED

BEFORE THE GERMANS WERE GOING
TO ARRIVE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

BUT HOW COULD
THEY SAVE THEMSELVES?

WHAT COULD THEY DO?

WHERE SHOULD THEY GO?

THEY WERE STUCK.

[SCHLESINGER]
WHILE WINTON WAS IN PRAGUE,

HE WAS GIVEN A MAP
THAT SHOOK HIM UP.

HE SHOWED THE MAP-- A MAP
OF GERMAN PLANS AND AMBITIONS

FOR TERRITORIAL
EXPANSION TO FRIENDS.

IT SAYS: "EIN VOLK,
EIN REICH, EIN FUHRER."

ONE PEOPLE, ONE EMPIRE,
ONE FUHRER.

GROSS DEUTSCHLAND.

AND WHAT IT SHOWED WAS THAT
THE GERMANS HAD AN AMBITION

TO TAKE OVER
THE WHOLE OF EUROPE.

NOBODY HAD BELIEVED IT.

[GERMAN SOLDIERS YELLING]

[DAVE LUX]
THERE WERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE

WHO WERE REFUGEES
LIKE US, SMALL CHILDREN.

THERE WAS A FIRE,
SMOKE FROM COOKING AND HEATING,

AND I REMEMBER
BEING GIVEN SOMETHING HOT

BECAUSE IT WAS COLD
WEATHER THEN.

[SCHLESINGER]
THE DESPERATION WAS NOT JUST
AMONG THE POOR IN THE CAMPS.

IN PRAGUE AND ELSEWHERE,
ANXIOUS PARENTS,

HAVING HEARD ABOUT
THIS CONCERNED ENGLISHMAN,

HEADED FOR WINTON’S HOTEL.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[WINTON]
WELL, I DIDN’T GET MUCH SLEEP

WHEN I WAS AT THE SROUBEK.

I GOT TO BED VERY LATE
AND THERE WERE PEOPLE

KNOCKING AT MY DOOR
IN THE MORNING.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

I SAW THOSE PEOPLE
WHO WERE IN DIFFICULTY,

IN DANGER, PEOPLE
ON HITLER’S BLACK LIST

FOR WHOM THERE WAS
NOBODY TO HELP.

[GIRL]
MOMMY!

[WINTON]
I THOUGHT, AT LEAST I OUGHT

TO TRY
AND SAVE THE CHILDREN.

[MOTHER]
COME WITH ME.

PLEASE, TAKE US.

OH!

EVERYBODY IN PRAGUE
SAID, LOOK,

THERE IS NO ORGANIZATION
TO DEAL WITH THE CHILDREN.

WE CAN’T DEAL WITH THEM.

ANYWAY, NOBODY WILL LET
THE CHILDREN IN ON THEIR OWN.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE
A GO, HAVE A GO.

AND I HAVE A MOTTO
THAT IF SOMETHING

ISN’T BLATANTLY IMPOSSIBLE,
THERE MUST BE A WAY OF DOING IT.

[SCHLESINGER]
SO HE STARTED WRITING LETTERS,

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE,

ASKING FOR HELP.

AND HE HAD NO HESITATION

ABOUT GOING RIGHT
TO THE TOP--

WRITING TO THE WHITE HOUSE,

TO PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.

A FEW WEEKS LATER,
HE GOT A REPLY.

NOT FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE, THOUGH,

FROM MUCH LOWER DOWN
ON THE DIPLOMATIC FOOD CHAIN.

FROM THIS BUILDING HERE
IN LONDON RIGHT BEHIND ME,

WHICH AT THE TIME HOUSED
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY.

AND THE REPLY SAID:

THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE

TO PERMIT
IMMIGRATION IN EXCESS

OF THAT PROVIDED
FOR BY EXISTING LAWS.

BUT WINTON WASN’T
ABOUT TO LET THIS STOP HIM.

HE AND HIS HELPERS STARTED
MAKING UP THE LIST OF CHILDREN

WITHOUT ACTUALLY KNOWING WHETHER
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

[WINTON]
THIS IS THE CAFE THAT
I CAME DOWN EVERY DAY.

I WASN’T SITTING THERE
FOR MORE THAN ABOUT TWO MINUTES

BEFORE THE FIRST PEOPLE CAME
TO TALK TO ME AND FIND OUT

HOW THEY COULD GET
THEIR CHILDREN TO ENGLAND.

AND THIS WENT ON
THE WHOLE TIME I WAS HERE.

THE PICTURE MUST BE
OF GOOD QUALITY.

[SCHLESINGER]
AS WORD OF HIS CAMPAIGN SPREAD,

IT DREW THE ATTENTION
OF THE GERMANS.

THEY SUSPECTED
THAT NICKY WINTON’S EFFORTS

WERE ABOUT SOMETHING MORE THAN
JUST GETTING OUT A FEW CHILDREN.

WHEN THEIR DISTANT OBSERVATIONS
PRODUCED NOTHING,

THEY DECIDED THEY NEEDED
TO GET CLOSER TO HIM.

WHICH THEY DID--
USING ONE OF THE OLDEST TRICKS

IN THE SPY BUSINESS--
THE LURE OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

THEY MET, AS IF BY CHANCE,
AT THE HOTEL SROUBEK.

NICKY WAS ENCHANTED,
AND NOT JUST BY HER BEAUTY.

HER NAME, SHE SAID,
WAS KERSTIN AND SHE WAS

THE PRAGUE REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE SWEDISH RED CROSS.

[WINTON] I DARE SAY
SHE WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

I MEAN, IT’S TRADITIONAL FOR
A SPY TO BE BEAUTIFUL, ISN’T IT?

YOU CAN’T HAVE AN UGLY SPY,

IT’S A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS.

[SCHLESINGER]
KERSTIN TOLD HIM
SHE HAD PERMISSION

TO BRING REFUGEE CHILDREN
TO SWEDEN.

WINTON’S HOPES SOARED.

FINALLY, A CHANCE PERHAPS,
TO GET SOME CHILDREN OUT.

FRIENDS WARNED HIM
THAT SHE WAS A KNOWN NAZI SPY.

NICKY FORGED AHEAD ANYWAY
AND KEPT ON SEEING HER.

AND IT PAID OFF.

KERSTIN GOT 25 CHILDREN
ADMITTED TO SWEDEN.

IN FACT, SHE FLEW OFF
TO SWEDEN WITH THEM

AND DISAPPEARED
FROM NICKY’S LIFE COMPLETELY.

[FIELCEN]
MY PARENTS TRIED EVERY WAY

TO GET US OUT
OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

WE TRIED TO GET TO AMERICA,

WE TRIED TO GET TO ENGLAND,

WE TRIED
TO GET TO PALESTINE,

BUT ALL THE GOVERNMENTS SAID:
OUR BORDERS ARE NOW CLOSED.

MY MOTHER GOT UP
EVERY DAY AT 4:00

AND WENT TO STAND IN THE QUEUES
OF DIFFERENT CONSULATES--

FOR GETTING PAPERS TO URUGUAY

AND SOME OTHER
UNMENTIONABLE PLACES.

AND THERE WAS NO WAY OUT.

[WINTON]
WE KNEW THAT THE TIMING
WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

TO DO EVERYTHING NOW
AND QUICKLY.

THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN
WHO WERE IN URGENT NEED

OF LEAVING THE COUNTRY FOR
SAFETY WAS CERTAINLY OVER 2,000.

[SCHLESINGER]
WINTON KEPT ON MEETING
WITH THE FAMILIES,

WORKING ON A LIST
OF CHILDREN.

THEN SUDDENLY
HIS WORK WAS THREATENED

BY A PHONE CALL FROM LONDON.

THE CALL WAS FROM HIS BOSS.

[WINTON]
MY BOSS FROM THE STOCK EXCHANGE

DIDN’T THINK THAT WHAT I WAS
DOING IN PRAGUE WAS IMPORTANT.

HE DIDN’T THINK WHAT I WAS
DOING IN PRAGUE WAS NECESSARY.

HE SAID, "WHY DO YOU WANT
TO STAY IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA

AND HELP
THOSE FAR-OFF PEOPLE,

THE PEOPLE
DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT?"

HE WAS JUST A MONEY CHAP
ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE,

COMPLETELY NON-HUMANITARIAN,
WITH BAGS OF MONEY,

AND ALL HE THOUGHT ABOUT
WAS MONEY.

[SCHLESINGER]
WINTON, TO THE RELIEF
OF HIS CO-WORKERS,

DECIDED TO DEFY HIS BOSS
AND STAY IN PRAGUE.

NO, I’M TELLING YOU,
IT’S IMPORTANT.

NICKY WINTON’S EFFORTS
CAME TO THE EARS OF ALL THOSE

WHO HAD DECIDED TO SEND
THEIR CHILDREN AWAY,

THAT MY FATHER ALSO APPROACHED
THIS REFUGEE COMMITTEE.

[BEN ABELES]
MY MOTHER TOOK ME
TO THE WINTON OFFICE

ON THE HRUBESOVA ULICE.

WE STOOD IN LINE
ON A WINDING STAIRCASE FOR HOURS

TILL MY TURN CAME
AND I WAS REGISTERED.

