Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass, also called the November pogrom, was an onslaught of violent attacks against Jewish persons and property carried out by the Nazi Party’s Sturmabteilung paramilitary forces along with civilians throughout Nazi Germany on 9–10 November 1938. The German authorities looked on without intervening as a clear Indication of what was to come was sent to the world.
Those who could, and had the foresight for it, sent their children to safety on The Kindertransport, an organised rescue effort that took place during the nine months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The United Kingdom took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland, and the Free City of Danzig.
One such child was ten year old Wolf Blomfield who was never again to see his father, believed to have perished in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. It was many years before he was to reconnect with his mother, who had escaped to Australia, an aunt and a cousin, all severely traumatised.
Sometime in 1968 I had been granted places on two Social Work training courses. I accepted the Croydon College offer on the strength of the insightful and challenging interview of the course director who I later found had spent the last years of his childhood in a series of foster homes; had worked in a care home; and was a trained and practicing psychoanalyst. This was the same Wolf Blomfield who was to teach me much and to become
a lifelong friend until his death in April 2017.
Veronica Rivett, my delightful mother-in-law dropped everything and crossed London to collect and look after Matthew on the morning in 1969 that Jackie was hospitalised with meningitis. This was the day I was due to begin my Social Work training course at Croydon Colleges. Jackie had been ill for a fortnight and her head was so bad that morning that we called the GP who, within seconds, diagnosed the condition and arranged for hospital admission. This meant care had to be arranged for Michael, then five and attending school. A neighbour with a son at the school took on the task of transporting Michael to and from that venue.
Matthew himself had German measles at the time and his Nan took him to her bed; and when Jackie was back home but still unwell, Helen and Bill came to stay with us for a short while to continue the care.
When, having missed the morning, I arrived at Croydon on that first afternoon of my secondment the concerned Wolf and Margaret Granowski, my excellent allocated tutor, were waiting for me in the foyer. This was certainly confirmation that I had made the right choice.
That was the beginning of a boom time in Social Work when training could be funded by secondment on full salary in return for which we were bound to stay with our employer for two years afterwards. Now in the 21st century I believe that would-be trainees are required to pay for themselves.
Hi Derrick – this chapter in the story of your life gives a good look at how WW2 affected so many. On top of the daily problems everyone faced.
Thank you very much, Barbara
This episode makes clear the benefits of kindness producing more kindness, even in the face of evil.
I know how much you valued Wolf’s friendship. I didn’t know or remember that he was also your mentor.
How fortunate, too, that you had caring family members who could help with childcare.
Thank you so much, Merril. In fact our relationship was fully mutual which was why it was so strong.
?
The “Kindertransport” between Germany and Great Britain I heard so much about it. There was also a unofficial transport of German children -away from the war. They were send out of the cities to live on farms like ours in Austria or Germany.
Thanks very much for your perspective on this, Bridget.
How times have changed and not for the better!
A moving introduction with an interesting surprise in the middle. Things have changed and, yes, not always for the better (according to us). Young people have a very different attitude to work too, though, with few feeling the same loyalty to their place of work that many of us did and are happy to move from one job to another. Perhaps because there have been no major disruptions to their society as the Second World War created in ours – the aftermath of which reverberated for decades.
Sound thoughts, Anne. Thanks very much
And people today think that their life is too difficult…
Quite so, John. Thanks a lot
The stories of WWII and the treatment of Jews breaks my heart. But so many made the world a better place from the struggle they lived through.
Take you so much, Mrs W
Your welcome.
Phew, what a post! Derrick, you have had an eventful life. Thank goodness for family and good friends. So glad your friend and teacher escaped the horrors of Nazi Germany.
Thanks very much, Laurie. It was a dramatic start to my training 🙂
Holy cow, Derrick. Jackie and Matthew very ill, childcare to be arranged, and your first day of training. That’s a bit of a stressful day. And then you get to know Wolf, who has a story no one should have to live through. This is quite a post!
Thanks very much, Jodie. It was quite an entrance X
I’ll say!
It’s uncanny how family crises can happen all at once. What a blessed connection and friendship with Wolf Blomfield!
Thank you so much, Rosaliene
Wonderful tale. I think that the Holocaust deniers boil my blood even hotter than the anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, and the lugnuts that say that 9-11 didn’t happen. Your family has lived a storied life. Thanks for sharing some of the tales with us.
Thank you so much, Pat
Wow, what a memory. I’ve been thinking of the Holocaust lately because in one of our states, Texas, teachers were just told to provide students with educational materials that present “the other side” of that issue. I am just stunned and crushed by what is happening in America right now.
How awful, Marilyn. Thanks very much
As I reflect on your post, I’m struck by the difference between story and statistics. The enormity that 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust can’t really be understood and internalized without the stories of the individuals who perished and their families.
