Crazy Desires

December 16th, 1938

Dear Diary,

         Honestly though, why are some Jews still alive? I think they should all be sent to the crematory.

         Yesterday, I started a new part of my job as a member of The Nazi Political Party. I started working at the Kindertransports. The Kindertranports are not as fun as my previous job. As a worker for the Kindertransports all I can really do is damage the Jewish children’s luggage! I would need to be very creative to do something more. One time I did trip a kid and he fell, but then he was fine and only had a few scratches.

Before, my job seemed far more entertaining. I used to work as Dr. Mengele’s assistant. It was awesome! I learned all new ways to torture people. Dr. Mengele does all types of cool procedures and experiments. Experiments on twins fascinated Dr. Mengele. At first Dr. Mengele would be very kind to the twins giving them candy ad nice clothes, but after they would be brought to his workspace. From then on the children were tortured, being used for experiments. It was very enjoyable. Some of them were surgery without anesthetics, blood transfusions from one twin to the other, and also sex change operations. My favorite experiment though was when he did an eye experiment where he tried to change the color of children's eyes with chemicals. It never worked but was interesting. 

After I got transferred from Dr. Mengele to the Kindertransport, I was utterly disappointed because I wouldn’t be working with Dr. Mengele anymore and also because my work didn’t seem as important. I’m starting to wonder if maybe I should ask for a new placement. Then I wonder; could I be punished for asking for a more important position? What if I got sent to concentration camp because of it, could that even happen? I’m not even Jewish!

Jews really make me frustrated and angry. First of all, they lost the war for Germany! Jews also steal jobs from other people who actually deserve them, and lastly they always find a way to have other people spend money on them. It is almost like a spell that the put people under. Jews make people feel bad for them, so people pity them, and they benefit from it by having them spend money on you. They are so ungrateful and disgusting. And that is why they should be destroyed in my opinion.

Sincerely,

Alfredo

Pray by Justin Biber

Going With The Flow

December 24th, 1938

Dear Diary,

         I am a Christian-Catholic, and I do not approve the fact of shipping Jewish children into Britain. Why don’t other people have a say in whether Jews should be allowed to stay in Britain.

         I know some of my neighbors are housing these young kids. But I know one thing; none of them will set a foot in my house! Just the other day, I saw a Jewish child with a Yamaka on! I was so surprised! Britain is being invaded!

         I am awful nervous due to the fact we are so close to the holiday season. Christmas is tomorrow! What would happen if one of these kids ruined my children’s’ beliefs in Santa? My heart would be broken.

         A few days ago, my son came home and said, “Ma, why are the new Jewish kids not eating food during lunch time at school?” It took me a while to speak, “Part of their religion sweetie, is called fasting.” “Well why don’t we do it mom,” said Anthony without hesitation. “Well sweetie, fasting is part of their religion, we are Christian-Catholics, and they are Jewish. We practice different things,” I stated with a large gulp.

         I can’t explain what emotion is going through me, there are just so many. I feel anger, frustration, excitement, hope, and exhaustion. I am hopeful everything will soon be resolved and these children will hopefully return to wherever they have come from.

         Sometimes I wonder though, what is happening in the Jewish children’s minds? Do they miss their families? Also, what about their parents back in Germany and other places they have come from. I would be devastated if I were in their position. But they again, how do we trust these children? We don’t know their behavior! And we do not know their what they could do to us. I know I don’t trust them. Look at how they lost the war in Germany! Can’t they go somewhere else? What’s the point in sending these kids here? There are many other countries in this world.

         I don’t know what exactly to do in this situation. I wish that this never happened. I wish everything were back to normal so I wouldn’t be so stressed out over this. Until then though, I will try my hardest to keep my mouth shut and go on living my life.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Hammilton

All I Want Is My Family

December 26th, 1938

Dear Diary,

“Alice,” My mother whispered to me, “Alice, it’s time to wake up sweetie.” I woke up feeling bittersweet. I would not go in to concentration camp after I took the Kindertansport, but what about my family?

It was 7:30 am; my mom gave me a kiss and picked me up out of bed. I was carried downstairs in her arms, and placed in my chair with a great big bowl of oatmeal in front of me. I ate it enjoying each bite. “Thank you, mummy!” I ran upstairs, and went into the bathroom. I hopped in the shower and got ready for my day. After I went and got dressed, followed by brushing my teeth. A while after that, my mom French braided my hair and tied red ribbons at the bottom to match my red dress. Of course, I had left over things to pack, so finished when my mother was done with my hair. I was all ready! My sister and I went in the car and waited for our mother and father.