THE PARENTS EXCHANGED
THEIR HOPES AND FEARS

AND WE CHILDREN EYED EACH OTHER
FOR POTENTIAL FRIENDS.

[BABY CRYING]

[WINTON]
YOU HAD ALL THESE REFUGEES

WHO WERE FLEEING FROM HITLER

AND WHO WERE IN DANGER
OF THEIR LIVES

IF HITLER MADE ANOTHER MOVE
INTO CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

[DAVE LUX]
THIS WAS THE DAY

THE GERMANS OCCUPIED PRAGUE.

THERE WERE
CONVOYS APPROACHING,

GERMANS WITH MOTORCYCLES
IN FRONT WITH SIDECARS,

AND BEHIND THEM,
THERE WERE THE BIG TRUCKS,

OPEN TRUCKS WITH SOLDIERS
SEATED ON TWO ROWS.

THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
WERE SCREAMING AT THEM,

WOMEN WERE CRYING.

[HUGO MAROM]
FINALLY, A VERY LARGE
MERCEDES DROVE PAST

WITH HITLER STANDING THERE,
WITH HIS ARM RAISED,

WITH THREE OFFICERS
SITTING BEHIND.

IT WAS SO QUIET, IT WAS LIKE
YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP.

IT WAS A VERY DISTURBING
FEELING ALREADY TO ME

IN THOSE DAYS
WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

[MALKA STERNBERG]
AS SOON AS HITLER CAME IN,

A NAZI OFFICER
CAME TO OUR SCHOOL

AND SAID,
"WHO ARE THE JEWISH CHILDREN?"

AND ANOTHER CHILD
AND I PUT OUR HAND UP.

SO HE SAID,
"NOW, ALL YOU SIT AT THE BACK!

JEWISH CHILDREN
SIT AT THE BACK!"

WHEN HE WENT OUT,

THE HEADMASTER CAME IN
AND HE SAID,

"FROM NOW ON, THE BACK SEAT
IS THE SEAT OF HONOR.

ONLY THE BEST CHILDREN
SIT THERE."

THAT WAS CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

[SCHLESINGER]
WINTON WROTE ALL OVER,

LOOKING FOR COUNTRIES
TO TAKE IN THESE CHILDREN.

ONLY ONE RESPONDED POSITIVELY--
HIS OWN COUNTRY, BRITAIN.

THE REST OF THE WORLD
CLOSED ITS EYES,

ITS EARS, ITS HEARTS
AND ITS GATES.

[METAL GATE CREAKING CLOSED]

WINTON STARTED HIS WORK
IN LONDON FROM SCRATCH.

THERE WAS NO ORGANIZATION,
NO EXISTING PIPELINE,

AND HE WAS CONVINCED
THAT TIME WAS RUNNING OUT,

THAT WAR WAS ABOUT TO COME.

FROM THIS HOUSE
ON LONDON’S HAMPSTEAD HEATH,

WINTON CONDUCTED HIS CAMPAIGN

TO GET THE GERMANS
TO LET THE CHILDREN OUT,

THE BRITISH HOME OFFICE
TO LET THEM IN,

TO FIND BRITISH FAMILIES
TO TAKE THEM INTO THEIR HOMES,

AND TO RAISE THE MONEY
TO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE.

[WINTON]
ONE OF THE CHIEF PROBLEMS

WAS THAT PEOPLE SAID WAS THAT

THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT
WOULD NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN

IN ON THEIR OWN
WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS.

I ASKED THE HOME OFFICE
AND THEY SAID YES.

AND THEY GAVE ME
CERTAIN CONDITIONS,

WHICH WERE DIFFICULT.

I HAD TO FIND A FAMILY,

WHICH WOULD LOOK AFTER THE CHILD
UNTIL THE EMERGENCY WAS OVER.

AND EACH CHILD HAD TO HAVE
A GUARANTOR OF 50 POUNDS.

IT WAS A HELL
OF A LOT OF MONEY.

WHEN I SAY
THE COMMITTEE IN LONDON,

IT WAS ME AND A SECRETARY
WORKING FROM HOME.

I MEAN, WE HAD NO OFFICE.

WE WEREN’T
AN OFFICIAL BODY AT ALL.

SO ALL I HAD TO DO WAS
TO BUY SOME NOTEPAPER

AND PRINT
BRITISH COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES

FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA--
CHILDREN’S SECTION.

AND AT A VERY SPECIAL MEETING
I HAD WITH MYSELF,

I THEN APPOINTED MYSELF...

[LAUGHTER]

I THEN APPOINTED MYSELF
HONORARY SECRETARY.

AND THEN I HAD
THE POLICE ’ROUND AND ASKING ME

WHY I HAD SO MUCH
CORRESPONDENCE WITH PRAGUE.

THE SITUATION
IN PRAGUE WAS SERIOUS.

[BELL RINGING]

THERE WAS ACTIVE MENACING
HOSTILITY FROM THE GERMANS.

WHEN HITLER CAME AND GERMANS
OCCUPIED CZECHOSLOVAKIA,

I HAD TO LEAVE SCHOOL.

WE COULDN’T GO TO THE MOVIES,

WE COULDN’T GO
TO THE OPERA OR TO CONCERT,

EVERYTHING WAS FORBIDDEN.

[AMOS BEN-RON]
FATHER WAS DRIVING
ALONG THE KARLOVO NAMESTI,

SAW THAT THE GESTAPO MADE
AN ACTION THERE,

AND THEY WERE TAKING PEOPLE OUT
AND PUTTING THEM ON A TRUCK.

EVERY FAMILY WAS SCARED.
WHICH FAMILY WAS NOT SCARED?

EVERY FAMILY WAS SCARED.

WHENEVER MY FATHER LEFT
FOR THE OFFICE IN THE MORNING,

MY MOTHER WAS TERRIBLY UPSET
AND QUITE OFTEN CRIED

BECAUSE SHE WAS SO WORRIED

THAT HE MIGHT
NEVER COME HOME AGAIN,

BEING ARRESTED BY THE GERMANS.

ONE DAY, SOME GERMAN OFFICERS
CAME TO THIS JEWISH TOWN HALL...

AND DEMANDED
FROM MY FATHER A LIST

OF NAMES AND ADDRESSES
OF THE JEWS IN PRAGUE.

AND HE TOLD THEM THAT HE DIDN’T
HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MY FATHER WAS
A WANTED PERSON.

AND HE WAS WARNED TO LEAVE.

A FEW DAYS LATER THE GESTAPO
DID COME TO LOOK FOR HIM.

THEY TOOK MY MOTHER AWAY
FOR QUESTIONING.

WELL, I WAS BEGINNING
TO PICK UP TENSION

AND WORRY IN THE GROWNUPS.

MY UNCLE AND HIS WIFE
COMMITTED SUICIDE.

AND THEN, THE NEXT DAY,
SOMEONE CAME TO OUR HOUSE

AND SAID BRNO WAS BURNING.

AND SO,
I WAS TERRIFIED OF FIRE.

THAT WAS THE DAY
THEN THAT THERE WERE

THREE, FOUR SYNAGOGUES
BURNED DOWN TO THE GROUND.

[SCHLESINGER]
AS THE DESPAIR
OF THE PARENTS GREW,

SO DID
THE PRESSURE ON WINTON,

WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF APPLICANTS
CONTINUING TO FLOW IN.

A SIMPLE SNAPSHOT COULD OFTEN
DECIDE THE FATE OF A CHILD.

[BIG BEN TOLLING]

[CAR HORN BLARING]

[WINTON]
WE RECEIVED THE PICTURES
OF THE CHILDREN FROM PRAGUE

WITH DETAILS OF EACH CHILD.

WE ENLISTED THESE PICTURES
IN THE LOCAL PRESS,

THE NATIONAL PRESS,
IN PICTURE POST,

WHICH WAS A JOURNAL
WHICH HELPED US ENORMOUSLY.

[SCHLESINGER]
WHAT MADE WINTON
SO EFFECTIVE WAS THAT

IN THE ADDITION
OF HIS SKILLS AS A SALESMAN,

HE ALSO HAD A CREATIVE SPARK
AND A WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT.

[WINTON]
WE PUT SIX OR EIGHT
OF THESE CHILDREN

TOGETHER ON ONE CARD

MERELY TO SPEED UP
THE PROCESS OF GETTING

THE BRITISH FAMILIES
TO CHOOSE.

IF SOMEBODY SAID
WE’D LIKE TO TAKE A CHILD,

WE JUST SAID, "WHAT SEX?"

AND THEN WE SAID, "WHAT AGE?"

WE GAVE THEM PICTURES
OF HALF A DOZEN CHILDREN

AND THEN WE ASKED THEM
TO CHOOSE A CHILD,

WHICH WAS RATHER A COMMERCIAL
WAY OF DEALING WITH IT,

BUT IT WAS QUICK
AND EFFECTIVE AND IT WORKED.

AND IN MOST CASES,
IT WENT RIGHT.

WHEN SOMEBODY WANTED
TO TAKE A CHILD,

SAY THEY WERE UP
IN NEWCASTLE FROM LONDON,

WHICH IS A LONG WAY AWAY,
WE GOT SOMEBODY IN NEWCASTLE

TO VET THE FAMILY TO SEE
THAT THE FAMILY WAS OKAY.

