The KindertransportGerman for children's transport. During World War Two, individuals and companies sponsored around 10,000 Jewish children to bring them to Britain to save them from the Holocaust. was a mission to bring JewishRelating or belonging to the religion of Judaism. children to safety in Britain. It was set up in November 1938 after one terrible night in Germany when thousands of Jews were killed or arrested. That night was called the "Kristallnacht", or "night of broken glass".
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The 10,000 children rescued from the Nazis
The KindertransportGerman for children's transport. During World War Two, individuals and companies sponsored around 10,000 Jewish children to bring them to Britain to save them from the Holocaust. was a mission to bring JewishRelating or belonging to the religion of Judaism. children to safety in Britain. It was set up in November 1938 after one terrible night in Germany when thousands of Jews were killed or arrested. That night was called the "Kristallnacht", or "night of broken glass".
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Word Watch
Jewish people realised that they were no longer safe in Germany and the UK agreed to give homes to children who needed to escape.
Many of those children thought that their parents would follow them. It was like "going on an adventure," Bob Kirk told The Guardian last year on the Kindertransport's 80th anniversary. He left his family behind aged 14, and never saw them again. He is now 93.
The UK is proud of the Kindertransport. Should it do more to save child refugeesAnyone fleeing conflict or persecution is defined as a refugee by the UN as a refugee, regardless of where they are from. today?
Of course it should. Around 20,000 children arrived in EuropeThe second-smallest of the world's continents. It has a population of 746 million. without their parents in 2017. However, in the last two years, the UK has only given homes to around 200. This is not enough. When we are remembering the HolocaustThe murder of six million Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany. Members of other minority groups were also killed. this weekend, we should also remember all of the people alive today who need help - otherwise, we have learnt nothing.
It is not so simple. Taking in children without families is a complicated, expensive task. There are already thousands of British children in care who need looking after. Plus, taking in lots of children may encourage young people to make the dangerous journey to Europe alone. Other things can be done instead, such as giving money to refugee camps.
Holocaust: The name given to the murder of six million Jewish people in Europe during the Second World War.
Nazis: Members of Germany's Nazi Party, which was led by Adolf Hitler from 1921 until his death in 1945.
Refugees: People forced to leave their home country due to war, persecution or a natural disaster.
Kindertransport: "Kinder" in German means "children"; so "kindertransport" translates as "children's transport".
Anniversary: The date on which something happened in a previous year.
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Keywords
Kindertransport - German for children's transport. During World War Two, individuals and companies sponsored around 10,000 Jewish children to bring them to Britain to save them from the Holocaust.
Jewish - Relating or belonging to the religion of Judaism.
Refugees - Anyone fleeing conflict or persecution is defined as a refugee by the UN as a refugee, regardless of where they are from.
Europe - The second-smallest of the world's continents. It has a population of 746 million.
Holocaust - The murder of six million Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany. Members of other minority groups were also killed.
The 10,000 children rescued from the Nazis
Glossary
Kindertransport - German for children's transport. During World War Two, individuals and companies sponsored around 10,000 Jewish children to bring them to Britain to save them from the Holocaust.
Jewish - Relating or belonging to the religion of Judaism.
Refugees - Anyone fleeing conflict or persecution is defined as a refugee by the UN as a refugee, regardless of where they are from.
Europe - The second-smallest of the world's continents. It has a population of 746 million.
Holocaust - The murder of six million Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany. Members of other minority groups were also killed.