In brief
As a recent archival discovery reveals the stories of nearly 10,000 Jewish children who escaped from Europe to Britain via the Kindertransport, we reflect on the heartbreaking farewell of one child, Hanna Zack Miley, who embarked on a life-changing journey in 1939.
When Hanna Zack Miley boarded a train in Cologne, Germany, in July 1939, little did she know that her life would be forever altered. The then-seven-year-old was leaving her parents behind, believing she was embarking on a brief trip to Britain. “They told me it was a nice trip and I believed it,” Hanna recalled, reminiscing about the pain of that farewell moment. Along with other unaccompanied Jewish children, she was part of the Kindertransport, a rescue mission that facilitated the escape of minors from Nazi Germany to Britain between late 1938 and 1939.Hanna’s memories of her parents’ tears haunt her still: “I turned around and I saw that they were crying. It must have been awful for them.” Tragically, she never saw them again. Now at the age of 93 and residing in Phoenix, Arizona, Hanna is one of thousands whose journeys were pivotal in the efforts to save children from the impending horrors of the Holocaust.In 2024, a significant discovery was made. Researcher Amy Williams uncovered a collection of documents detailing the Kindertransport at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial. These documents included lists of the children and their chaperones, revealing identities that had long been obscured by the passage of time. This trove of information not only rekindled the memories of those who survived but also stands as a stark reminder of the resilience and determination of young lives pulled from the brink of horror.Amid the shadows of history, stories of such young refugees are crucial to understanding the human impact of the Holocaust. As we delve into the Kindertransport narrative, we remember the individuals like Hanna, who exemplify both loss and survival during one of history's darkest periods.