THEN WE GOT TO SEND THEM PHOTOS
OF A NUMBER OF CHILDREN.

MY FATHER CAME HOME
WITH HIS EYES SHINING,

GRINNING FROM EAR
TO EAR AND SAID,

"WE THINK WE MAY BE ABLE
TO SAVE A CHILD."

AND MY MOTHER SAID,
"THAT’S ALL VERY WELL

WITH YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS,
ALWAYS SAVING THE WORLD,

BUT HOW CAN WE AFFORD IT,

AN EXTRA CHILD COMING
INTO OUR HOME?"

AND MY FATHER SAID,
"THERE’S A CHILD IN NEED,

WE WILL WORK OUT
’CAN WE AFFORD IT?’"

LATER.

AND HE GOT FROM
NICHOLAS WINTON

TWO PHOTOGRAPHS AND PUT THEM
IN FRONT OF ME AND SAID,

"NOW, THESE ARE LITTLE GIRLS
WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN YOU,

NOW YOU MUST CHOOSE.

THIS ISN’T JUST A GAME ANYMORE,
YOU HAVE TO BE SERIOUS."

SO I CHOSE
VERA DIAMANTOVA.

[GIRL]
HOW DID YOU FEEL
WHEN YOU WERE TOLD OR ASKED

THAT YOU WERE GOING
TO GO TO ENGLAND?

WE WERE SITTING
AROUND A LITTLE TABLE,

YOU KNOW,
HAVING SUPPER.

BUT MOTHER WASN’T EATING,
AND SUDDENLY SHE PUT...

HER KNIFE AND FORK DOWN
AND LOOKED AT FATHER

AND SAID VERY QUIETLY,
"I HEARD TODAY

THAT BOTH EVA AND VERA
CAN GO TO ENGLAND."

AND MY FATHER LOOKED UP AND
THERE WERE TEARS IN HIS EYES

AS HE SAID,
"WE HAVE TO LET THEM GO."

THERE WAS A LOT
OF SADNESS IN THE HOUSE

AND ALSO...

A SORT OF
PECULIAR ATMOSPHERE.

MY FATHER LOOKED SAD, MY MOTHER,
OBVIOUSLY, WAS DEVASTATED.

[PASTOR FIELCEN]
ONE DAY I REMEMBER MY FATHER
CALLED ME AND HE SAID,

"YOU’RE GOING
ON A LONG JOURNEY.

YOU’RE GOING
TO A COUNTRY CALLED ENGLAND.

WE CAN’T COME WITH YOU."

[WINTON]
THE PRESSURE FROM
THE PARENTS WAS INCREDIBLE.

[BIG BEN TOLLING]

WE IN LONDON
AT THAT TIME THOUGHT

THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE
A CATASTROPHE AT ANY MOMENT.

AND FOR US, TIME WAS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

WE CUT ALL KINDS OF CORNERS,
EVEN HAVING FAKED

PASSPORTS OR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
MADE AT SOME TIME

BECAUSE THE HOME OFFICE
WAS A BIT SLOW.

BUT IT WAS A FORGERY
TO BAMBOOZLE THE GERMANS,

REALLY, NOT TO BAMBOOZLE
THE BRITISH.

WE DIDN’T BRING
ANYBODY IN ILLEGALLY,

WE JUST SPEEDED
THE PROCESS UP A LITTLE.

[BEN ABELES]
TWO DAYS BEFORE I LEFT
WITH THE KINDERTRANSPORT,

MY PARENTS TOOK ME
TO SOME RESORT NEAR PRAGUE

WHERE THERE WAS A LAKE WHERE
THEY WANTED TO BE ALONE WITH ME.

[LAUGHING]

I SAW A VERY PRETTY YOUNG GIRL
THERE AND I OFFERED

TO TEACH HER HOW TO ROW...

AND I GOT COMPLETELY
LOST IN THIS ACTIVITY.

WHEN I CAME BACK,
MY MOTHER LOOKED AT ME

WITH GREAT RELIEF
AND REPROACH AND SAID,

"IS THAT WHAT
YOU DO TO YOUR PARENTS

ONE DAY BEFORE
YOU ARE LEAVING?"

AND I FELT
VERY GUILTY ABOUT IT.

[ALICE MASTERS]
I HAVE A DRESS THAT
MY MOTHER MADE FOR ME.

SHE MADE EVERYTHING HERSELF.

SHE SEWED FOR US
TO HAVE CLOTHES,

NOT ONLY FOR THE AGE
THAT WE WERE AT THE TIME,

BUT FOR-- SHE DIDN’T KNOW
HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST,

HOW LONG WE WOULD BE AWAY,

SO SHE SEWED
FOR A YEAR AHEAD OR SO.

[TROLLEY BELL RINGS]

THEN THE DAY CAME
THAT WE HAD TO LEAVE.

WE WENT TO THE TRAIN.
EVERYBODY WAS THERE ALREADY--

MY GRANDPARENTS AND ALL OUR
FRIENDS AND ALL OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND THEY CAME
TO SAY GOOD-BYE.

[TRAIN HORN BLARING]

[LORD ALFRED DUBS]
MY MOTHER, WITH A FRIEND
OF HERS, TOOK ME TO STATION.

AND I CAN STILL SEE
THE TENSION ON MY MOTHER’S FACE,

LOOKING ANXIOUS.

THERE WERE GERMAN SOLDIERS
WITH SWASTIKAS STANDING NEARBY,

LOTS OF OTHER PARENTS SEEING
THEIR CHILDREN OFF

AND A CLEAR SENSE
OF TENSION,

WHICH EVEN
A SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILD FELT.

[DAVE LUX]
MY MOM, SHE’S
CRYING SO HARD,

AND SHE WAS HYSTERICAL.

AND SHE’S ASKING US
OVER AND OVER,

"ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GO?
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GO?"

I’M FRUSTRATED-- WHY IS
MY MOTHER CRYING LIKE THAT?

I’VE NEVER
SEEN HER LIKE THAT.

[WINTON]
THE TRANSPORT
WAS DUE TO LEAVE,

I’D GET A MESSAGE
FROM THE GERMANS,

WE CAN’T LET
THE TRANSPORT GO

UNLESS YOU GIVE US
SO MUCH MORE MONEY.

SO THEY WERE TERRIBLE.

YOU JUST HAD
TO FIND THE MONEY.

I MEAN, IT WAS AN EGG YOU
COULDN’T UNSCRAMBLE ANYMORE.

THERE’S NO WAY YOU CAN CANCEL

A BIG OPERATION LIKE THAT.

WAS IT EASY FOR YOU
TO LEAVE AND TO GO TO ENGLAND?

I HAVE TO SAY, IT WAS, BECAUSE
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I MEAN, HERE I WAS A KID
FROM CENTRAL EUROPE,

AND I WAS GOING TO ENGLAND.
I WAS GOING TO LONDON.

SO THEN THE LAST THING
MY DAD SAID TO ME WAS

I SHOULD BE HIS BRAVE,
CHEERFUL LITTLE GIRL.

AND I THINK I HAVE BEEN.

AND HE SAID,
"SEE YOU SOON."

[ALICE MASTERS]
MY MOTHER WAS BESIDE HERSELF.

MY LITTLE SISTER WAS CRYING,
MY MOTHER WANTED TO HOLD HER.

SHE TOOK MY SISTER THROUGH
THE OPEN WINDOW OFF THE TRAIN.

WE KEPT ON TELLING
MY MOTHER TO KEEP HER,

KEEP HER, KEEP HER,

WHEN SHE TOOK HER OUT
OF THE WINDOW AND SHE HELD HER.

I KNOW HOW MUCH
SHE SUFFERED, REALLY.

I CAN JUST VISUALIZE IT.

IT JUST MAKES ME CRY
WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT.

MOMMY!

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

[GIRL CRYING]

MOMMY!

[GIRL YELLING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[ALICE MASTERS]
AND IF SHE HADN’T
PUT HER BACK ON,

SHE WOULDN’T
HAVE SURVIVED.

[SCHLESINGER]
DECADES LATER,
I WOULD CATCH MYSELF

LOOKING AT MY OWN CHILDREN,

TRYING
TO RECAPTURE A FRACTION

OF THE DREAD THOSE PARENTS,
MY PARENTS MUST HAVE FELT.

[TRAIN HORN BLARING]

[KURT STERN]
TODAY YOU HAVE
TO REALIZE THE SACRIFICE

OUR PARENTS DID FOR US.

THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHERE
THEY WERE SENDING US TO.

IT WAS THE COURAGE
OF OUR PARENTS

TO SEND
THEIR CHILDREN AWAY.

[JOSEPHINE KNIGHT]
WE ONLY HAD ONE LITTLE SUITCASE

AND A LITTLE BLANKET
AND WE SAT

ON THESE BENCHES HERE
IN THE CARRIAGE LIKE THIS,

AND THERE WERE
A LOT OF CHILDREN

AND A LOT OF CRYING,
AND EVERYBODY WAS CRYING.

