Fleeing from the Führer A Postal History of Refugees from Nazism

 

The Jewish flight from Nazi Germany was one of the largest diasporas the world has ever seen. Imagine leaving everything you love behind you and being separated from your family and friends without knowing when or if you will ever see them again. The only lifeline these refugees had was short postcards and letters to let each other know they were still alive. Many of these were sent from internment camps which were established worldwide to deal with the overwhelming number of asylum seekers. Fleeing the Führer is a unique collection of correspondence that shows the incredible nature of this worldwide emigration and the indomitable spirit of these Jewish refugees. Each postcard is reproduced in full color, making this a fascinating resource for the general reader, as well as those interested in Jewish history or postal history.

William Kaczynski came to England with his family in 1939 as a refugee from Nazi Germany. He was interned, along with his mother and brother, for 10 months in Rushen Camp on the Isle of Man. He has written widely for philatelic publications and has worked closely with the British Library in compiling the collection featured in this book. His coauthor, Charmian Brinson, is Professor of German Studies. She is a founder member of the Research Centre for German and Austrian Exile Studies.