We were on the road, I was waving by to the things I would no longer see, the houses, the dogs, the people, what would Britain be like? I looked over at my sister, she was turned facing the window, I turned to my mom, her eyes were full of tears, and my father, had no emotion on his face. Was he happy?

“Ok girls, were here..” said my father. We jumped out of the car, and went into the line. There were a lot of big, strong looking men with fierce faces. I got into line, and put my bag down. The man picked it up and started digging through it. I said, “Excuse me sir, what are you looking for?” I will never forget the face he gave me, I didn’t speak again. When I was finally through the line, the train came through. I said, “Goodbye mother, goodbye father! I love you both, I will see you soon!” My definition of “soon” isn’t the same as it was then. After saying goodbye to my family, there was a lot of hugging, kissing, and tears. “All aboard!” Screamed a worker.

When we arrived, a family picked up my sister and me. Who are these people? “Hello children, you’ll be living with us until you can return to your parents. But, nice to meet you.” said the woman who expected me to call her my “mother”. Absolutely not, she’s not my mother, and he is not my “father”.

            I haven’t spent the holiday with my family, and I miss them more than ever. I am alive, and healthy, but I would do any thing to be with my mother and father...Anything.

Sincerely,

Alice

One Day Jews Will Be Free

December 2nd, 1938

Dear Diary,

         So many feelings are running through my body; Excitement, fear, hope, happiness, nervousness, and a lot of accomplishment. Today the first train left with 200 Jewish children from and orphanage that Hitler burned down. I really want to help these children as if they were my own.

My day started with me getting up at 5:30 am, Going in and checking on Uriel, then going to get my breakfast. I smelt of pancakes, my favorite. I was as hungry as a horse. As soon as I was done I went upstairs to shower, brush my teeth, and get ready for the day ahead of me. When I was ready to leave, Rosa waddled over and gave me a kiss goodbye. I walked outside as the sun was rising while there was still snow on the ground from the past day. I was a bit chilly, so I put on my hat and got into my car. I was off to my new job, working at the train station, Kindertransport specifically.

 I was still working as a social welfare worker, but after I had joined the Jewish Youth Movement I really wanted to help. I know I want the same done for my son...

When I arrived there were families with tears of joy and pain. The SS was there with pouts on their faces looking as if they wanted to kill. At 8:36 the first child went through the checking line. The boy looked about six or seven with bright blue eyes, blond hair, and a look of hope. His parents were sobbing as he walked through saying what could be the last time they saw him. The SS ripped his bag apart looking for anything valuable. I noticed that he wouldn’t open his mouth, why? I said, “Excuse me son, what is wrong with your mouth?” The boy smiled as I saw what must have been his mothers’ engagement ring. Who would rat-out this innocent child, and the first one! Only God knows what the SS would have done to him if someone had said something.

One after the other about 200 kids boarded the train blowing kisses to their loved ones. Hoping to find freedom, a better life, and their families again after the war had finished. Once we had arrived in Britain, children were assigned to foster homes, hostels, schools, and some kids were lucky in getting to live with a family until the war was over.  One little girl came up to me to ask, “So I’m going to have a new family?” What do you say to that? Would my son have said this if he were in this situation? Your family is trying to help you.. I could only reply, “You will see your family again, this is so you won’t be treated poorly.” She walked away, and I will not forget her face. Was this her new family?

Sincerely,

Norbert 

Let's Get Out of Here!

The Kindertransport first took off December 2nd, 1938. The first train arrived in Britain with about 200 kids from a foster home that was burned down. Roughly 10,000 Jewish children were taken from Nazi, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and brought the children to Britain. Many Kindertransports left from major cities like Berlin, Vienna, and Prague. Airplanes, trains, cattle trains, and ships were used as Kindertransports, but sometimes the children needed to walk. Once in Britain, the children were placed into foster homes, farms, hostels, and sometimes also schools. Children and parents were hopeful that when the holocaust was over, the children would be sent back to their families, but most of their parents were dead, typically because they were in concentration camps (starvation and diseases were common).

When children were going on the Kindertransports, the SS would go through their luggage and take valuables. Although they did not hurt or attack the children, they vandalized their luggage when they checked it. Many people were involved including The Great British Committee, The Movement For The Care Of Children For Children, The SS and many others.

The point of the Kindertransport was so these young Jewish children would not have to go to concentration camp or be killed. Parents wanted to ensure their children were safe, so they sent them to Britain on the Kindertransports. For the Kindertransport to help all of the children from these families, private citizens had to guarantee to pay for each kids childcare, education and eventual emigration from Britain.