[CRYING]

[JOZEF GINAT]
IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY,

AND SO I CLIMBED UP
ON THE SHELF LIKE THIS,

AND I COULD STRETCH MY LEGS,

AND IT FELT GOOD,
I WAS HAPPY.

[SCHLESINGER]
70 YEARS AFTER
WE LEFT FOR BRITAIN,

MANY OF US FOUND THEMSELVES
MAKING THE JOURNEY

ALL OVER AGAIN
ON A SPECIAL TRAIN.

IT WAS A TIME
TO REMEMBER AND REMINISCE.

[HANNA SLOME]
THEY PUT ME IN CHARGE OF YOU AND
SAID, "PLEASE TAKE CARE OF HER."

AND I PUT YOU ON MY LAP,

AND WE STARTED PLAYING
HOPPE, HOPPE REITER.

YOU STILL REMEMBER THAT?

I REMEMBER HOPPE,
HOPPE REITER!

[TOGETHER]
SO IT GOES:
♪ HOPPE, HOPPE, REITER ♪

♪ WENN ER FALLT,
DANN SCHREIT ER ♪

♪ FALLT ER IN DEN GRABEN ♪

♪ FRESSEN IHN DIE RABEN ♪

♪ FALLT ER IN DE SUMPF ♪

♪ MACHT DER REITER PLUMPS! ♪

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[TRAIN HORN BLARING]

[BEN ABELES]
THEN THE NEXT DAY
WHEN WE WERE CROSSING GERMANY,

WE WERE PASSING THROUGH
THESE RAILWAY STATIONS

BEDECKED WITH
NAZI FLAGS, UNIFORMS.

THEN THERE WERE
BIG PORTRAITS OF HITLER

AND SWASTIKAS EVERYWHERE.

[FELIX KAFKA]
WE ARRIVED AT
THE GERMAN BORDER.

THERE WERE LOTS OF GERMANS
CROWDING AROUND,

AND WE WONDERED
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

[SOLDIER SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

[HUGO MAROM]
THERE WAS SOMETHING
VERY FRIGHTENING

ABOUT THE WAY
THEY WALKED INTO THE CABIN,

LOOKED AT OUR LUGGAGE.

THERE WAS A FEELING THAT
THERE WAS GOING TO BE TROUBLE.

[BABY CRYING]

[ALICE MASTERS]
WE WERE TERRIFIED THAT
THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING

LIKE MAYBE ARREST US.

WE DIDN’T KNOW.

I MEAN WE HAD
THE BIGGEST FEARS.

WE WERE DUMBFOUNDED.

BUT FINALLY THEY GOT OFF
AND WE WERE DELIGHTED.

WE BREATHED
THE SIGH OF RELIEF.

[HUGO MAROM]
WE FINALLY ARRIVED TO HOLLAND.

THROUGH THE ENTIRE TRAIN THERE
WAS AN ATMOSPHERE OF RELIEF.

IT WAS LIKE
COMING OUT OF A TUNNEL.

IT WAS
VERY STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT,

AS IF THE SUN
STARTED SHINING.

[TRAIN HORN BLARES]

WE CAME TO THE WINDOWS
AND WE STARTED SHOUTING,

"HITLER, GOEHRING,
GOEBBLES DO PRDELE!"

"DO PRDELE"
MEANS INTO THE ASS.

AND WE WERE
VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

[TRAIN HORN BLARES]

[FELIX KAFKA]
I REMEMBER VERY WELL THAT
THE FIRST STOP IN HOLLAND

WAS AT A RAILWAY STATION WHERE
THERE WERE A GROUP OF LADIES.

AND SOME LOVELY LADIES DRESSED

IN DUTCH
NATIONAL COSTUMES CAME...

[WOMEN SPEAKING DUTCH]

ALTHOUGH WE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND
A WORD THEY SAID,

THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO TALK.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE WERE GOING
TO GET SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT.

THEY GAVE US COCOA,

THE FAMOUS DUTCH DROSTE COCOA,

WHICH WAS DELICIOUS.

[HUGO MAROM]
AND WE RECEIVED WHITE BREAD.

WE HAD NEVER EATEN
THIS KIND OF BREAD AND I FELT

THAT EITHER IT WAS WET,
OR SOMEBODY WETTED IT,

IT MAY HAVE BEEN COLD.

WELL, IT SEEMED
KIND OF ODD TO ME,

KIND OF PAP
THAT I DIDN’T REALLY LIKE.

THE BREAD?

WELL, IT’S
VERY DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE.

IT’S INDESCRIBABLE!

[SCHLESINGER]
WE FINALLY DID REACH THE CHANNEL
COAST AND BOARDED A SHIP.

AND THE SHIP JUST
SEEMED HUGE TO ME

BECAUSE THE ONLY SHIPS
I’VE EVER SEEN BEFORE IN MY LIFE

WERE THE LITTLE PADDLE STEAMERS
THAT WENT UP AND DOWN

THE DANUBE IN BRATISLAVA.

[BOAT HORN BLARING]

AND BEING LITTLE BOYS,
WE WERE FASCINATED BY THE SHIP,

AND LOOKING AROUND, CLIMBING
UP AND DOWN GANGWAYS,

AND JUST RUNNING ALONG
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT WAS FUN TO GO ON A BOAT.

I’VE NEVER BEEN ON A BIG BOAT
TO CROSS THE CHANNEL.

[SEAGULLS SQUAWKING]

[SCHLESINGER]
THAT NIGHT, AS WE CROSSED
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,

SUSPENDED FOR A FEW HOURS
IN THE CALMNESS

OF THE SHIP ROCKING US
TO SLEEP,

I HEARD VOICES
FROM NEARBY CABINS,

SINGING
THE CZECH NATIONAL ANTHEM.

[SINGING IN CZECH]

[SCHLESINGER]
KDE DOMOV MUJ, KDE DOMOV MUJ?

WHERE IS MY HOME,
WHERE IS MY HOME?

IT WAS A QUESTION
THAT REMAINED UNANSWERED

FOR MANY OF US FOR YEARS.

[BOAT HORN BLARES]

A QUESTION THAT FOR A FEW

REMAINS UNANSWERED
TO THIS DAY.

LIVERPOOL STREET STATION--

THIS IS WHERE
WE ARRIVED IN LONDON.

IT’S ALL CHANGED, OF COURSE,
EXCEPT FOR ALL THE NOISE.

WHAT I REMEMBER MOST IS
ONE OF THOSE LITTLE ODD FACTS

THAT STICK IN YOUR MIND
YOUR WHOLE LIFE, AND THAT IS

GETTING OFF THE TRAIN, THAT
YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO CLIMB DOWN

TO THE RAILS AS YOU DID
IN CENTRAL EUROPE,

THAT THE PLATFORM WAS EVEN
WITH THE TRAIN DOOR,

AND ALL YOU HAD TO DO
WAS JUST STEP OUT.

I WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED.

[MALE NEWS REPORTER]
LIVERPOOL STREET STATION
SAW THE ARRIVAL

OF ANOTHER GROUP
OF REFUGEE CHILDREN,

ANOTHER PITEOUS CARGO
THROWN OVERBOARD

BY THE RUTHLESS CODE
OF THE MODERN EUROPEAN TEMPER.

A SPECIAL EFFORT
IS BEING MADE TO HELP

THE REFUGEES
ON MOTHER’S DAY.

THEN THE TRAIN ARRIVED
AND YOU HAD

UP TO 200, 250 CHILDREN
GETTING OUT,

AND YOU HAD TO GET THE RIGHT
CHILD TO THE RIGHT FAMILY.

AND YOU HAD
TO TREAT IT AS A BUSINESS.

WHEN YOU GOT THE RIGHT CHILD
TO THE RIGHT FAMILY,

THE FAMILY HAD TO SIGN
FOR THE CHILD,

SO THAT YOU HAD
SOME PROOF OF DELIVERY.

[BEN ABELES]
THEY ASSEMBLED
US KIDS IN THE CORNER,

THERE WERE BUNCH OF GROWN UPS
WAITING BEHIND THE BARRIER,

CRANING THEIR NECKS,
WAITING TO PICK US UP.

A LADY BEHIND
A WOODEN TABLE CALLED MY NAME.

BEN ABELES!

A LADY MY MOTHER’S AGE
CAME OVER,

EMBRACED ME AND KISSED ME.

[LISA DASH]
I REMEMBER WHEN I ARRIVED,

HAVING THIS UNCOMFORTABLE
STRING AROUND MY NECK

AND A BIG PLACARD ON MY CHEST,

AND I JUST WAS TOTALLY ALONE,

WITH NOBODY AROUND ME.

AND I WAS OBVIOUSLY
WAITING FOR THE FAMILY

WHO I WAS GOING TO,
TO PICK ME UP.

AND I WAS
JUST THREE YEARS OLD.

[WINTON]
THERE WAS BOUND
TO BE TROUBLES AND DIFFICULTIES.

SOME CHILDREN GOT LEFT BEHIND

AND THE POLICE LOOKED AFTER THEM
UNTIL WE COULD SORT THINGS OUT.

IT WAS FAIRLY CHAOTIC,
BUT IT WORKED OUT.

