Nicholas Winton Street honors Holocaust hero in Prague
The newly inaugurated Nicholas Winton Street in Prague was officially opened today by representatives of the Prague 7 municipality and other organizations. The ceremony coincides with the anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the departure of the last "Winton Train" in 1939, a poignant reminder of the lives saved and those lost during the Holocaust.
Nicholas Winton Street, situated near Prague's historic Bubny Station, honors Sir Nicholas Winton who saved 669 children before the outbreak of the Second World War.
The Street begins at the former Bubny railway station, a historic site from which transports of Jews and other Holocaust victims were deported to Terezín during the Second World War. Their path began at the assembly point near today’s Trade Fair Palace in Prague’s district, Holešovice, from where they were moved to Bubny station.
Today's opening was also attended by some of Sir Nicholas Winton's children, including Nicholas Winton Jr., who spoke to Radio Prague at the opening ceremony:
“I think, as I said on stage, the symbolism is fantastic. This is a more or less derelict building site and to see this new shot of recovery in an area that is so desolate is fantastic. The symbolism as well of a new street connecting the West and the East. Particularly in this time of “trouble,” I think, my father was a great believer in the concept of compromise. And he would love to see some sort of rapprochement, between all the parties who disagree, and feel that we could be a bit more tolerant of each other.”
Sir Nicholas was known for being opposed to recognition and fame for his heroic acts. His son commented on this proclivity and how he thought his father would react to this renewed recognition.
“He’d say “Why?” Why would he want it? He said that when he was given an award, he’d pin it on his pajamas for a night and then put it in a drawer and forget about it. Because he doesn’t go to functions where you wear medals. So, for him, it didn’t mean anything. Well, maybe it didn’t mean anything. He certainly didn’t use them.”
The story of Sir Nicholas and the Winton Train became especially well-known after the release of the movie based on the real life events, titled One Life, released in 2023. His son, Winton Jr. commented on the “uncanny” resemblance he saw with the actor Johnny Flynn, who played a 29-year old Sir Winton.
“It was astonishing. For people who knew my father, it was like looking at him on the screen. It was so like my father, it was uncanny. A lot of this, of course, was only possible because of the reference earlier to Matej Mináč, the Slovakian film director, who made several films about transport and my father. And it’s because of him, in many ways, that this story has come out of the shadows and become better known. It’s a good reminder for all of us that one person can make a big difference in the world.”
Mr. Winton Jr. emphasized that on this day, we should remember the good, the new beginnings associated with this commemoration, and the heroic story of his father that has been introduced to new audiences.
“This is where a lot of families went to their death, but now it’s a new birth. So, let’s look on the brighter side and see what could come rather than what has been.”
