Nicholas Winton was the “key rescuer of 669 predominantly Jewish children at risk in rump Czechoslovakia in 1939” (Burešová 47). One of the things that makes his achievement so remarkable is that Winton had no special connection to the children he saved nor to the country they came from (Burešová 48). Winton also mentioned that he did not specifically set out to save only Jewish children, he had wanted to save all children (Burešová 49). Along with three others, Winton took on the daunting task of not only organizing the children’s escape, but also of finding foster parents that were willing to take the children temporarily and to pay the fee associated with the children’s immigration (Burešová 48). The fee was to ensure that should the foster parents no longer be able to care for the children, they wouldn’t become a burden to the government (Burešová 48).
Although Winton’s transports were not part of the larger movement of the Kindertransport that departed from Germany and Austria, he still organized eight transports that saved those children; the first of which departed only hours before Germany took control over Czechoslovakia (Burešová 47). The last successful transport Winton organized left on August 2, 1939 and contained 68 children. Unfortunately, there was one more transport scheduled to leave at the beginning of the next month that fell through. The day Germany invaded Poland (the site of the majority of the transports after the invasion of Czechoslovakia), September 1, 1939, a transport of 250 children was thwarted. The children “disappeared” after being removed from the train that was supposed to bring them to the promised net of safety (Burešová 49).
Winton’s astonishing work was able to remain anonymous until 1988, and after that his life was never the same (Burešová 49-50). While still known as “Nicky” to the Kindertransport children (now adults), by 2004 he was officially Sir Nicholas Winton, MBE, due to his vast humanitarian work (Burešová 50). He has received numerous awards, and he has also been honored “on both sides of the Atlantic, by Israel…, but only latterly by the Czech Republic” due to political tensions during the Cold War era (Burešová 51). Despite all the recognition, Winton reportedly wishes to downplay his role in saving the children (Burešová 52).
In 2009, for the 70th anniversary of the Czechoslovakian Kindertransports, a statue depicting Winton “holding a small boy, with a young girl standing by him and an old suitcase alongside them” was erected at a train station (Burešová 53). Another project created for the anniversary is the Orchard of Children’s Rescuers in Prague; the orchard will ultimately house 669 apple trees in memory of the children Winton saved and in tribute to those who hid Jewish children during WWII (Burešová 54). Additionally, a reenactment of the Kindertransport journey from Prague was planned for September 1, 2009. Over 200 passengers, including 22 of Winton’s rescued children, embarked on the journey that ultimately ended in London on September 4 where the passengers disembarked and were met by Winton himself (Burešová 54-55). 2009 also marked Winton’s 100th birthday, so many celebrations and projects for the 70th anniversary were planned with this in mind (Burešová 54).