“On July 4th, 1039, eight months after Kristalnacht, I got up extremely early and went into the kitchen to say goodbye to my dolls. I was to be sent abroad under the auspices of the Kindertransport – a rescue operation that helped nearly 10,000 Jewish children escape Nazi rule and find new homes in Britain.

The authorities allowed the children to take only a small suitcase with them, so I could only take one of my dolls. My mother stood at the garden gate and waved goodbye to us. (Marion’s older sister accompanied her)

My father took us to the station. My sister and I were travelling with 200 other children and there was almost no time to say goodbye, as the parents were not allowed to wait for the train to leave. However, many of them – including my father – sped to the next stop in Berlin for one last glimpse of their children.

As the train pulled into the station, I saw my father coming to me, wanting to kiss me goodbye one last time. I leaned out of the window, about to kiss and stroke his face once more, when a group of SS men with large dogs and truncheons strode up to the train and pushed him and the other parents away from the train.

My father stumbled and a lady fell. I stayed as strong as I could, took one last look at my father as the platform receded, and prayed that I would see him and my mother again soon.”