Nicholas Winton

Nicholas Winton was a British stockbroker and humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II. His actions, which became known as the Czech Kindertransport, remained largely unknown for nearly half a century until they were publicized by the BBC in 1988. For his extraordinary courage and modesty, he was later knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and came to be hailed as the "British Schindler."

Early life and career

Born Nicholas George Wertheim in 1909 in Hampstead, London, to parents of German-Jewish descent, he was baptized into the Anglican faith. His family later changed their surname to Winton. He was educated at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire but did not attend university, instead embarking on a career in finance. He worked at various banks, including the Hambros Bank in London and the Banque Nationale de Crédit in Paris, before becoming a stockbroker at the London Stock Exchange. In the 1930s, he was also an avid fencer and trained as a pilot with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Rescue of the Czech children

In December 1938, Winton was planning a skiing holiday in Switzerland but instead traveled to Prague at the urging of his friend Martin Blake, who was involved with the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia. Witnessing the dire conditions in refugee camps following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia and the intensifying persecution after Kristallnacht, he focused on aiding children endangered by the Nazi regime. Operating from a hotel room in Wenceslas Square, Winton, with volunteers including his mother, established a makeshift organization to arrange permits, find foster families in Britain, and secure transit through the Netherlands. He faced immense bureaucratic hurdles from the Home Office and needed to raise substantial funds, guaranteeing £50 per child for their eventual return. Between March and August 1939, he orchestrated eight trains that carried children from Prague to London, with the final, largest transport of 250 children canceled due to the outbreak of World War II on September 1.

World War II and later life

With the onset of World War II, Winton enlisted in the Royal Air Force, initially as an aircraftman and later receiving a commission. He served as a training officer for much of the war. After the conflict, he worked for the International Refugee Organization and then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Paris. Returning to Britain, he resumed his career in finance and became involved in charitable work, including for Abbeyfield, a society providing housing for the elderly. For decades, he kept his pre-war rescue mission a private matter, his records stored untouched in his home in Maidenhead.

Recognition and legacy

Winton's story was dramatically revealed in 1988 when his wife discovered his scrapbook and the BBC invited him to be an audience member on the television programme *That's Life!*. Unbeknownst to him, the studio was filled with many of the children he saved, now adults, in an emotional reunion watched by millions. This led to widespread public acclaim. He received numerous honors, including being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire and, in 2002, being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to humanity. He was also awarded the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk by the Czech Republic and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Statues of him stand at Prague Main Station and London Liverpool Street station, and his story is the subject of documentaries, films, and plays. The term "Winton's Children" is now permanently associated with his act of rescue.

Personal life and death

In 1948, he married Grete Gjelstrup, a Danish secretary he met in France; they had three children. He lived for many years in Maidenhead and remained active and sharp-witted into old age. Nicholas Winton died peacefully at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough on July 1, 2015, at the age of 106. His funeral service was held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and he was remembered globally as a humble hero whose quiet bravery saved generations.

Category:1909 births Category:2015 deaths Category:British humanitarians Category:Righteous Among the Nations Category:People from Maidenhead