Kindertransport (eBook)

In an era in which the family separation of refugees has commanded considerable attention, this book is a timely exploration of the effects of family separation as it was experienced by child refugees in the age of fascism.

1. This book is intended to provide more nuance to discussions of the Kindertransport, which have been viewed as simply rescue missions for children. It challenges the dominant positive narrative around the effort, tracing its impact on the individuals who were part of the program over time.

2. While specifically focused on Kindertransport, the implications of this research are timely for present-day discussions around the treatment of child refugees.

3. Jennifer Craig-Norton is an early career scholar and researcher of the Holocaust whose work challenges existing narratives around issues relevant to Holocaust studies.

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A timely study of the effects of family separation on child refugees, using newly discovered archival sources from the WWII era: "e;Highly recommended."e; -ChoiceThe Kindertransport-an organized effort to extract children living under the threat of Nazism-lives in the popular memory as well as in literature as a straightforward act of rescue and salvation, but these celebratory accounts leave little room for a deeper, more complex analysis. This volume reveals that in fact many children experienced difficulties with settlement: they were treated inconsistently by refugee agencies, their parents had complicated reasons for giving them up, and their caregivers had a variety of motives for taking them in. Against the grain of many other narratives, Jennifer Craig-Norton emphasizes the use of newly discovered archival sources, which include the correspondence of refugee agencies, carers, Kinder and their parents, and juxtaposes this material with testimonial accounts to show readers a more nuanced and complete picture of the Kindertransport. In an era in which the family separation of refugees has commanded considerable attention, this book is a timely exploration of the effects of family separation as it was experienced by child refugees in the age of fascism.