The Children’s Train

Four months later, on May 7, 1945, the church bells rang in England announcing victory in Europe. Traffic barely moved, and horns honked in a spontaneous celebration.

People cheered all over London. Some people wore paper hats and waved noisemakers. They hugged and kissed total strangers, and they danced with abandon in the streets of Piccadilly Circus. Great relief swept over England. The fear was gone. The burden of war was finally lifted from the people, and their hearts’ joy was unbounded.

Hans and Stephen ran into the street from their hostel. “What’s going on?” Stephen shouted to a man passing by.

“Germany has surrendered!” the man yelled back.

The perpetually dark streetlights flickered and glowed brilliantly, lighting up the streets for the first time since war was declared. Searchlights joyously crisscrossed the night sky, lighting up the darkness, signaling safe skies to the people of England.

The war with Germany had ended. The joy of victory spread throughout England. The Kindertransport children’s nightmares were finally over.