Jewish parents brought Sir Nicholas Winton into the world in 1909 in
London. Two years prior, his mother and father had relocated to England. In
an effort to blend in, they had Nicholas christened after they became
Christians, and they also changed Nicholas' German-Jewish last name from
Wertheim to Winton.
In the winter of 1938, Nicholas Winton, who would later work as a stock
trader, intended to take a ski vacation to Switzerland.
However, he changed his mind and traveled to Prague to see Martin Blake, a
guy who had requested his assistance.
Then Winton, acting alone, founded a charity to aid Jewish children whose
lives were in danger from the Germans.
In his hotel room near Wenceslas Square in the heart of Prague, he set up
his workspace at a dining table.
Winton learned that the UK would take in refugees under the age of 17
shortly after "Kristallnacht," the November 1938 slaughter of Jews in Nazi
Germany. All they needed was a place to stay and money to cover their
eventual trip back home.
The youngsters had to pass via the Netherlands in order to reach the UK,
where they would catch a ship, which posed a significant challenge. The
Dutch border guards returned all Jewish refugees back to Germany despite the
atrocities of "Kristallnacht."
However, Winton was successful in bringing 669 Jewish children from
Czechoslovakia to Britain because of the British government's pledge.
The majority of the children whose parents would perish in the Auschwitz
death camp were helped find households by Winton's mother.
On September 1, 1939, the final 250 kids were supposed to depart Prague.
However, the train never moved. World War II began on the same day that
Hitler invaded Poland.
Only two of the kids who were supposed to board the train made it out
alive.
Before his wife, Grete, discovered a notepad in their attic 50 years later,
Winton never discussed what he did for the kids.
It included the names and images of the kids Winton had spared.
When Grete Winton presented the book to a reporter, her husband was asked
to appear on a BBC show to express gratitude for his contributions.
But Winton was unaware that each and every member of the studio audience
was someone whose life he had spared.
Sir Nicholas Winton later won several awards, including the Order of the
White Lion, the highest honor bestowed by the Czech Republic.
At the age of 106, Winton passed away in 2015.
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