Fleeing from the Führer: A Postal History of Refugees from the Nazis

William Kaczinski came to England with his family in 1939 as a refugee from Nazi Germany. He was interned, along with his mother and brother, for 10 months in Rushen Camp on the Isle of Man. He has amassed a unique and important collection of World War II postal history artifacts, has written widely for philatelic publications, and has worked closely with the British Library in compiling the collection featured in this book. Charmian Brinson is a professor of German Studies and a founding member of the Research Center for German and Austrian Exile Studies.

An extraordinary history told through postcards and letters provides rare insight into how refugees kept their culture and communities alive throughout the world Written by a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, this unique history and collection of correspondence shows the incredible nature of this worldwide emigration and the indomitable spirit of these Jewish refugees. The Jewish flight from Nazi Germany was one of the largest diasporas the world has ever seen, sparking an international refugee crisis that changed society and continues to shape cultures and communities today. The only lifeline these refugees had was short postcards and letters to let each other know they were still alive. Much of this mail was sent from internment camps which were established worldwide to deal with the overwhelming number of asylum seekers. Each postcard is reproduced in full color, making this a fascinating resource for the general reader, as well as those interested in Jewish history or postal history.