Such a good point, Liz. Thank you very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I remember your deep friendship with Wolf, and the trips to London to lunch with him (unless I’ve conflated the two events). Measles and meningitis in the one household at the same time must have been terrifying, let alone the logistics of care. We used to have a system here of paid education in exchange for two years at a posting of the government’s choosing. It kept country schools, hospitals, etc, staffed, and allowed students from less affluent backgrounds a profession. It’s been replaced with government student loans that take years to repay, and country towns screaming for people.
You are right about the lunches. I did the same with Norman. We have student loans, too. Thanks very much, Gwen.
I imagine the meningitis diagnosis was scary, but I’m glad you had caring support in this hard time. When I started my counseling career in the 1980s, my employing agency paid for all my training. When I left in 1917, the employee paid for all training. Your colorful shirt in the photo reflects a positive attitude.
Thank you so much, JoAnna. You must have left in the 21st century 🙂
Ha Ha. Thanks for catching that. I meant 2017 of course. Time did not go backwards.
🙂
It is mind boggling what a group of crazed minds can do to fellow human beings. I fear Kristallnacht may get repeated yet again in future —you don’t need to look hard for simmering hatred on the earth.
Those illnesses in the family sound scary. Fortunately, everything went well, thanks to the ample support you received from your family and friends.
Thanks very much, Uma. Genocide is still practiced the world over. Mankind never learns
It was an incredible stroke of luck that you were trained by such a distinguished and caring professional, Derrick. Would that some of our social workers who must have a college degree in order to be eligible for employment were trained by psychologists, rather than other social workers, perpetuating ignorance and ineptness.
Thank you so much, Dolly. A few years later the course required a degree for entry. By then I was a part time trainer. Neither Wolf nor I, without degrees, would have been considered for a place.
My pleasure, Derrick. What kind of a degree were you required to have?
Usually it was something like Sociology. Wolf and I favoured English Literature.
Thank you. It is similar to current requirements here, then.
Thanks for reminding us that such good can come from such terrible evil. This continues to be true.
Thank you very much, Judy
Jackie’s illness must have been very frightening for you. What an eventful time in your life.
It was, indeed, Sue. I had to insist on calling the doctor. Thanks very much.
I enjoyed the story but most of all I love that shirt. Have you still got it?
Andrew – my late husband used have a similar one we called it the deckchair shirt!
Brilliant!
🙂
I do still have it, Andrew. Kept for special occasions. Thanks a lot.
You must put it on and post a picture!
🙂
ha ha ha!! Yes!
I’ve seen several documentaries on Kristallnacht. So horrifying and heart-breaking.
Reading this part of your life brought the tears…some of sadness and others of joy.
Such hard times…and you all persevered and can now share with others.
What a wonderful friendship for you and Mr. Blomfield!
The shirt you wore in that photo woke me up! ? Wowza! Bright and colourful! 😀
((((HUGS)))) 🙂
PS…I remember having measles AND German measles as a little girl. Also, chicken-pox.
Thanks very much, Carolyn. I had all those spotty ailments, too. X
I’m sure i recognise Mr Blomfield from somewhere. Has he ever been on TV talking about his experiences?
Not that I know of, John – and I think I would. Thanks very much
Thank you for sharing Wolf’s story, and you own, with readers, Derrick. Liz made a very good point about the individual stories needing to be told.
Poor Jackie and little Michael! Sometimes it seems multiple things conspire against one. All very hard on you, too. I am glad you had Wolf and Margaret, and caring relatives, to help.
Thank you so much, Lavinia. I, too, agree with Liz
I don’t know where to start commenting. You’ve certainly had some challenges – as did you friend Wolf.
Thank you so much, Helen. Mine were nothing compared to his.
Well, losing a father to the concentration camps must be unbearable.
And, of course, he never actually knew for sure.
Ew, even worse
Yes
WWII, I read so much about it but your story added more how it was during that period.
Thank you very much, Arlene. One man’s story makes it so real
Derrick I am so sorry you lost your friend so recently. What a life he had. I hate hearing about all the separate traumas of his scattered family, once they found each other. And to never know what happened to his father is an awful way for a boy to grow up. He took his personal experience and found work in a field where he could make a difference for some other little boy.
Thank you very much for this insightful response, Crystal
The war traumatized lots of people ? It is always good to have the family nearby in case of need ?
Indeed, Ribana. Thank you very much
love the photo of your lifelong friend and the years before WWII really did have a lot of sneaky terrible things gong on – still so sad –
and you are right – most workers have to pay for their own training now – but it depends –
and it sounds like you are really blessed with your work
I really was, Yvette. Thanks a lot
So glad Merril Smith brought me here from her next to latest post. So special – this friendship, this Wolf. Beautiful post and a reminder to NEVER LET THIS HATRED happen again.
Thank you very much, Pamela