As part of our commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, we are honoured to share a short talk kindly recorded for our school by survivor Hans Danziger.
Hans’ talk:
Born in Berlin in 1930, Hans’ life changed when Hitler came to power. As Nazi persecution of Jewish Germans increased, Hans was sent to Britain with his younger sister, Marion, on the Kindertransport following the November Pogrom (Kristallnacht). After arriving in London, they spent their first months at a hostel in Putney supported by Alan Sainsbury, where they began to learn English and adjust to life in a new country. Jewish and Quaker organisations helped guide their early years, arranging schooling, Hebrew classes, and even Hans’s Bar Mitzvah.
Hans later lived in St Albans with a German-Jewish refugee, Emil Vasen, where he formed a close bond with another young Berliner who became “like a brother.” Remarkably, Hans and Marion’s parents survived the war in Berlin by living under false papers and relying on the courage of non-Jewish friends who helped hide them. Hans has also honoured us by reading a letter that his father sent to him and his sister from Germany, explaining the hugely painful and emotional decision to send Hans and Marion abroad.
The family were not reunited until 1948. Reflecting on his childhood, Hans has spoken movingly about the dislocation of those years.
We are deeply grateful to Hans for sharing his experiences with our school community. His willingness to tell his story helps us reflect on the enduring importance of memory, resilience, and compassion as we mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
A letter to Hans:
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