The following is a synopsis of John Goldsmith’s book which recounts his life before, during and after the Holocaust.
Dr John Goldsmith was born Hans Goldschmidt in Oberkassel, Germany in 1924. Following the divorce of his parents, Malli and Hermann, they moved to Dusseldorf where Hans’s mother established her dental practice. Hans recalls a happy early school life before becoming aware as early as 1933 that the adults around him were worried about the changing political situation.
His stepfather’s left-wing politics are understood to be the reason for his brutal murder when Hans was just 9 years old, following which his mother tried to start a new life, moving Hans to Amsterdam. A chance connection with an Englishwoman from the Cambridge Refugee Committee changed the family’s direction again, securing work in Cambridge for Malli and an education for Hans at the Leys School.
Malli was instrumental in securing the safety of many other family members and friends, but despite her efforts they lost many other relatives and friends in the Holocaust.
On the day of his 16th birthday Hans, now called John, found himself suddenly classed as an enemy alien, arrested and interned. Following seven months interred in Canada, John returned to the UK and continued his schooling at the relocated Leys school, now in Scotland. Despite his interrupted education, John won a place to study medicine in London and enjoyed a successful career in Renal medicine.
John married and built a life in Liverpool, marrying twice and enjoying good relationships with his ex-wives, three children and nine grandchildren.
