The story of Nicholas Winton, a young English stockbroker who rescued 669 refugee children, mostly Jewish, from Nazi Germany in Czechoslovakia between March and August 1939, is highlighted in the documentary film “The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton.” One of the children saved by Winton was Liesl Silverstone, who shared her journey from Prague to London in the film. A screening of the documentary in 2008 brought together many of the Kindertransport children, including Liesl, and Nicholas Winton himself, who was honored for his brave actions during the Holocaust.
Liesl Silverstone was born in Czechoslovakia to an upper-middle-class Jewish family in 1927. When the Germans invaded the Sudetenland in 1938, Liesl’s family moved to Prague, where they faced increasing restrictions and ultimately ended up in the Terezin concentration camp in 1942. Desperate to save their children, Liesl’s parents sought help from Nicholas Winton, who focused on rescuing Jewish children from Czechoslovakia. Liesl, at the age of 11, was able to secure a visa and sponsorship to join the Kindertransport to the UK in 1939, leaving her family behind.
Liesl’s journey on the Kindertransport to London Liverpool Street was a mix of fear, uncertainty, and hope. She was met by a relative at the station and settled in various locations in the UK during the war. Despite her efforts to stay connected to her family through letters, Liesl’s parents and relatives perished in Auschwitz. After the war, Liesl was reunited with her mother in Prague and eventually settled in the UK. She married and found solace in building a new family, while never forgetting her past and the family she lost.
Meeting Nicholas Winton in 2008 was a profound experience for Liesl and her family, as it connected them to their past and the man who had saved them. The impact of the Kindertransport on Liesl’s life and her subsequent advocacy for refugee rights and human rights organizations like René Cassin and HostNation show her dedication to helping those in need, just as she once received help as a refugee. As the 85th anniversary of the Kindertransport approaches, the importance of compassion and support for refugees and asylum seekers is highlighted, drawing inspiration from the past to shape a better future for those seeking refuge in the UK.
