My Train to Freedom: A Jewish Boy's Journey from Nazi Europe to a Life of Activism

by Ivan A. Backer

The breathtaking memoir by a member of “Nicky’s family,” a group of 669 Czechoslovakian children who escaped the Holocaust through Sir Nicholas Winton’s Kindertransport project, My Train to Freedom relates the trials and achievements of award-winning humanitarian and former Episcopal priest, Ivan Backer.

As Backer recounts in his memoir, in May of 1939 as a ten-year-old Jewish boy, he fled Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia for the United Kingdom aboard one of the Kindertransport trains organized by Nicholas Winton, a young London stockbroker. The final train was canceled September 1 when Hitler invaded Poland. The 250 children scheduled for that train were left on the platform and later transported to concentration camps and presumably perished.

Detailed in this page-turning true story is Backer’s dangerous escape, his boyhood in England, his perilous 1944 voyage to America, and his mantra today. Now he is an eighty-six-year-old who remains an activist for peace and justice. He has been influenced by his Jewish heritage, his Christian boarding school education in England, and the always present question, “For what purpose was I spared the Holocaust?”

My Train to Freedom was thoroughly researched and shaped by Backer’s own memories. It includes interviews he conducted in 1980 in Czech with his mother and her sister, later translated into English; a collection of conversations he had with his older brother and cousin; insights gained from the Czech film, Nicky’s Family, about the Kindertransport; and concludes with never-before-published death march accounts by two family members.

Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Genres: Memoir, History, Holocaust, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, War

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

Ivan Backer was born in Czechoslovakia in 1929 and escaped the Holocaust as a ten-year-old. He came to the United States via England in 1944, and, after earning degrees in theology, held a number of positions at Trinity College

Reviews

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivan Backer's Jewish parents made the difficult decision of arranging for their ten-year-old son to board the Kindertransport from Prague to England in 1939. Sir Nicholas Winton, a British stockbroker, saved the lives of 669 children by transporting them out of Czechoslovakia before they could be rounded up and sent to Nazi concentration camps.

The author relates his experiences in England, his exposure to Christianity, his 1944 trip to the United States, and his decision to devote his life to humanitarian purposes. In the book he tries to answer the question: "How did the fact that I avoided the Holocaust horrors influence the choosing of my life's work and the major decisions I made along the way?" He has been a civil rights activist, and worked for many years to improve the lives of minorities in Hartford, Connecticut, especially near Trinity College. In his retirement he also has held leadership roles in the Adult Learning Program for older adults.

In addition to his own experiences, he also shares the stories of two family members' death marches just before the end of the war. I heard Mr Backer give an author talk, and it is truly inspirational how he has given back to society in gratitude after being saved from the Holocaust.

The documentary film, "Nicky's Family", about the Kindertransport, is also excellent.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession: I brought my family to a talk given by the author regarding his book. Ivan seemed like a sweet, thoughtful older gentleman that, to this day, is still haunted by the question, “Why me?”

While the writing may be amateurish, I found it interesting because it was so personal. I had met the author. I heard him speak of what happened to him more than 70+ years ago regarding a war that must never be forgotten. Toward the end of his speech, like in the book, you are reminded that he’s just a man. He got lucky when so many people didn’t. He’s done his best to live a life that honored God, that honored the victims and to help bring about peace among all people starting in his own community.

To that, I give 4 stars.

[Cathy Santaniello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring

A different story. I have read many books about the kindertrains, but this one is completely different. Read this for some activist inspiration.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most readers, I read through the first part quickly and found it quite interesting. Five stars! This part of history should never be forgotten and applaud the author for telling his story.

However, I got bogged down in the second part and ended up skimming through his working years. IMO this is actually two separate stories that could have been two different books. The first, his youth and student years, I can see as a YA story. It's of interest to history fans around the world. The second and greater part: the details of his life as an adult in the US, his dedication to activism, is of interest to a more limited audience. While I applaud his dedication to the cause, not being an American I'm just not interested in all the programs and politics he dealt with.

Really, this not a memoir, but a full autobiography. The third section, 50% of the book, covers his retirement years. It is interesting how he goes back and finds out what happened to various family members and gives us a recap on their lives. I found the ending personal accounts, his uncle and aunt's experiences surviving concentration camps and forced marches, really interesting.

[Evelyn Petschek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Fascinating story, but I wanted to hear more about the early years. 4 stars for the first half, 3 stars for the second.

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, I am extremely interested in the events of the holocaust and this memoir was both sad but a life not put to waste, and how his harrowing journey influenced his career.

