2,197 shares
Truus Wijsmuller, at left, looks at the children from the Burgerweeshuis, sometime before 1940. (CC BY-SA 4.0/ Overwijsmuller)
LONDON (Jewish News) Many would never have dared to walk straight up to Adolf Eichmann who, in 1938, was responsible for enforcing the Nazi policy of Jewish emigration, and ask to take 10,000 children over to England.
But not many were like Truus Wijsmuller. Leaning over the SS-Obersturmführer’s desk inside the Gestapo headquarters formerly the Palais Rothschild in Vienna the Dutch native told Eichmann the British government was happy to take youngsters under the age of 17 from Nazi countries for a temporary stay.
Francine Wolfisz is the Features Editor for Jewish News.
Many would never have dared to walk straight up to Adolf Eichmann who, in 1938, was responsible for enforcing the Nazi policy of Jewish emigration, and ask to take 10,000 children over to England.
But not many were like Truus Wijsmuller. Leaning over the SS-Obersturmführer’s desk inside the Gestapo headquarters – formerly the Palais Rothschild in Vienna – the Dutch native told Eichmann the British government was happy to take youngsters under the age of 17 from Nazi countries for a temporary stay.
“Let’s arrange it,” she said. He, in turn, was astounded. “So Aryan and