[HUGO MAROM]
THERE WERE FIVE BOYS
SITTING ON SUITCASES,

WAITING FOR SOMEBODY
TO PICK US UP.

NOBODY PICKED US UP.

IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT,

AND A TAXI DRIVER
CAME OVER AND ASKED US,

"YOU’VE BEEN HERE SINCE 7:00
IN THE MORNING, ARE YOU HUNGRY?"

AND HE DROVE US
NOT FAR AWAY FROM THE STATION,

TO A FISH-AND-CHIPS SHOP.

I REMEMBER HIM SHOWING US
PUTTING SALT AND VINEGAR

FOR THE FIRST TIME
ONTO THE FISH.

I KNOW TO THIS DAY

THAT THE FISH
AND CHIPS WAS VERY GOOD.

LATER, HE TOOK US
TO HIS OWN WIFE

AND SMALL CHILD
IN A SINGLE BEDROOM APARTMENT,

IN WHICH HE PUT US UP,
THE FIVE OF US.

ENGLISH PEOPLE, AS A PEOPLE,
ARE EXTREMELY KIND,

AND I WOULD SAY...

THE POORER THEY WERE,
THE KINDER THEY WERE.

[VERA GISSING]
AND WE ALL WERE
USHERED INTO A BIG HALL

AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS
OF THE CHILDREN.

I HAD NO IDEA
WHERE I WAS GOING,

AND CHILD AFTER CHILD,
HUNDREDS OF THESE CHILDREN,

ONE AFTER THE OTHER WENT,

AND I WAS LEFT SITTING THERE,

TREMBLING AT THE KNEES.

AND SUDDENLY THE DOOR OPENED

AND A LITTLE LADY
RAN TOWARDS ME,

LAUGHING AND SMILING
AT THE SAME TIME,

WITH TEARS STREAMING
DOWN HER FACE AS WELL,

AND SHE HUGGED ME,

AND SHE SPOKE WORDS I DIDN’T
UNDERSTAND THEN, BUT THEY WERE,

"YOU SHALL BE LOVED."

OH, IT’S LOVELY
TO SEE YOU.

[VERA GISSING]
AND THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT
WORDS ANY CHILD CAN HEAR.

[KURT STERN]
MR. AND MRS. NUM,

THE FAMILY THAT TOOK US IN,

THEY WERE METHODISTS,

FARMERS IN REDGRAVE,
IN SUFFOLK, EAST ANGLIA.

THEIR COTTAGE HAD
A THATCHED ROOF.

I’D NEVER SEEN
A THATCHED ROOF.

MY COUSIN AND I WENT
AROUND THE WALLS KNOCKING--

WE WERE AFRAID
IT MAY FALL DOWN.

AND THE TOILET WAS OUTSIDE.

THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY.

THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY.

AND THEY WERE GOOD TO US.

THEY WERE TRUE CHRISTIANS,
IN THE REAL SENSE OF THE WORD.

[CHURCH BELL RINGING]

[BIG BEN TOLLING]

[WINTON]
AND THE ONLY PEOPLE
WHO OBJECTED

TO WHAT I WAS DOING
WAS WHEN ONE DAY

A COUPLE OF RABBIS
ARRIVED AT HOME

AND SAID THAT
THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT

SOME OF THE GOOD
JEWISH CHILDREN

I WAS BRINGING OVER
TO THIS COUNTRY

WERE GOING
TO CHRISTIAN HOMES,

AND THAT MUST STOP.

AND I SAID,
"WELL, IT WON’T STOP,

AND IF YOU PREFER A DEAD JEW
IN PRAGUE TO AN ALIVE ONE

WHO IS BEING BROUGHT UP
IN A CHRISTIAN HOME,"

I SAID, "THAT’S
YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE."

[TOM SCHRECKER]
MY GUARDIAN CAME FROM
A DISTINGUISHED SCOTTISH FAMILY,

AND HAD AN ENORMOUS
INFLUENCE ON MY LIFE,

SHE PROVIDED ME
WITH AN ETHICAL YARDSTICK.

THE LESSONS OF HER LIFE WERE
HER EXTRAORDINARY UNSELFISHNESS.

MARNIE GAVE ME THIS
WONDERFUL DOG, A GREAT DANE,

AND I WAS VERY SMALL,
AND I COULD RIDE

ON HIS BACK,
ON THE DOG’S BACK.

WE USED TO PLAY
MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

YOU REMEMBER?

YES.

WE JUST PLAYED
VERY HAPPILY TOGETHER.

WE DID, WE DID.

AND THEN WE PLAYED
COWBOYS AND INDIANS.

MY FIRST DAY IN LONDON,
AUDREY, MY GUARANTOR’S DAUGHTER,

TOOK ME TO HARRODS HERE.

THERE WERE
SO MANY NEW SIGHTS FOR ME.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME
RUNNING AROUND.

I DECIDED I WAS
GOING TO MARRY AUDREY,

EVEN THOUGH
SHE HAD PIMPLES.

BUT I WANTED TO LIVE
IN THAT RICH HOUSE OF THEIRS.

[WINTON]
ONCE THE CHILDREN HAD ARRIVED

AND WERE WITH
THEIR NEW FAMILIES,

I HAD NO CONTACT
WITH THEM ANYMORE.

I KNEW THAT THEY WERE
BEING WELL LOOKED AFTER,

AND SOME WENT
TO THE CZECH SCHOOL IN WALES.

[ZUZANA MARESOVA]
WE HAD MANY PILLOW
FIGHTS IN SCHOOL.

AND MANY TIMES,
THESE PILLOWS BURST

AND THE FEATHERS FLEW OUT
AND WE HAD TO CLEAN IT UP.

I LIKED IT THERE.

IT WAS A GOOD ATMOSPHERE
WITH BOYS AND GIRLS TOGETHER.

[BELL RINGING]

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

LET’S FACE IT,
I COULDN’T RUN DOWN THOSE STAIRS

LIKE THAT ANY LONGER,
BUT I DO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS

AT THE CZECHOSLOVAK SCHOOL
AS THOUGH THEY WERE YESTERDAY.

DESPITE THE SEPARATION
FROM OUR FAMILIES,

DESPITE THE FACT
THAT WE MISSED THEM SO MUCH,

THOSE WERE SOME OF
THE HAPPIEST TIMES IN MY LIFE,

AND IN THAT OF
MANY OF MY SCHOOLMATES.

[TOM BERMAN]
WE ALSO DID THINGS
IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WENT TO OLD-AGE HOMES
AND SPENT TIME

WITH THE PEOPLE THERE.

WE LEARNED THAT YOU ARE
NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE,

THAT THERE ARE
OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE

WHO HAVE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS

AND MAYBE YOU CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SO IT WAS FUN,
IT WAS GREAT FUN.

BUT ALSO,
WE ACQUIRED AN EDUCATION.

[ZUZANA MARESOVA]
WELL, WE WERE ALL
CRAZY ABOUT THE BOYS.

ALL OF US GIRLS, YOU KNOW.

WE TRIED TO ATTRACT
THEIR ATTENTION

IN EVERY WAY IT WAS POSSIBLE,
AND WHEN I LOOK BACK AT IT,

WE WERE ABSOLUTELY NUTS.

[FELIX KAFKA]
I WAS INEXPERIENCED WITH GIRLS,

AND I ASKED MY BROTHER

HOW TO ARRANGE GIRLS
WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THEM OUT.

HIS ADVICE WAS I SHOULD
TAKE THEM TO THE CINEMA,

AND WHEN
THE LIGHTS WENT DOWN,

TO PUT MY ARM AROUND HER,

AND THAT EVERYTHING ELSE
WOULD FOLLOW. BUT...

[LAUGHTER]

SO I’M AFRAID HIS ADVICE
WAS GOOD IN THEORY,

BUT NOT VERY GOOD IN PRACTICE.

[MALE NEWS REPORTER]
MONTH OF AUGUST,
WHICH IS NORMALLY

A HAPPY MONTH OF HOLIDAYS,

HAS BEEN PASSED IN EUROPE
BENEATH THE SHADOW OF WAR.

HITLER DEMANDED DANZIG
AND THE POLISH CORRIDOR,

WHICH RUNS BETWEEN GERMANY
AND EAST PRUSSIA.

[SUZANNE PEARSON]
I’VE GOT A LETTER HERE,

WHICH MY FATHER WROTE
TO THE FOSTER PARENTS.

"YOU WILL, I SUPPOSE,
FEEL HOW IT ACHES US

TO BE SEPARATED
FROM OUR OWN CHILD.

HERE, HOWEVER, THE POSSIBILITY
TO CARE FOR HER SUITABLE FUTURE

IS SMALLER WITH EVERY DAY."

AS THE MONTHS PASSED,
WINTON KNEW

THE END WAS NEARING,
AND SO HE KEPT ON PRESSING

EVEN HARDER FOR PERMITS
FOR MORE CHILDREN.

[WINTON]
I MEAN THERE WERE
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN

ON THE LISTS
WHO WANTED TO GET OUT.

WE HAD ORGANIZED EIGHT
TRANSPORTS FROM PRAGUE.

NO TRANSPORT
COMPLETED THE OPERATION.

