Peter's Story
Peter grew up next to the city hall, and remembers seeing Gestapo, people removed from crowds at the embassy, and his parents' fear in World War II era Europe.
Gerda's Story
Gerda Mayer of Vienna recalls saying good bye in 1939 to her parents as she boarded a plane to England as part of the Kindertransport (Children's Transport), a series of rescue missions that saved thousands of Jewish children. The rest of Gerda's family was killed in the Holocaust.
Waitstill Explains Money Laundering
Hear Waitstill Sharp's account, narrated by Tom Hanks, of money laundering to help refugees fleeing the Holocaust. He weighed the legal ethics of his actions and ruled that it was more important to save imperiled lives.
Martha Learns Clandestine Work
Martha Sharp learns skills and clandestine methods from Quaker leadership to save refugees fleeing the Holocaust.
Martha's Emigration Project
Some of the children who were part of Martha Sharp’s emigration project describe their experiences as refugees leaving Europe for America during World War II.
A Willingness to Act
Waitstill and Martha Sharp, along with some of the refugees who they helped rescue, describe their harrowing journey across Nazi-occupied territory on their way to safety in England.
Behind the Scenes with Ken Burns
Hear the incredible story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp from co-director Ken Burns.
Official Trailer
Waitstill and Martha Sharp saved scores of refugees in Europe at the onset of World War II.
Ken Burns Discusses Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War
Ken Burns examines the previously untold account of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, an American minister and his wife from Wellesley, Massachusetts, who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to a life-threatening mission in Europe.
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