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.