I MEAN, IT WAS
AN OPERATION WITHOUT END.

FOR THE BEGINNING
OF SEPTEMBER,

WE HAD ARRANGED
OUR BIGGEST TRANSPORT,

WHICH COULD HAVE
COMPRISED 250 CHILDREN.

ALL THE PAPERWORK WAS DONE,

ALL THE FAMILIES WERE PREPARED
TO TAKE THE CHILDREN,

ALL THE CHILDREN
WERE WAITING IN THE TRAIN...

[GERMAN SHEPARD BARKING]

[MAN ANNOUNCING
OVER P.A. IN GERMAN]

[CHURCHILL]
WE SHALL DEFEND
OUR ISLAND, WHATEVER THE COST.

WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.

[ZUZANA MARESOVA]
I WAS IN LONDON.

WE WATCHED THE PLANES
COMING OVER, DROPPING BOMBS.

I REMEMBER THE HOUSES FELL DOWN
LIKE CARDS OR DOMINO STICKS.

JUST COLLAPSED.

I WAS AFRAID TO GO OUT
ON THE STREET AFTERWARDS.

IT WAS
A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE.

AND OUR NEIGHBORS GOT
A DIRECT HIT

ON THEIR SHELTER
IN THEIR GARDEN

AND ALL OF THEM
WERE KILLED.

[BEN ABELES]
DURING THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN,

BOMBS WERE RAINING DOWN
ON US EVERY NIGHT.

I WAS THEN AN APPRENTICE COOK
AT THE BAILYS HOTEL IN LONDON

AS A DISHWASHER
AND A POT WASHER

AND EVERY NIGHT,
PRACTICALLY,

WE ENDED UP
IN THE AIR RAID SHELTER.

I WAS SITTING NEXT TO A MAID,

AND WHEN A BOMB WAS FALLING,

SHE CLUTCHED MY KNEE.

AND I ASKED HER WHETHER
WE COULD SHARE A BLANKET,

AND SHE AGREED.

AND THEN I PUT MY HAND ON
HER KNEE AND SHE DIDN’T OBJECT.

AND MY HAND STARTED ROAMING,

AND SHE DIDN’T
OBJECT, EITHER.

AND SO I WAS REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO THESE AIR RAIDS.

BUT THEN THERE WAS
A LULL IN THE AIR RAIDS

AND I MISSED HER SO MUCH.

[ALICE MASTERS]
MY MOTHER WAS
ABSOLUTELY HEARTBROKEN

AND SHE WROTE US
LONG LETTERS.

"MY DEAREST CHILDREN,
I AM VERY HAPPY

THAT YOU ARE OVER THERE
AND DON’T KNOW ABOUT EVIL.

ALL JEWS UNDER 50 HERE
MUST WORK IN LABOR CAMPS.

WE WILL COME THROUGH SOMEHOW

AND YOU MUSTN’T WORRY
ABOUT US.

BUT I AM VERY HAPPY
THAT YOU ARE NOT HERE."

WE LEARNED ABOUT
THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS,

AND THE POSSIBILITY
THAT OUR PARENTS

MIGHT HAVE BEEN
TAKEN TO THEM.

WE ALL HOPED THAT
NOTHING AWFUL HAPPENED TO THEM,

THAT THEY WERE WELL.

[SCHLESINGER]
THE LAST LETTER
FROM MY FATHER CAME IN 1942.

HE WROTE THAT THEY HAD
RECEIVED ORDERS TO PACK UP,

THAT THEY WERE BEING
TRANSPORTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND IN WHICH,
HE WROTE TO HIS SONS,

TELLING THEM

NOT TO FORGET THE PRECEPTS
THEY WERE TAUGHT AT HOME,

AND HE HOPED
THE ALMIGHTY WOULD ALLOW US

TO GROW UP
INTO JUST AND DECENT MEN.

AND THAT WAS LAST THING
I HEARD FROM MY PARENTS.

[WINTON]
OUR GREATEST REGRET
WAS THAT OUR BIGGEST TRANSPORT,

WHICH WAS 250 CHILDREN,

WHICH WAS DUE TO LEAVE
AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER,

WAS CANCELED
BECAUSE WAR STARTED.

AND ALMOST NONE
OF THOSE CHILDREN SURVIVED.

NOTHING THAT HAPPENED
PRIOR TO THE WAR STARTING

WAS REALLY
OF ANY IMPORTANCE ANYMORE.

WHAT WAS DONE WAS DONE,

WHAT COULDN’T BE DONE
COULDN’T BE DONE,

WHAT HAD BEEN DONE WAS DONE.

ONCE YOU CAN’T STOP A WAR,
AND THERE IS A WAR, YOU,

I SUPPOSE, GO TO
THE DEFENSE OF YOUR COUNTRY.

AND I JOINED THE RAF.

[FELIX KAFKA]
I JOINED THE ROYAL AIR FORCE,

OUR CZECH SQUADRON NUMBER 311,

AND OUR JOB WAS
TO LOOK FOR ENEMY SHIPPING.

[BEN ABELES]
I VOLUNTEERED
FOR THE CZECH RAF

AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP
TO HUNT GERMAN SUBMARINES.

I WANTED TO HELP
TO LIBERATE MY COUNTRY.

[ZUZANA MARESOVA]
WE DECIDED TO GO TO TOWN

TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY
WAS CELEBRATING.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE,
I REMEMBER, IN LONDON,

WHERE EVERYBODY WENT AROUND
PUTTING UP THEIR TWO--

V FOR VICTORY--
EVERYBODY LAUGHED,

THAT WAS SO GAY,

WE WERE DANCING
WITH AMERICAN SOLDIERS.

[FELIX KAFKA]
WE RETURNED TO PRAGUE
WITH THE WHOLE SQUADRON,

ALL OF US
VERY HAPPY TO BE HOME.

THERE WAS
A HUGE PARADE IN PRAGUE,

IN WHICH
I TOOK PART AS WELL.

ALL THE GIRLS WERE
DRESSED IN NATIONAL DRESS,

AND ALL OF US ENJOYED IT.

[SCHLESINGER]
THE WAR WAS OVER.

BUT STILL NO NEWS
OF OUR FAMILIES.

MANY OF US CAME BACK
TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA
TO LOOK FOR THEM.

I CAME TO PRAGUE, HERE
TO THIS BUILDING BEHIND ME,

WHICH SERVED AS A CLEARINGHOUSE
FOR SEPARATED FAMILIES.

INSIDE, WALL UPON WALL
FILLED WITH NOTICES

PUT UP BY PEOPLE LOOKING
FOR THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES.

OF MY PARENTS,
THOUGH, NOT A TRACE.

I KNOW THEY WERE DEPORTED
TO POLAND, BUT TO THIS DAY,

I AM NOT CERTAIN
HOW THEY CAME TO DIE.

MY FIRST STOP
IN PRAGUE WAS THE HOUSE

FROM WHICH MY PARENTS
WERE DEPORTED TO TEREZIN.

THERE WAS A MINIMAL CHANCE
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE COME BACK.

I LINGERED FOR A WHILE
AS IF I WERE WAITING

FOR THEM TO APPEAR SUDDENLY.

BUT IN VAIN.

MY MOTHER
AND MY BROTHER TOGETHER

WITH ABOUT 10 OTHER CHILDREN
ARRIVED TO AUSCHWITZ...

AND WERE SENT
TO THE GAS CHAMBER.

AN OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY
WHO TOOK CARE OF THE DEAD BODIES

IMMEDIATELY
RECOGNIZED MY MOTHER.

HE TOLD HER, "PLEASE,
TAKE YOUR CHILDREN, GO IN,

SIT DOWN IN THE CORNER
AND START TO SING WITH THEM.

BECAUSE IF YOU SING
AND YOU INHALE THE GAS,

YOU WILL DIE VERY QUICKLY."

[WOMAN SINGING
MELANCHOLY BALLAD]

[GAS HISSING]

[HUGO MAROM]
WHEN MY PARENTS WENT
TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS,

AND WHEN THEY SAW
OTHER CHILDREN AROUND THEM,

YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS BEING TAKEN
TO GAS CHAMBERS AND SO FORTH,

THAT THEY MUST HAVE THEN...

THEY MUST HAVE THEN
REALIZED WHAT THEY...

WHAT THEY HAD DONE...

WHEN THEY SENT
THEIR CHILDREN.

[TOM BERMAN]
MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS--

NONE OF
THESE PEOPLE SURVIVED.

SO AFTER THE WAR,
WE HAD TO CONTINUE LIVING,

TO OVERCOME THE PAST.

WE WERE ALL YOUNG,
WE WERE BEGINNING,

WE HAD TO BUILD CAREERS.

YOU KNOW, WE’RE SPREAD
ALL OVER THE WORLD,

SOME OF US IN CANADA,
IN THE STATES, IN ISRAEL,

IN AUSTRALIA,
IN FRANCE, IN BRITAIN.

WHEREVER WE ENDED UP,
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US

WAS TO START A NEW LIFE
WITH THE NEW FAMILIES.

[LAUGHING]

[LAUGHING]

[WINTON]
I HADN’T GOT A CLUE WHERE
ALL THESE 700 CHILDREN WERE.

