Veteran Henny Franks, 101, recalls joy of VE Day 80 years on
150 of the UK's remaining Holocaust witnesses and their descendants marked the end of the second world war at the RAF museum
Henny Franks closes her eyes and remembers wearing a khaki uniform, walking hand in hand with her cousin down Oxford Street on VE Day May 1945.
The veteran and AJR member, who turns 102 next month, is reminiscing at north London’s RAF Museum, where on Tuesday afternoon more than 150 of the UK’s remaining Holocaust witnesses and their descendants marked the end of the second world war.
Against the backdrop of iconic fighter aircrafts including the Spitfire, they honoured and celebrated those who took up arms and fought against their fellow countrymen and their countries of birth.
Many Jewish refugees, who found refuge in the UK, fought back against those responsible for their flight and oppression, and a number joined the British armed forces in the battle against the Axis powers.
Henny, proudly wearing service medals bestowed on her last year by AJEX, tells Jewish News that on VE Day they were “singing and dancing with all the crowds. And I was happy because I thought I’d see my parents again. It wasn’t quite like that, but that’s what I thought. I close my eyes and I can see it now. I’ll never forget it.”
With young school children on day trips running around excitedly, she adds: “These days should never be forgotten. People like me will not forget.”
In February 1939, she escaped to the UK via a Kindertransport, together with her younger sister. Her father was arrested and deported to Sobibor where he was murdered by the Nazis, but her mother survived the Holocaust.
Henny was taken in by a cousin in England and at the age of 19 was recruited by the British Army to the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). She went to Nottingham for training and then worked as a driver transporting ammunition in Westcliff-on-Sea.
Today Henny said: “I love England very much. I felt so proud to be in the army. I did my bit. I was one of the lucky ones. I want people to know that Jewish people did their bit to fight back.”
Michael Newman, chief executive, The Association of Jewish Refugees, said: “Today we give special recognition to the brave endeavours of the Jewish refugees, who escaped central Europe and joined the British War effort, having experienced the horror of Nazi terror first hand.
“Over the years, the AJR has been honoured to count many members as veterans, including those who worked at Bletchley cracking and deciphering Enigma and some as Secret Listeners, eavesdropping on conversations of German POWs.
“All of which helped shorten the war. For this community, VE Day was – and remains – a paradox of celebration and realisation. Of bunting and smiles, and of heart-wrenching desperation that the fate of loved ones was in stark contrast to their own.”
During the proceedings, AJR members were given a private tour of RAF WW2 fighter aircrafts, followed by entertainment from a swing band and traditional 1940’s sandwiches and cakes – representing the new life in Britain, Jewish refugees forged, in the face of adversity.
Guests of honour included MP for Hendon, David Pinto-Duschinsky and Sally Sealey, chief of staff to the UK Envoy for post-Holocaust issues.
Initially, refugees from Austria and Germany were not permitted to join the British armed forces. This was later relaxed, when some were allowed special dispensation to join the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (renamed the Pioneer Corps in 1940), an unarmed unit that provided manual labour for British units.
Tasks included trench digging, bridge building, and clearing roads. Some 4,000 male Jewish refugees enlisted in the Pioneer Corps during the course of the war. From 1942, Austrian and German refugees were permitted to enlist directly into technical units and the Special Forces, and eventually all restrictions on service were lifted. Refugees who served in the army were sometimes known as ‘The King’s Most Loyal Enemy Aliens’.
In total, around 10,000 German and Austrian refugees joined the British armed forces from 1939 to 1945.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
