In the months leading up to the outbreak of World War II, Czechoslovakia was gripped by fear. After the Munich Agreement and the occupation of the Sudetenland (Czech border region), Jewish families and other persecuted groups were desperate to escape. Amid the rising threat of Nazi Germany, one small network of people carried out an extraordinary act of rescue.
Between March and August 1939, a group of British and Czech volunteers organized the safe evacuation of 669 children—mostly Jewish—from Prague to Britain. At the heart of this effort was a 29-year-old stockbroker named Nicholas Winton, who coordinated the logistics from Prague and London. But he was far from alone: a committed team of people worked alongside him—British Comitee for Refugees, Czech volunteers, British families, and others. Together, they made the impossible happen.
These rescue efforts became known as the Czechoslovak Kindertransports. For many of these children, it was a journey that saved their lives. Most of their families who remained in Czechoslovakia would later perish in the Holocaust.
Nicholas Winton – and the People Behind
Nicholas Winton’s role was critical. During a brief visit to Prague in December 1938, he saw the growing refugee crisis firsthand and decided to act. He helped set up an office in his hotel room, coordinated paperwork, secured visas and foster families, and tirelessly negotiated with authorities in Britain and other countries. He continued his efforts after returning to London, often working late into the night.
But none of this would have been possible without the collaboration of many others: Czech volunteers who helped identify and register children, parents who made unthinkable decisions to send their kids away, and British families who opened their homes to strangers in need. It was a joint effort grounded in compassion, courage, and a sense of responsibility.
Today, Sir Nicholas Winton is rightly honored, but the memory of all those who made these rescues possible deserves to be remembered.
Historical Research from Prague
As someone living in Prague, I’ve long felt a personal connection to this story. My research began with a simple desire to learn more, and over time it has grown into a deeper mission: to help preserve the memory of these events and to give voice to those whose stories might otherwise be forgotten.
I’ve had the privilege of speaking with around 15 individuals who were rescued by the Kindertransports. Some were already known to the public, but others had never shared their stories before. In some cases, I’ve helped reconnect people with forgotten parts of their own past—especially those who were adopted into British families after the war and lost track of their Czech-Jewish roots.
My research involves working with both Czech and British national archives, piecing together documents, testimonies, and family histories. I consider it a lifelong project, driven by a deep personal and professional commitment to historical memory.
Sharing the Story Today
I am also likely the only Prague guide who takes visitors to see important memorials and landmarks commemorating this extraordinary story.
Thanks to recent public attention—including the 2023 film One Life, starring Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton—this story is reaching more people. But beyond cinema, it’s important that we continue to research, talk, and remember.
By including these stories in my work as a historian and tour guide, I hope to contribute to keeping this powerful legacy alive—not just as a moment in history, but as an example of human decency that still resonates today.