I WASN’T IN TOUCH
WITH ANY OF THEM.

FOR ME, IT WAS AN EPISODE,

AND...

IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENS.

SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT,

TO ME, MORE IMPORTANT THINGS
HAPPENED IN THE MEANTIME.

HE IS VERY KEEN
ON HIS GARDENING,

AND HE SPENDS
A LOT OF TIME IN THE GARDEN.

BUT HE IS A VERY
DOMESTICATED HUSBAND.

HE DOES A LOT
OF HELPING OUT IN THE HOUSE.

I GET ANNOYED BECAUSE
HE’S VERY UNTIDY.

I AM NOT ALL THAT TIDY,
BUT HE IS REALLY VERY UNTIDY.

I’M FAIRLY HAPPY WITH GRETA,

WITH WHAT I’VE DONE
AND WHAT WE DO TOGETHER.

FAIRLY?
I LIKE THAT!

VERY HAPPY.
VERY HAPPY.

[WINTON]
ANY GOOD MARRIAGE IS
A MARRIAGE OF COMPROMISE.

THE ONLY THING WAS, GRETA
COMPROMISED MORE THAN I DID.

SHE WAS QUITE A VERY,
VERY SPECIAL PERSON.

IF YOU’RE IN LOVE
WITH SOMEBODY,

EVERYBODY SAYS
WHEN THAT PERSON DIES...

"AFTER A TIME,
THINGS WILL GET BETTER."

IT’S NOT TRUE.
THEY GET WORSE.

INSTEAD OF LIVING,
YOU JUST EXIST.

AND I SPEND MY TIME
WITH CARPENTRY,

MENDING THE BICYCLE,
PHOTOGRAPHY.

I LISTEN TO MUSIC
AND I DO MY EMBROIDERY,

I DO A BIT OF GARDENING.

MY FATHER HAS BEEN INVOLVED
IN HELPING CHARITIES

NEARLY ALL HIS LIFE.

A LOT OF HIS WORK’S
BEEN WITH ABBEYFIELD--

A CHARITY HELPING OLD PEOPLE.

I’M JUST BUILDING A HOME
FOR ALZHEIMER’S.

IT COSTS
FOUR MILLION POUNDS.

[NICK WINTON]
HE STILL ACTS AS
IF HE’S HALF HIS AGE.

HE’S STILL VERY ACTIVE
AND STILL LIKES MAKING MISCHIEF.

OH, HIS CURRENT PLAN IS
TO TRY AND BE ARRESTED,

TO SHOW WHAT
A SILLY LAW WE HAVE

TO DO WITH HELPING OLD PEOPLE.

WELL, I DRIVE,
AND I LIKE DRIVING QUICKLY.

YOU GOT A SPEEDING
TICKET LAST MONTH.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

I GOT A SPEEDING TICKET
IN A ONE-WAY ROAD

WHERE THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR,
AND I WAS DOING

50 MILES AN HOUR
IN A 40 MILE AREA.

[POLICE SIREN BLARING]

AND THE POLICE SAID,
"HAVE YOU GOT ANY EXCUSE,

HAVE YOU GOT ANY REASON
WHY YOU WERE DOING IT?"

AND I SAID, "YES, I HAD
TO GET TO THE LAVATORY."

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[HOLLY]
BEING SO ACTIVE MUST BE
LIKE A RECIPE FOR LONGEVITY--

FOR MY GRANDPA JUST
TO KEEP GOING AND NOT STOP.

NICKY, LAST WORDS
BEFORE YOU GO?

MY LAST WORDS ARE THAT
I HOPE I WILL COME BACK.

[LAUGHTER]

ONE THING I’VE LEARNED
FROM GRANDPA IS THAT

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS
TRY AND HELP PEOPLE,

SO IF THE OPPORTUNITY
PRESENTS ITSELF.

I DON’T MIND
IF YOU TELL THE TRUTH.

OF COURSE
I LOVE MY GRANDPA,

WITH ALL THE WORLD,
EVERYTHING.

[SCHLESINGER]
WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG,
YOU TAKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE,

INCLUDING SURVIVAL,
FOR GRANTED.

AS I GREW OLDER, THOUGH,
I BEGAN TO WONDER MORE AND MORE

HOW IT WAS THAT WHEN SO MANY
DIED-- OUR PARENTS, FRIENDS,

FAMILIES AND MILLIONS
OF OTHERS--

HOW IT CAME TO BE
THAT WE THE FORTUNATE FEW

ON THOSE TRAINS FROM PRAGUE,
WERE SPARED.

THAT IS, UNTIL 50 YEARS LATER
WHEN THIS SCRAPBOOK SURFACED.

THEN WE KNEW.

THE SCRAPBOOK AND ITS STORY
GATHERED DUST FOR DECADES

IN THE WINTON’S ATTIC,
UNTIL ONE DAY,

NICKY’S WIFE GRETA
FOUND IT, OPENED IT,

BECAME FASCINATED,
AND YET WAS PUZZLED.

AND SO 50 YEARS
AFTER IT HAPPENED,

NICKY WINTON
FINALLY TOLD HIS WIFE

WHAT HE HAD
FOR SO LONG KEPT SECRET.

[WINTON]
I SUPPOSE THERE’S
QUITE A NUMBER OF THINGS,

WHICH HUSBANDS
DON’T TELL THEIR WIVES.

AND HIS WIFE WENT TO LONDON
AND SHE TRIED TO GIVE

THIS STORY TO SEVERAL PEOPLE,

BUT NOBODY WAS INTERESTED
UNTIL SHE CAME TO ME.

I WAS GIVEN THE SCRAPBOOK
AND THIS LIST OF NAMES,

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS
VERY MOVING BECAUSE THERE WERE

ORDINARY NAMES OF PEOPLE
AND CZECH CHILDREN.

FOR INSTANCE,
BERMAN THOMAS, BEKEFI JIRI,

BENEDICT RUTH,

AND WE WROTE
TO EVERY ONE OF THEM,

AND FROM THESE OVER 600 NAMES,

WE GOT 250 ANSWERS.

AND MOST OF THE CHILDREN
WERE DELIGHTED,

THEY DID NOT KNOW
WHO HAD SAVED THEM,

AND DID NOT KNOW
THEIR OWN STORY.

IT CAUGHT THE EYE
OF ESTHER RANTZEN,

WHO WAS WORKING FOR THE BBC.

[ESTHER RANTZEN]
SO WE DID SOME RESEARCH,

AND WE MANAGED TO TRACK DOWN

SOME OF THOSE CHILDREN,
NOW ADULT, LIVING IN ENGLAND.

WE WERE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED.

[DAVE LUX]
THIS LADY SAID TO ME,
"WHAT’S YOUR NAME?"

SO I SAID, "PINKASOVIC."

WHEN I SAW MY NAME
AND MY BROTHER’S NAME

PRINTED IN THIS--

THE BIGGEST SHOCK OF MY LIFE.

I COULDN’T SPEAK,
I COULDN’T BREATHE,

I HAD GOOSE BUMPS
ALL OVER MY ARMS.

ALL THESE YEARS,
50 YEARS.

[VERA GISSING]
NOBODY KNEW WHO
MASTERMINDED OUR RESCUE,

AND THEN, OUT OF THE BLUE,
I WAS ASKED TO TAKE PART

IN A TELEVISION SHOW,
THAT’S LIFE,

WHERE, TO MY JOY AND...

OH, SUCH FULFILLMENT,

I CAME TO FACE,
FACE TO FACE,

WITH THE MAN
WHO SAVED MY LIFE.

THEY GOT ME THERE IN A WAY
UNDER FALSE PRETENSES.

WELL, THEN I WAS SAT
IN A SEAT,

WHICH WAS FOCUSED
ON THE CAMERA, AND...

...I BECAME PART
OF THIS PROGRAM.

I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS GOING
TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME

THE CHILDREN THAT I BROUGHT
OVER SO MANY YEARS BEFORE.

[FEMALE T.V. HOST]
...MANAGED TO SAVE 664 CHILDREN.

THIS IS HIS SCRAPBOOK.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS
OF FASCINATING PICTURES IN IT.

PERHAPS YOU CAN SEE--

THIS IS A PICTURE OF
NICHOLAS WINTON HIMSELF,

WITH ONE OF THE CHILDREN
HE RESCUED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY BACK
OF THIS SCRAPBOOK,

AND FASCINATING THINGS IN IT,
ALL THE LETTERS,

BUT BACK HERE IS THE LIST
OF ALL THE CHILDREN.

THIS IS VERA DIAMANT,
NOW VERA GISSING.

WE DID FIND HER NAME
ON HIS LIST.

VERA GISSING IS
WITH US HERE TONIGHT.

HELLO, VERA.

AND I SHOULD TELL YOU
THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY

SITTING NEXT
TO NICHOLAS WINTON.

HELLO.

[APPLAUSE]

AND THANK YOU.

I WORE THIS AROUND MY NECK.

AND THIS IS
THE ACTUAL PASS

THAT WE WERE GIVEN
TO COME TO ENGLAND.

AND I AM ANOTHER
OF THE CHILDREN THAT YOU SAVED.

