Actor Tom Hollander has spoken of how a letter from the BBC inviting his music critic Grandfather Hans to appear on the network saved his family from the Nazis in 1939
Actor Tom Hollander has spoken of how a letter from the BBC inviting his music critic grandfather to appear on the network saved his family from the Nazis in 1939.
The Hollander family, who are of Jewish origin, believed they could not escape the Czech Republic as the German army planned their invasion and expected to lose their freedom.
Tom, 51, a star of the BBC's Baptiste, said his Grandad Hans was given a 'passport to freedom' when he was invited to talk about composer Leos Janacek on the BBC by one of its sound engineers.
Hans fled Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the day Hitler's forces invaded on March 15 1939, the Mirror reported.
Had the Hollanders not been able to escape Prague, they faced a brutal oppression and almost certain death, because most of the Czech Jew population were murdered by the Germans.
Tom, his father Tony, 83, and sister Julia tell the family's remarkable story on BBC Radio 3's Between the Ears which is to be broadcast at 9.30pm today.
On the programme, the letter from the BBC's K.A. Wright, dated March 6, 1939, is read by Tom.
After receiving the 'passport to freedom' Hans fled Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the day Hitler's forces invaded on March 15 1939. Pictured, steel helmeted German troops marching into Prague during the invasion
Tom, his father Tony, 83, and sister Julia tell the family's remarkable story on BBC Radio 3's Between the Ears which is to be broadcast at 9.30pm today. German troops are seen entering Prague by lorry, towing anti-aircraft guns in Mach 1939
Hans fled Prague by train with his wife and three-year-old son on the day Hitler's forces invaded on March 15 1939, the Mirror reported.
Had the Hollanders not been able to escape Prague they faces almost certain death as most of the Czech Jew population were murdered by the Germans.
On the programme, the letter from the BBC's K.A. Wright, dated March 6, 1939, is read by Tom.
Had the Hollanders not been able to escape Prague they faces almost certain death as most of the
