Actor Tom Hollander has spoken of how a letter from the BBC inviting his music critic Grandfather Hans to appear on the network saved his family from the Nazis in 1939
Actor Tom Hollander has spoken of how a letter from the BBC inviting his music critic grandfather to appear on the network saved his family from the Nazis in 1939.
The Hollander family, who are of Jewish origin, believed they could not escape the Czech Republic as the German army planned their invasion and expected to lose their freedom.
Tom, 51, a star of the BBC's Baptiste, said his Grandad Hans was given a 'passport to freedom' when he was invited to talk about composer Leos Janacek on the BBC by one of its sound engineers.
Hans fled Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the day Hitler's forces invaded on March 15 1939, the Mirror reported.
Had the Hollanders not been able to escape Prague, they faced a brutal oppression and almost certain death, because most of the Czech Jew population were murdered by the Germans.
Tom, his father Tony, 83, and sister Julia tell the family's remarkable story on BBC Radio 3's Between the Ears which is to be broadcast at 9.30pm today.
On the programme, the letter from the BBC's K.A. Wright, dated March 6, 1939, is read by Tom.
After receiving the 'passport to freedom' Hans fled Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the day Hitler's forces invaded on March 15 1939. Pictured, steel helmeted German troops marching into Prague during the invasion
Tom, his father Tony, 83, and sister Julia tell the family's remarkable story on BBC Radio 3's Between the Ears which is to be broadcast at 9.30pm today. German troops are seen entering Prague by lorry, towing anti-aircraft guns in March 1939
Hans fled Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the day Hitler's forces invaded on March 15 1939, the Mirror reported.
Had the Hollanders not been able to escape Prague they faces almost certain death as most of the Czech Jew population were murdered by the Germans.
On the programme, the letter from the BBC's K.A. Wright, dated March 6, 1939, is read by Tom.
Had the Hollanders not been able to escape Prague they faces almost certain death as most of the Czech Jew population were murdered by the Germans. Pictured, steel helmeted German troops marching into Prague during the invasion of Czechoslovakia
Tom's great-uncle who was a homosexual morphine addict killed himself during the war by taking a fatal overdose to avoid being imprisoned. Tom is pictured in Baptise with co-star Tcheky Karyo
It states: 'Dear Hans, We are talking over next season's programme plans very soon and it would be very helpful if you could possibly arrange to come for a few days to London to give us an opportunity to discuss Leos Janacek and the whole question of Czech music generally.
'How soon do you think you could come and how long would you be able to stay?'
Tony said the note was a clear document of salvation for the whole family.
'He explained it was sent on the 6th and arrived arrived on the 9th, adding that the family decided to go on the 12th and left on the 15th.
He said: 'March 15 happens to be the day that Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia.'
The family were shocked to see a Lutheran pastor they recognised as an old friend arrested on the train in Leipzig, Germany.
Tony said the family were terrified they would be picked up by the Gestapo as they had to change trains during the night and there was a delay of a few hours
When the family reached, Holland, they caught a ferry to Harwich, Essex.
Upon arrival they were subjected to 10 hours of interrogation by suspicious officials before eventually being able to settle in Britain to enjoy a new life away from tyranny.
The Jewish population of Bohemia and Moravia, a protectorate set up by the Nazis following the invasion, was virtually annihilated.
Approximately 78,000 Czech Jews in the protectorate were killed.
On the day the German soldiers marched on Prague on March 15, German citizens of the capital city saluted and waved swastika flags.
But some Czechs sobbed, hurled snowballs at the vehicles and refused to give lost Germans directions.
On the day the German soldiers marched on Prague on March 15, German citizens of the capital city saluted and waved swastika flags. Pictured, German troops and tanks on the streets of Prague on March 16, 1939
Numerous Czechs gathered in the city's Wenceslas Square, where they sang the national anthem.
The next morning Hitler signed a declaration that officially created the Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
The mainly Czech population of the protectorate was mobilised for labor to aid the German war effort.
Special offices were also organised to supervise the management of industries to assist with this.
Some Czechs were forced to work in coal mines, in the iron and steel industry, and in armaments production.
Tom's great-uncle who was a homosexual morphine addict killed himself during the war by taking a fatal overdose to avoid being imprisoned.
While his Jewish great-grandfather was arrested and died in the Treblinka.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/23/bbcs-baptiste-star-tom-hollander-reveals-how-a-letter-saved-his-czech-grandfather-from-the-nazis/
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Actor Tom Hollander has spoken of how a letter from the BBC inviting his music critic Grandfather Hans to appear on the network saved his family from the Nazis in 1939
Actor Tom Hollander has spoken of how a letter from the BBC inviting his music critic grandfather to appear on the network...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/23/10/10175762-0-Actor_Tom_Hollander_has_spoken_of_how_a_letter_from_the_BBC_invi-a-9_1550918005719.jpg
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