[FEMALE T.V. HOST]
CAN I ASK, IS THERE ANYONE
IN OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT

WHO OWES THEIR LIFE
TO NICHOLAS WINTON?

IF SO, COULD YOU
STAND UP, PLEASE?

[VERA GISSING]
WE ARE PART OF HIS FAMILY.

HE HAS NOW ACCEPTED US

AS A SORT OF
A HONORARY FATHER,

AND HE IS ACCEPTING OUR CHILDREN
AS THE HONORARY GRANDFATHER.

HE’S THE HEAD, I THINK,

OF THE BIGGEST FAMILY
IN THE WORLD.

[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]

[SCHLESINGER]
WHEN OUR MEMORIAL TRAIN
FROM PRAGUE ARRIVED IN LONDON,

THE MAN WHO HAD WAITED FOR US
AT THE STATION IN 1939

WAS WAITING FOR US
ONCE AGAIN.

THIS TIME, THOUGH,
AT AGE 100,

WE KNEW WHO HE WAS.

[ANNA FEIGE-MENIN]
IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING
THAT NICKY WINTON DID,

AND WITHOUT HIM,

NOBODY IN THIS ROOM
WOULD BE SITTING HERE.

I WOULDN’T BE HERE,
DAD WOULDN’T BE HERE.

SO IT’S QUITE
A WONDERFUL THING THAT HE DID.

[AMOS BEN-RON]
A LOT OF US HAVE
A FEELING THAT WE HAVE

TO SOMEHOW REPAY WINTON
FOR ALL WHAT HE DID.

WE DO IT BY DOING WORK,

WHICH IS USEFUL AND GOOD
AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS,
I WORK AS A VOLUNTEER

AT THE SCHNEIDER’S CHILDREN’S
HOSPITAL AND I REALLY ENJOY IT.

[PASTOR FIELDSEN]
I DID SOME WORK IN RESEARCH
ON BALLISTIC MISSILES,

BUT AFTER THAT I CHANGED
MY CAREER COMPLETELY.

WE BUILT THIS CHURCH FIRST,

AND THEN A HOME FOR ADULTS

WITH SEVERE MENTAL HANDICAP.

[BEN ABELES]
I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT I OWE
SOMETHING TO NICKY WINTON,

TO MY PARENTS WHO WERE
SO COURAGEOUS AND SENT ME OFF.

AND SO I ALWAYS FELT
THAT I NEED TO HELP PEOPLE

AND I’VE DONE THAT
IN A SOUP KITCHEN,

AND THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I’VE
ALWAYS TRIED TO BE VERY HELPFUL.

[BEN ABELES]
I SPENT MOST OF
MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER

WORKING ON SEMICONDUCTORS.

WE INVENTED THE THERMOELECTRIC
POWER GENERATOR,

WHICH PROVIDES
ELECTRIC POWER

TO THE SPACECRAFT
VOYAGER I AND II

ON THE WAY
TO JUPITER, SATURN,

AND THE OTHER OUTER PLANETS.

[ZUZANA MARESOVA]
NICKY’S DEED IS LIKE A SMALL
STONE THROWN INTO A SMALL LAKE.

AND THE RIPPLES
AND THE WAVES FROM THAT STONE

ARE GETTING WIDER
AND WIDER AND WIDER.

AND THE WIDER IT GETS,

THE MORE GOOD
IS BEING DONE IN THE WORLD.

NICHOLAS WINTON
SAVED GRANDMA

AND HE DIDN’T HAVE TO,

AND THAT MADE ME WANT
TO HELP PEOPLE, TOO.

AND I HEARD ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO HAD CANCER

AND HAD
LOST ALL THEIR HAIR.

AND I CUT 10 INCHES
OFF MY HAIR

AND THEY MADE IT INTO A WIG
FOR ONE KID WHO HAD CANCER.

AND I FEEL VERY GOOD
ABOUT DOING THAT.

[BERMAN GRANDDAUGHTER]
THIS SUMMER, I HELPED ORGANIZE
A PEACE CAMP FOR GIRLS.

THERE WERE SEVEN JEWS
AND SEVEN ARABS.

WE ALL REALIZED
THAT WE’RE THE SAME,

AND THAT WE ARE LIVING
IN THE SAME PLACE

AND WE DO NEED TO FIND
SOMEWHERE A PEACE.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE SEVEN
NEW PALESTINIAN FRIENDS,

WHICH I VERY MUCH LIKE.

[SCHLESINGER]
MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

WERE EAGER TO SHOW WINTON WHAT
GOOD THEY THEMSELVES WERE DOING.

SO THEY STARTED
FILMING THEIR ACTIVITIES,

INTERVIEWING VARIOUS
PERSONALITIES,

ALL FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAM WHICH
THEY WILL PRESENT IN PRAGUE.

[CHOIR SINGING]

[FEMALE STUDENT]
IN AUSTRALIA, WE SHIPPED
OUR CLOTHES AND PACKAGES

TO PEOPLE IN ECUADOR,

AND IT WAS REALLY NICE
GETTING LETTERS BACK

FROM THEM AS THEY WERE
WRITING AND TRYING TO--

AND EXPRESSING
HOW APPRECIATIVE THEY WERE TO US

THAT THEIR LIVES HAVE CHANGED.

WINTON IS SHOWING
THAT WITH PERSEVERANCE

AND DETERMINATION
YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.

[DENISA AUGUSTINOVA]
IN CAMBODIA, WHERE WE ARRIVED,

WE HAVE SEEN CHILDREN
DYING ON THE STREET.

THEN THERE WAS NO ORGANIZATION
HELPING HIV-AIDS KIDS.

[DENISA AUGUSTINOVA]
AND WE HAVE DECIDED THAT
WE HAVE TO HELP THESE CHILDREN.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT EVERYBODY
WAS AGAINST THIS IDEA,

SAYING THAT WHAT
TWO SLOVAK PEOPLE CAN DO

IN FAR AWAY CAMBODIA.

BUT WE HAVE DECIDED
NOT TO GIVE UP.

I REMEMBER
NICHOLAS WINTON SAID

THAT EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

IF IT’S
FUNDAMENTALLY REASONABLE.

ALL STORIES THAT
HELP CHILDREN GROW IN A WORLD,

IN WHICH HUMANITY
IS BEING CELEBRATED

AND INHUMANITY DENOUNCED--

THESE STORIES ARE IMPORTANT.

[DENISA AUGUSTINOVA]
EVERYBODY CAN HELP.

EVEN CHILDREN
CAN SEND THEIR LETTERS

OR SMALL THINGS TO THE KIDS

TO SHOW THEM
THEIR AFFECTION AND LOVE,

THAT THERE IS SOMEBODY
FAR AWAY THINKING ABOUT THEM.

IT’S A BIG HELP.

WE HAVE SAVED AND TREATED
OVER 5,000 CHILDREN,

BUT STILL WE HAVE
A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

A LOT OF CHILDREN
ARE STILL WAITING FOR US.

[DALAI LAMA]
WE NEED SPECIAL EFFORT

TO BRING UP OUR BASIC NATURE

OF HUMAN BEINGS--
COMPASSION.

HERE IS EXAMPLE
OF NICHOLAS WINTON--

WE SHOULD LEARN

FROM HIS POSITIVE MOTIVATION

AND FROM HIS COURAGE,
FROM HIS ACT.

WE MUST CARRY HIS SPIRIT

GENERATION TO GENERATION.

THEN HUMANITY’S FUTURE
WILL BE BRIGHTER.

[FEMALE HOST]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

SIR NICHOLAS WINTON!

[FEMALE STUDENT #1]
WE’VE BEEN SO MUCH IMPRESSED
BY NICHOLAS WINTON’S STORY,

THAT WE STARTED OUR PROJECT,
"SUITCASES FOR CAMBODIA."

SUITCASE IS A SYMBOL
OF OUR HELP FOR CHILDREN.

[FEMALE STUDENT #2]
I JUST THINK THAT EVERY
SINGLE PERSON ON THE EARTH

NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE
SPECIAL, THAT THEY’RE LOVED.

[FEMALE STUDENT #3]
NICHOLAS WINTON HAS
INFLUENCED SO MANY PEOPLE

ALL OVER THE WORLD
TO HELP SOMEONE

WHO IS VERY ILL
OR IN DANGER.

[ELECTRONIC BEEPING]

[CELL PHONES BEEPING]

[MALE STUDENT]
THEY SAY YOU DON’T HAVE
TO BE A POLITICIAN

OR A BILLIONAIRE
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO HAVE
IS SOME AMBITION AND COURAGE.

[ALL]
AHOJ, CAMBODIA!

[WINTON]
I NEVER THOUGHT
WHAT I DID 70 YEARS AGO

WAS GOING TO HAVE SUCH A BIG
IMPACT AS APPARENTLY IT HAS.

AND IF IT IS NOW
GOT A STORY,

WHICH HELPS PEOPLE
TO LIVE FOR THE FUTURE,

WELL, THAT WILL BE
AN ADDED BONUS.

[CHOIR SINGING]

[CHILDREN SINGING]

[CHOIR SINGING]

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

[CHEERING]