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The Untold Heroism of Sir Nicholas Winton: How One Man Saved 669 Children from the Holocaust

The Untold Heroism of Sir Nicholas Winton: How One Man Saved 669 Children from the Holocaust
photo: Karen Blakeman / Flickr/Outdoor exhibition Winton's Trains; Vysehrad, Prague
24 / 01 / 2025

In the shadow of Nazi Germany, one man orchestrated an extraordinary rescue mission that saved hundreds of Jewish children—not without rail's help. Sir Nicholas Winton's legacy is a story of courage, compassion, and quiet heroism.

During the late 1930s, Sir Nicholas Winton managed to save nearly 700 children from Nazi-occupied territories, transporting them by train to the safety of Great Britain. From Prague, eight trains departed on this life-saving journey, rescuing children from the brink of war. In 2009, the route was recreated to honor the 70th anniversary of this incredible mission.

1938: On the Brink of War

In 1938, the Munich Agreement handed the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany, leaving Czechoslovakia vulnerable. Though the war had not officially started, its shadow loomed heavily. Refugee camps sprang up near Prague, filled mostly with Jewish families fleeing the Sudetenland. These camps were marked by cold weather, poor hygiene, and scarce food supplies, conditions sadly reminiscent of today’s refugee crises.

Source: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

During this time, Nicholas Winton arrived in Czechoslovakia with a friend working for a refugee organization on what was meant to be a skiing holiday. His vacation turned into a months-long humanitarian mission, as he devised a plan to rescue Jewish children from the worsening situation.

A Plan to Save Lives

Winton's plan was both ambitious and compassionate. He sought to transport Jewish children by train across Germany and the Netherlands, where they would board ferries to Britain. In London, families—personally arranged by Winton—welcomed the children.

This endeavor required monumental amounts of paperwork, starting in Czechoslovakia, where Winton coordinated with local authorities and Czech Railways. Parents formed long lines, desperate to secure a better future for their children. In Britain, Winton organized foster families and raised funds, ensuring each child had a sponsor who paid £50 (equivalent to thousands today). This sum was meant to guarantee the children would not become dependent on social welfare.

Farewells at Wilson Station

The sight of families saying goodbye at Prague’s Wilson Station (now Hlavní nádraží) was heart-wrenching. Parents stayed behind, many of whom would perish in the Holocaust, while their children departed for an unknown future with strangers.

The train journeys were arduous. Food and water were scarce, and most children did not fully grasp the gravity of their situation. By 1939, conditions had deteriorated further. Kristallnacht had claimed countless Jewish lives, and the Nazis intensified efforts to displace Jewish populations. Despite the odds, Winton and his volunteers meticulously planned every detail to ensure the mission’s success.

The Journey of Winton’s Trains

The children, now famously known as Winton’s Children, traveled from Prague through Plzeň and Domažlice. In Germany, the trains made as few stops as possible before reaching the Dutch port of Hoek van Holland, where the children boarded ferries to Harwich, England. From there, they took trains to Liverpool Street Station in London, where volunteers and foster families eagerly awaited their arrival.

The first train departed Prague on March 14, 1939, just one day before the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Winton managed to organize seven more trains under the Nazi regime, with the last leaving on August 2, 1939. After the war began in September, no further trains could be arranged. In total, 669 children were saved, each train carrying between 100 and 200 young passengers.

Wikimedia Commons, CC BY SA 4.0, David Sedlecký

Winton kept his remarkable story to himself for decades. Even his wife, Grete, was unaware until 1988, when she discovered a suitcase in their attic containing documents and photos. She passed these materials to Holocaust historian Martin Gilbert, who brought Winton’s story to light.

Winton was later invited to a TV program, where he was surprised by an audience filled with the very children whose lives he had saved.

Recognition and Legacy

In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II knighted Winton. When asked about his actions, he humbly replied, "Why the fuss? I just saw what needed to be done and did it." Winton became a symbol of humanity, inspiring countless books, documentaries, and films such as Nicky’s Family (2011) and One Life (2023).

In the Czech Republic, he was awarded the Order of T.G. Masaryk by Václav Havel and the Order of the White Lion, the country’s highest honor, by Miloš Zeman in 2014.

The 2009 Memorial Journey

To commemorate the 70th anniversary, the Winton Train retraced the original route in 2009. Departing Prague on September 1, the train arrived in London three days later, where it was greeted by Winton himself, then 100 years old. The journey featured five historical locomotives, including the iconic 486.007 "Green Anton" and 498.002 "Albatross". While some locomotives, such as the A1 Tornado, were from later eras, they symbolized the enduring spirit of Winton’s mission.

Sir Nicholas Winton passed away in 2015 at the age of 106. He met several of the children he saved during his lifetime, leaving behind a legacy of courage and selflessness that continues to inspire the world.

Source: Holocaust memorial day trustHolocaust encyclopediaTrains

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