[rhonda granquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivan Backer was one of many children that were rescued by Winton Nickelous during WWII. He tells of his escape. Then he goes on and talks about how he got into being an activist. At the end of his story, his uncle paul relates his survival of the war as does Ivan’s favorite cousin Lislott tells her story

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title is misleading; the train part is only a few pages before the author lives a rather safe and boring life.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. The author weaves his story of how at age 10, he escaped Czechoslovakia on a kindertrain to England, just before the Nazis close the border to all who are trying to escape. Being Jewish by birth, Backer has a deep sense that he was saved from the jaws of death for a life purpose. That ethos guides all his life decisions and personal and professional choices. While Backer becomes a Christian in England, and eventually a pastor in America, his Jewish heritage underlies his sense of family and the many who lost their lives because of it. It is especially intriguing that Backer was imprinted in his soul to live a life of activism given the crucible of his early years and the impact of the war on him. Clearly, Backer had a sense of justice and right living which comes out in his life.

The beginning chapters and ending appendices are the most riveting since it covers the time period during the Nazi occupation and end of the war, including accounts of some family members who faced the horrors of concentration camps. The book also has some photos at the end.

My four stars are mainly because sometimes the book rambles and the author jumps around in time and remembrances between paragraphs. This was confusing since Backer was detailing periods in his life, and then would jump back to earlier episodes or people.

All in all, a good read.

[Ken Frankel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I imagine some lesser stars were given as reviews because perhaps the luster and polish or even focus appeared to wane and disappear. This is what history buffs fear most about how details in events wane as well to a largely myopic public as the time horizon of said event recedes from view and memory.

But this book slammed the door on forgetfulness of the contrast of civilized behavior and the unthinkable acts of cruelty and violence.

By dwelling on the minutia of a person whose life was spared by so many slivers of chance in a variety of intersections meeting to bring this one of the few other children on just one train of just a few is perfect justice in honoring those lives shortened suddenly by the great nazi net of death.

This reading of a man's life, spared from certain death, gives more clarity than any list of the millions lost. His name is Ivan Baker.

[Vicky Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape through Germany

While just a young boy, the author was placed on a train alone and sent through Germany to the safety of Great Britain just before the war started. Now, he shares his story, and the stories of his immediate and extended family during those war years. It is a factual story that is told without animosity or resent. Mr. Backer shares the details of his life's work in various roles of activism as well. The appendices include some never before shared accounts from extended family members that tell of death marches.

I read this story for my stop in Slovakia on my Journey Around the World in 80 Books for 2018. I selected it for my collection of train books, as well. I read it in the Audible narrated in high quality by Eric Dove. My next stop will be Poland.

[Brenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first audio book I’ve returned. It started out ok, but the stories skip around so they’re a little hard to follow. The part that I thought would be most interesting - what caused a Jewish boy that escaped the Holocaust is just skimmed over. SO much repetition about “why was I saved”. And then it goes into a monologue about all the groups he joined, the leadership positions he held in each... not the inspiring story I thought it would be at all.

Reading this book is like getting a bite of salt when you thought you were getting sugar. Blech.

[Andrew Scholes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first part of the book where the author tells of his time in Germany and being on one of the last Kindertransports is interesting. The last part of the book in which he discusses the various occupations he had in America seem to me to be self congratulatory. I understand it is an autobiography but he seems to go over the top patting himself on the back.

[Sandy L Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You

I have been reading many books about WW 2 from many different viewpoints. This is a true story about an astounding thing that happened there with also looks at the concentration camps. Very well written. A look at an interesting life. Thank You for writing it!

[Jo-anne Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad leaving this review due to it being somebody’s life story. The book started off very interesting pre world war 2 and stayed that way up until his family immigrated to America. For me the book just became mundane from this point to the extent that I couldn’t finish.

[Rose Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting memoir. I'm not generally fond of memoirs or auto-bios

[Robert Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a memoir

This book should be a memoir not a book of leadership. It is the afterlife of the author adult journey

[Alice Sather · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was most interesting was how his childhood experience informed his educational choices and, ultimately, profession.

[Jerroleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tooting your own horn. The best part of the book was the appendices.

[Louise Duckworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry was naff...

[Neal Ingebrigtson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than escape

This is a complete story of escape from the Nazis, but more a story of a man who gave his saved life for the benefit of others. A needed message for 2021!

[Steve Maxwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I expected!!  It's a  good story, but only focused on his experiences during the war in the first 40 - 50 pages, and that is what I was looking for.

[Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 1/3 read. I guess it just wasn’t what I was expecting. I wanted to learn more about the kindertransports, but that part was skimmed over very quickly, and the rest was just a basic memoir.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book are fascinating, but others read more like CV. Saying that I'm glad I persevered and read through the more CV type bits.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a dull and boring read. This Czech secular Jewish boy and his family are saved from the Nazis. WWII is spent in England. He becomes a Christian because he likes the ritual. There appears to be no conviction of sin or of the need of a Savior. The family immigrate to the USA where he devotes his life to left radical causes that hurt the greater good of American citizens. The read was a waste of time and money.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and well-written beautiful sad story.

This is the story of World War II--sad but lucky but horrifying and poignant. A grateful survivor shares with us his history.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first third of this book was excellent. The author told the story of his escape from Czechoslovakia and his experiences on the Kinder train and his different schools and Foster homes he lived in while he was in England. The second two-thirds of the book were dull and uninteresting. He had nothing in his life that made his experiences extraordinary enough to write a book about them.