“Why didn’t you tell me?“ asks wife

Dry response of husband: “There is a great many things that husbands don’t tell their wives”.

The sentence sounds so ordinary:

“There is a great many things that husbands don’t tell their wives”.

This communication occurred in the spring of 1988 in a little English town of Maidenhead, after Grete, the wife, came down from the attic with an old scrapbook full of old pictures and lists of Jewish names in her hands.

Surprisingly, husband was not trying to cover up some dark chapters of his long life. He just tried to divert attention of his wife from something that, in his own words “was such a small part of his life”. His selflessness and modesty did not allow him to talk about his role in one of the most courageous and touching stories of the Second World War right after the war. And neither was he ready to share it fifty years later.

The husband’s name was Nicholas Winton. Fortunately for us and the world - he did not succeed keeping this story closed – owing it probably to the inherent curiosity of wives to find out about “many things that husbands don’t tell them”. Grete´s quest revealed to her and to the outside world that almost seven hundred kids born in Czechoslovakia just before the Second world war owe her husband -  Nicholas Winton their lives.

But first things first – Englishman Winton would never got into Prague had it not been for another Englishman – this time Prime Minister – Nevile Chamberlain, who, in his own words, brought to the world “Peace of our time” in September 1938  - by signing, hand in hand with French Premier Daladier infamous Munich agreement – forced upon him by Hitler and Mussolini.

There were some in England who rightly did not put too much trust into “the peace of our time” words, among them the future Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who commented on Munich Agreement with almost prophetical words: “England had a choice between shame and war…it chose shame…it will have the war”.

Czechoslovakia, stripped in Munich by one third of its territory, with German border suddenly only forty kilometers behind Prague, found itself after twenty years of incredible growth of democratic values and economic power without allies, without self confidence and without any chance to fight Germans should they decide to take over the rest of the country. Munich broke the spirit and backbone of the Czech nation for decades to come, it was catastrophe in moral, political, cultural, economic and social sense. No wonder that Czechs were probably the only nation in Europe that was praying for war to start as soon as possible, as we can now read in secret cables of US diplomat George Frost Kennan from Prague throughout first half of 1939.

Hitler finished his plans on occupation of Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1939. His arrival to Prague was welcomed by Sudeten Germans, despised by Czechs and with careful words deplored by western powers. There was only five more months left before the war starts and these five months were filled by fervent activity by those who knew what was to come.

It needs to be mentioned that Czech lands were one of those few places in the world that did not force its Jewish population into corner by persecution and discrimination. Jews did not feel marginalized as elsewhere - actually many of them felt close association with Czech nation and thrived economically, socially and politically. Many of them claimed they felt as Czechs first. And for many of them, it was only after occupation forces in Czech Protectorate begun to apply Nuremberg laws in June 1939 that they learnt of their Jewish origin.  

As many other, well to do young brokers, Nicholas Winton was heading to ski in Switzerland in January 1939. We can only guess what was the tipping point for his decision to change his plans and travel to Prague instead, but more than six thousands of so called “Nicki’ s children”, living currently all over the world are grateful for his incredible effort during those few months before the war finally broke off. But let me stop here - because you will here more on this subject from my guests. 

First, let me welcome on the stage one of the three best Canadian journalists. She happens to be of Czechoslovak origin and I am very honored that she kindly accepted our invitation to be the host of the following discussion. Please welcome Hana Gartner.

Now, let me welcome on the stage another one of the three best Canadian journalists. Needless to say, he also happens to be of Czechoslovak origin. His father was close associate of president Masaryk and he himself was an eye-witness of arrival of Nazi forces to Prague in March 1939. Please welcome Petr Karel Neuman, better known to many of you as Peter C. Newman.

Finally, and not surprisingly, the third member of the top three in the Hall of Fame of Canadian Journalism, also happens to be of Czechoslovak origin. I am very pleased to invite to the stage one of the Nicki’ s children, and I am positive I do not have to add anything more but his name - Joe Schlesinger.