Britain’s Nicholas Winton: A Tribute to a Hero in New Film
Throughout the 1930s, Nicholas Winton’s son Nick was aware that his father had done something remarkable, as evidenced by a scrapbook filled with old photos in a steel trunk.
However, in 1988, he discovered the astonishing truth that his father, similar to Oskar Schindler, had rescued hundreds of Jewish children from certain death under the Nazi regime.
The revelation came to light when his mother stumbled upon the scrapbook, which contained the names of the rescued children, along with photos and letters from their families. This led to a British television show organizing a “This is Your Life” style reunion between Nicholas Winton and many of the children he had saved.
During the emotional reunion, the anchor asked if anyone in the audience owed their life to Nicholas Winton, causing almost everyone to stand up. Winton, who was extremely modest, had never met those he had rescued and was surprised by the revelation.
A clip from the reunion continues to circulate online, and now the full story of Winton’s secret heroism is being portrayed in a new movie called “One Life,” starring Anthony Hopkins as Winton.
The film uncovers Winton’s dual narratives – his mission to rescue endangered children and the lasting impact of the TV reunion, which led to him being knighted by Queen Elizabeth and forming deep connections with those he rescued.
One of the rescued children, Eva Paddock, expressed her gratitude saying, “None of that would have happened without him. He was an amazing man — how many families would not be here to tell the tale otherwise?”
Trains to safety
Nicholas Winton, born Nicholas Wertheim in 1909, came from British parents of German-Jewish descent who changed their name to Winton during World War I. His unique background made him more attuned to the unfolding events of his time.
In December 1938, Winton, a 29-year-old British stockbroker, chose to go to Prague instead of skiing, as advised by a friend. The annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland by Hitler’s Germany led to a desperate situation where refugees, especially Jews, were seeking refuge in Prague.
Winton took it upon himself to organize Kindertransports to bring children to safety in Britain. Despite facing challenges like finding foster families and securing guarantees for the children, he managed to rescue 669 children through eight Kindertransports.
Some of the rescued children were not Jewish but were considered at risk due to their family backgrounds. These perilous journeys involved separating children from their families and entrusting them to strangers in Britain.
For the next 50 years, Winton kept his intense rescue efforts a secret from his family, who only knew about the scrapbook as a pre-war project.
Nick Winton recalls that his father initially thought he was invited to fact-check a segment on World War II in the TV show “That’s Life.” However, he was surprised to discover that he was sitting among people he had saved.
Despite being hesitant about being portrayed as a hero, Winton was struck by the emotional reunion organized by the show, where he reunited with dozens of the children he had saved.
Winton’s son acknowledges the difficulty his father had in accepting praise due to the tragic fate of 250 children who weren’t rescued in time and likely perished in Auschwitz.
The loss of those children weighed heavily on Winton, overshadowing the miraculous rescue of the 669 children he did save.
Winton’s son emphasizes that his father was an ordinary man doing extraordinary work, driven by his ability to anticipate the impending catastrophe.
Nick Winton, who has watched the movie multiple times and is moved to tears each time, describes his father as someone who approached life with a problem-solving mindset.
‘A great deal of goodness’
Despite the accolades and honors bestowed upon him, Winton was adamant about sharing the credit with his collaborators, particularly Trevor Chadwick, who played a crucial role in the daring rescue missions.
Chadwick’s son, Charles, reflected on his father’s actions, noting that the human spirit is capable of great goodness when given the opportunity.
Doreen Warriner, portrayed in the film by Romola Garai, focused on aiding anti-Nazi activists and played a pivotal role in organizing their escape.
Winton’s legacy lives on through the descendants of the children he saved, with an estimated 6,000 people tracing their lineage back to those rescued by this unsung hero.
