Nicholas Winton was one of the most notable humanitarian heroes of the 20th century due to his brave work during World War II. His story is a moving testimony of courage, altruism and compassion in times of crisis.
Origins and youth
Nicholas Winton was born on May 19, 1909 in Hampstead, London. He comes from a family of Jewish origin and upper middle class. He received a privileged education at Stowe School and then at Cambridge University.
In 1938, while on vacation in Prague, he learned of the danger Czechoslovak Jews faced due to the Nazi occupation. Moved by the situation, he decided to take action and organized an unprecedented rescue effort.
The Kindertransport
Winton planned and executed the “Kindertransport”, a project aimed at evacuating Jewish children from Czechoslovakia to the United Kingdom. He managed to save around 669 children, facing numerous bureaucratic and logistical obstacles during the process.
In Prague, together with his colleagues Martin Blake and Doreen Warriner, he established an operations center in a hotel. There, they collected data from families willing to send their children to a safe place.
In turn, he returned to London and faced the challenge of managing hundreds of documents to allow the children to enter that country. Likewise, she dedicated herself to finding substitute families for refugee children who had no relatives in the United Kingdom. He used newspaper advertisements and took advantage of the British government's relocation plans to persuade families to secure a home for each child.
During 1939, Sir Nicholas Winton organized the evacuation of 669 Jewish children from Prague to the United Kingdom, saving them from Nazi persecution. During the war they lived with British families and many of them were fortunate enough to be reunited with their families at the end of the conflict.
The whole world knew the story of the hero
This story, about how he saved hundreds of Jewish children during World War II, remained hidden for decades. In 1988, his wife shared the list of the names of the saved children with researcher Elisabeth Maxwell.
Winton finally witnessed the result of his sacrifices while filming the show “That's life” (That's life), from the BBC. Presenter Esther Rantzen stopped reading it when she came across a list showing photos and names of children who had escaped Czechoslovakia on the eight trains organized by Winton.
The most exciting thing for Winton and everyone who watched the program is that, unbeknownst to them, among the audience present were many of the children he had rescued. This eye-opening and moving moment led the world to recognize Winton's brave work and extraordinary act of humanity in times of darkness.
Recognitions and Legacy
In recognition of his bravery and selflessness, Queen Elizabeth made Nicholas Winton a Knight of the British Empire in 2003. In addition, he received numerous awards and honors, including the United States Medal of Freedom. His legacy continues to be an inspiration for future generations.
In 2023 they filmed the movie “Winton's Children” starring Anthony Hopkins. This man went down in history as a symbol of hope and goodness in a world marked by adversity.
