RUTH MEADOR
Birth: October 19, 1931 - Kassel, Germany
Survived: Kindertransport
Date of Arrival in United States: November 29, 1943
Occupation: Nurse
Avocation: Educator - Hollcaust, Hebrew, Health, Hadassah
Personal: Married, two sons
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RUTH AMSTER MEADOR – MY STORY
Sixty years after W.W.II I received a letter from a Dutch journalist via the “Kindertransport Association”. Albert Kelder was writing an essay about the last boat to leave Holland on May 14, 1940 with 80 children who were permitted to emigrate to Great Britain. Through the efforts of some very courageous men and women of vision and compassion 10,000 children left Germany never knowing if they were ever going to see their parents and other family members again.
I was born into a close knit Jewish family whose ancestry in Kassel, Germany dated back over a thousand years. My parents struggled economically during the early Hitler regime; nevertheless, my sister Marion and I experienced a happy, orthodox and loving childhood.
On November 9th, 1938 “Kristalnacht” (Night of the Broken Glass) my young life was shattered. I was seven years old and my whole world went topsy turvy. I can still see the fear on the faces of my parents as they whispered together on how to save the lives of their two precious daughters. I was told to place a small amount of clothes and other necessities into a tiny suitcase. My parents, in desperation and with unbelievable courage put me on a train bound for Amsterdam, Holland. This was the first leg of my journey on the Kindertransport. I never saw my mother, aunts, uncles and grandparents again. Hitler had done such a good job of exporting his anti-semitic propaganda that no country would accept Jewish families, particularly adults.
I was safe in an orphanage in Holland for a short time. Truus Wijsmuller-Meyer, a Dutch Christian social worker assembled 80 Kindertransport children, including me and placed us on a boat, the “Dodegraven”, the last ship out of Holland. We landed in Wigan, England. Eventually, I was again very lucky; a wonderful Jewish family in Manchester, England gave me a home, care, love and a new life. When the war ended I was reunited with my father in the United States. I was taken care of so well by the Levines in Manchester that I was fearful of leaving their comfortable home with an air raid shelter.
Arrival in America was not exactly what I expected but I adapted to the new environment. I studied hard, was an excellent student and pursued a professional career in Nursing.
I was very fortunate to meet and marry my husband Lou who was an elementary school teacher. We have enjoyed a long happy marriage and have two wonderful sons.
I credit Truus Wijsmuller-Meyer with rescuing over 10,000 mostly Jewish children who were destined to die. I owe her not only my gratitude but my life.
We, the Kindertransport survivors have become productive citizens of many lands. It is incumbent upon us to tell our stories to future generations. We see the seeds of hatred and prejudice in the new millennium. We must learn from the past and teach our children to be pro-active in building a better world. “Tikun Olam”.
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KINDERTRANSPORT |
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ALONE IN THE CROWD by Jackie Moller Daddy why did you leave me? We are all in this together |
by Jackie Moller |
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by Aaron Levine |
WHO? WHAT? by Jackie Moller Who are you? Dear sister, who taught me all I knew Dear father, strong and loving Who are you?
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Shattering screams fall to the ground A knock at the door
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AMONG THE FEW by Morrit Summers |
