"How We Escaped Hitler"
story of Joe Schlesinger and P.C. Newman; hosted by Hana
Gartner
Evening dedicated to Sir Nicholas Winton on the occasion
of his 100 birthdays
The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in cooperation with
British Consulate General in Toronto and CzechTourism Canada
will present How We Escaped Hitler - an unforgettable
evening with Joe Schlesinger and Peter C. Newman
two icons of Canadian Journalism, who will recount their dramatic
childhood escapes from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Hosted by
CBC Fifth Estate's Hana Gartner, this stellar evening
will also feature a screening of Nicholas Winton: The Power
of Good, an International Emmy Award-winning documentary
by Matej Minac about the life of Nicholas Winton, a British
stockbroker who saved 669 Jewish children including Joe
Schlesinger - from certain death in Nazi concentration camps.
The event will be held on Thursday, March 26th, 2009
at 7:00 pm at Innis Town Hall Theatre, University of Toronto.
Background:
This year the Czech Republic will mark the 70th anniversary of
two historical events that happened only one day apart in March
1939: On March 14th, 1939, the first rescue train of Jewish
children left Prague for England. The very next day, on March
15th, 1939, the Nazi army marched into Prague, turning democratic
Czechoslovakia into the "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia".
This initiated six dark years of terror and brutality. The news
of the Holocaust and concentration camps brought unimaginable
fear and desperation into the households of Czechoslovak Jews.
Many of them had to make the agonizing decision to allow their
children to leave on the trains organized by Mr. Winton and saved
their lives, even though they knew they might never see them again.
Mr. Winton organized eight train transports from Prague to the
UK, where the children were eagerly welcomed by foster families
all over Great Britain. By the onset of WWII, on September 1st,
1939, Winton had rescued 669 Jewish children. The last train
ninth scheduled to leave Prague on September 1, never reached
its destination. Over two hundred innocent young lives were lost,
leaving their prospective foster parents to wait on the Liverpool
St. Station platform in vain. For decades, the rescued children
had no idea who had saved their lives. In his modesty, Winton
did not even tell his wife about his efforts. When the story finally
came to light, he was given several top honours including the
Award of T.G. Masaryk from Czechoslovakia's President Vaclav Havel,
and knighthood from the Queen. Sir Nicholas Winton, now
100 years old, still enjoys a quiet life with his family.
Joe Schlesinger and Peter C. Newman have graciously
agreed to share their life-stories with our audience in lively
discussion hosted by Hana Gartner. The program is enriched by
a compelling photographic exhibition What Remained by
Yuri Dojc. We are honoured to present these four remarkable Canadians,
all of Czechoslovak origin.
For further information, please contact:
Michaela Vaclavinek Project Coordinator
Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Toronto
Tel.: 416-972-9358 ext.11
Fax: 416-972-6991
E-mail: sekretariat.cgto@gmail.com
The Consulate General of the Czech Republic thanks these project
partners:
Mattoni, Pilsner Urquell, Bagelo's and TCT
