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that experience. Laqueur recounts, for example, that the Kindertrans–
port meeting in London began with laughter and smiles, but on the sec–
ond day lapsed into tearful recall of hidden memories-of having been
abused and forced to slave in unloving households. At the time, most of
these teenagers were not in the position to give voice to their misery.
Throughout the book, Laqueur mentions many distinguished names.
Among them are some who became influential in their new countries: in
the American political arena, Michael Blumenthal, who arrived via Shang–
hai, became a top-ranking member of the Carter administration and now
heads the Jewish museum in Berlin; Henry Grunwald was ambassador to
his native Austria; Arthur Burns, born in Austrian Galicia, was made
ambassador to Bonn; Felix Rohaytan represents the United States in
France; and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright was born in
Prague. The most influential of that cohort, of course, is Henry Kissinger.
He came with his parents from Fuerth, joined the army during World War
II and (among many other veterans) took advantage of the GI Bill of
Rights on his way to fame . Quite a few refugees-a label they detested–
created enterprises, invented industrial techniques and products; became
renowned professors and scientists, editors and winners of Nobel Prizes,
among other distinctions. They all shared a common background and a
common language, had a similar education and understood the same allu–
sions and jokes. Whether their religious origins or practices were worn on
their sleeves or denied, they were motivated to adapt to their new country.
There is too much information in this book for me to even mention
the fascinating tales of those who landed in West Africa and Israel, in
India and Russia, and of those who returned to East Germany. Along
with the survivors of Auschwitz, these refugees foiled Hitler's plan to
free the world of the "Jewish race." To some extent, I believe, they then
felt triumphant to have escaped and, simultaneously, worried about
those they left behind-while meeting the challenges of their new coun–
try and new language. Psychoanalysts diagnosed them as feeling guilty
for having survived. I rather think that they became affectless when
emotional tensions and conflicts overwhelmed them; or that they got so
used to running that many among them even now are diagnosed as
workaholics and overly ambitious. Be that as it may, Laqueur is correct
in concluding that whatever the common features of that generation,
their fate was different from those who came before and after. What the
postrefugee generation and
their
descendants will ultimately remember
and make of their lives is up for grabs.
Edith Kurzweil
