In 1938 and 1939, some 10,000 children and young people fled to the
UK to escape Nazi persecution. Known as the ‘Kindertransport’,
this effort has long been hailed as a feel-good wartime success
story—but there are uncomfortable truths at the heart of this
history. The Kindertransport was a complex visa waiver scheme, and
its initiators and organisers did not necessarily act in an
altruistic way. The British government required a guarantee to
indemnify the government against any expense for the arriving
child, and refused to admit child refugees’ parents. The
selection criteria in place prioritised those who were likely to
make the best contribution to society and the economy, rather than
the most urgent cases. And, once they had arrived safely in the
United Kingdom, some children and young people were placed in
unsuitable homes, and many arrangements irrevocably broke down.
Written with striking empathy and insight, Andrea Hammel’s expert
analysis casts new light on what really happened during the
Kindertransport. Revelatory and impassioned, this book will be
essential reading for anyone interested in the history of migration
and refugees in Britain, and offers thought-provoking lessons for
how we might make life easier for children fleeing conflict today.
General
Imprint: |
Polity Press
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
November 2023 |
First published: |
2023 |
Authors: |
Andrea Hammel
|
Pages: |
169 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-5095-5376-1 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
1-5095-5376-2 |
Barcode: |
9781509553761 |
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