Edward Behrendt, founder of The Kindertransport Association, a group of Holocaust survivors who are on-line (on the Internet), was contacted by Sylvia D'Mello and her students of the Cavina School in Nairobi, Kenya. Edward Behrendt is a survivor of the Kindertransport, children who were sent to Britain during the Holocaust. Here are some letters from Sylvia's young students, and Ed's reply to them.
Dear Mr. Behrendt, My name is Bhakti Upadyay. I am nine years old. My birthday is on 2 March. I am in Form 2 class. I have black hair and dark brown eyes. I have learned many lessons from the war and the Holocaust and how Hitler was in power. I cannot imagine how Adolf Hitler was a German and also was a Christian and was that cruel. I feel sorry for those who died, and I asked my mom how were only some people left? In the Kindertransport did you find any friends who you trusted? Because I have a trusted friend and she is also writing to you. Her name is Zoya Vergee. When the minister saw you first what was he like? I have watched many films that taught me how those who were in the war must have suffered. Now, I have learned not to be mean to others. Yours sincerely, Bhakti Upadhyay
Dear Mr. Behrendt, My name is Alen. I am nine years old. I live in Yugoslavia. I have heard about World War II. Ms. D'Mello has read to me and all the children. I know those days were awful. I have heard about the Holocaust killing people. I just want to ask you some questions. When you left your family, how did you feel? When you left your family, how did they feel? I also want to know, how old are you? Yours sincerely, Alen Gadzovic
Dear Mr. Behrendt, Hello! How are you? My name is Meera Paunrana. I am eight years old, and I live in Nairobi. Mr Behrendt, I don't know how to say I am sorry, but I'm saying that I am sorry. I really am sorry. Mr. Behrendt, I'm asking you some questions now. How was it in the train? I know it wasn't nice, but how did you feel? Was it lonely without your family? Mr. Behrendt, I'm sorry if we are reminding you about this, but I better be going now. Bye, bye. I love you, too. Love, Meera
Dear Mr. Behrendt, My name is Zoya. I am eight years old. How did you feel when you were told to leave your whole family? How did you when you were in the train? How did you feel when you were away from home? How did you feel in boarding school? Was your teacher nice? Did you make any friends in Britain? Which year did Hitler come in? I am very sorry. Yours sincerely, Zoya Verjee
Dear Mr. Behrendt, I am a seven-year-old girl. I felt sad when I heard the letter. Did you make friends at boarding school? How did you feel when you left your parents and went away? Did you have friends there? How old were your father and mother when you entered the war? How did you feel when you went to the minister? Yours sincerely, Charandip Bansal
Dear Mr. Behrendt, My name is Vimbai and my brothers are Kudzi and Tapiwa. I come from Zimbabwe. I am the last born in the family. I learned about the war and I was so frightened that it would happen here too. Please accept my apology for what happened. Did you make friends in England? What subjects did you learn in school? Did you like it in England? What was your teacher called? I would like to say that I am nine-and-a-half years old. Yours sincerely, Vimbai
Dear Mr. Behrendt, Hello! I am a boy and I am eight years old. Mr. Behrendt, life must have been very, very bad over the years. I don't know how to say sorry, but I am saying sorry. Mr. Behrendt, I am going to ask you some questions, now. What was the minister like? How did you feel when you had to leave your family and go on with Kindertransport? Who looked after you when you were in boarding school? Were you beaten in the train? Was Britain worse than Danzig? What was your teacher's name? What was Kindertransport like? What was it like when you were in the Minister's house? Was the minister really cruel? Yours sincerely, Pritpal Sokhi
Dear Bhakki, Alen, Meera, Zoya, Charandip, Vimbai, Pritpal, Priya, Nisaa, Akshay, Jasraj, Varun, Leah, Sonali, Parin, Meehal, Daniel, Ju-Young, Gurketan, Rishi, Siddharth, Jehaanara, Sahil, Insiyah, and Kiran: I recently received your wonderful letters and photos. Thank you so very much. You don't know how pleased I was and how much I enjoyed reading your letters and looking at all your pictures. You all did such a good job of writing and should be proud of yourselves. You have learned well and are lucky to have such a good teacher as Mrs. D'Mello. I am also glad that you have learned a little about the Holocaust, which is an important part of world history. We must all make sure that such things never happen again to anyone anywhere. When you become adults, I hope you will always remember that! We must make sure that we treat everyone equally and don't discriminate against anyone. We should all try to be friends and love each other. Perhaps when school starts again after the summer in September, we can write to each other again. At that time, if you like, I can answer your questions and tell you a little more about what happened during the Holocaust and to me. I will discuss that with Mrs. D'Mello during the summer. In the meantime, have a wonderful summer and a good holiday. Love to all of you, and best wishes to your teachers,
Ed Behrendt The Kindertransport Association http://www.kindertransport.org/