The Windermere Children

[poseysbobblehat]

Anyone watching ? I've met one of them - Arek Hersch, the boy who'd been in 4 camps.

I am. Apparently it's being broadcast simultaneously here and in Germany. So many stories which need to be preserved and told.

Arek said he had nightmares for 40 years

I can imagine.

Channel please?

BBC 2.

Just have no words for what people went through.

@poseysbobblehat you had the honour of meeting Mr Hersch ?

I wish more had been said about other groups who suffered during the holocaust but I'm 'pleased' it hasn't been forgotten.

Arek used to speak a lot in schools. I've met him a few times. I've been to Auschwitz as part of a group he led. He still has some photos from his days at Windermere.

Keen to see this. Arek visited my secondary school, that was built on the site of the old Calgarth estate.

Just watching now - I saw the exhibition in Windemere some years ago. I can remember being impresses because Janusz Korczak (who I had tremendous admiration for) had been to the UK.

I have just seen the very opening, and thought how shocking it must have been for those poor children, who had been through such horror, to be presented with another "selection". I suppose people just didn't think - or perhaps at that time, they didn't know what had happened on arrival in the camps.

It never ceases to amaze me how well adjusted these children became (though I don't doubt that there were many who couldn't cope with life after losing their families). They grew up, married, had children and made good lives for themselves.

They were bloody amazing!

Watching now, wow Posey. What an honour.

It's so moving. Poor kids.

The strength of the human spirit is amazing despite the horrors suffered. I am in awe.

the most affecting TV I have ever seen.

What a beautifully moving ending.

It was both heartbreaking and uplifting.

Some of those children went on to do such amazing things, the strength of the human spirit indeed.

Wow, tears streaming down my face at the end, so sad what these poor people went through

To survive and overcome great tragedy. Lovely ending

I had never heard about this. In bits watching, so compelling, and so so sad. These poor children

My grandma used to tell me a story of how her mother put up two refugees. Didn't have a happy ending because one of them did a midnight disappearing act with half the family silver
Ironic really because my grandfather was later involved in coordinating the Berlin airlift and helping to support the survivors from the camps at the time.
However I hold no grudges neither did my great grandparents, they just hoped that those young men they'd taken in to their home went on to have prosperous lives.
I'm very grateful for this programme because I'd always wondered whether the stories we were told had any element of truth.

Just cried my way through that

*drivinmecrazy’ you had to watch this programme to see if any of the stories you were told had any element of truth?

You didn’t realise the holicaust happened?

Of course I realised the holocaust happened, however did you think I didn't!
I have been told a story in abstract by people no longer here and tonight's programmes put those stories into context.
Am actually pretty offended by your insinuation.
FYI my grandfather was a squadron leader as was my father, my mother was in air command, brother and husband both staff sergeants in the Army so rest assured I am fully aware the Holocaust was a real construct

it is on Iplayer, will watch it later this week

It's stayed with me into this morning

Me too missfliss

The five survivors at the end really moved me beyond tears - absolutely wonderful!