Holocaust Survivor Credits Late Broadcaster Esther Rantzen for Enabling Meeting with Rescuer Sir Nicholas Winton

Broadcaster Esther Rantzen was instrumental in a Holocaust survivor's ability to meet and thank Sir Nicholas Winton, the man responsible for saving her life.

Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines, who was rescued as a nine-year-old Milena Fleischmann along with her younger sister, recounted how Rantzen's television program, 'That's Life!', facilitated their reunion. Sir Nicholas, an unassuming stockbroker, had kept his role in rescuing 669 children from Nazi-occupied Prague a secret for nearly 50 years.

His clandestine activities came to light in 1987 when his wife discovered a scrapbook containing the names and photographs of the children he had helped escape Czechoslovakia by train before the outbreak of World War II. This rescue effort, known as the Kindertransport, was made possible by a law enacted following Kristallnacht, with arrangements made for sponsorship and homes in Britain.

Lady Milena, now 96, was one of the few children saved by Sir Nicholas who was not Jewish. Her father was targeted by the Nazis for assisting in the escape of author Thomas Mann.

In 1988, Lady Milena received a call from Rantzen, who introduced herself as the founder of Childline. Initially skeptical, Lady Milena was eventually convinced of the broadcaster's identity and the significance of the discovery. Rantzen invited her to a recording of 'That's Life!' to meet Sir Nicholas.

During the program, Rantzen's co-presenter read a statement from Lady Milena, expressing her deep gratitude to the man who organized the Kindertransport and facilitated her escape, along with her sister and cousin. She stated that without his intervention, she would have met the same fate as her cousins who perished in concentration camps.

Sir Nicholas, known for his humble nature, was reportedly taken aback by the televised reunion, with Lady Milena recalling that he was "quite cross with Esther for springing it all on him." He left the studio quickly after their initial meeting.

However, Sir Nicholas returned for a subsequent episode on July 3, 1988. In this broadcast, dozens of children he had rescued were present. When asked if anyone owed their life to him, approximately two dozen individuals seated around him stood up, all survivors of the Kindertransport. A visibly moved Sir Nicholas was seen wiping away tears.

Sir Nicholas's involvement began in 1938 when he traveled to Prague at the request of a friend involved with Czech refugee groups. He spent three weeks organizing what became the Kindertransport, which ultimately saved around 10,000 children from across Nazi-occupied Europe. He facilitated travel, dealt with bureaucracy, and reportedly forged documents and bribed officials to overcome delays. The initial rescue efforts required a guarantee of £50 per child for repatriation costs.

The first train departed on March 14, 1939, the day before the Nazis fully occupied Czechoslovakia. Eight trains in total made the journey, with collaborators in Prague assisting the children before their arrival in London, where they were placed with British families. The final train was canceled by the Nazis on September 1, 1939, the day they invaded Poland, and it is believed only two of the 250 children on board survived the war. The failure to rescue this last group reportedly haunted Sir Nicholas.

In the years following the television appearance, Lady Milena developed a friendship with Sir Nicholas, visiting him regularly and bringing him his favorite meals. She also maintained contact with Esther Rantzen.

Lady Milena noted that Rantzen considered the second episode featuring Sir Nicholas to be the most important evening of her entire life, describing her as "friendly, easy and warm" throughout their acquaintance. Even in the final months of her life, Rantzen remained engaged, with her daughter ensuring messages were exchanged.

Fittingly, given her extensive charitable work, one of Rantzen's last significant contributions was writing a foreword for a new book about the Kindertransport, ensuring Sir Nicholas's story and legacy continued to be recognized.