Paul Dowswell reveals how those who fled Nazism didn’t always receive a warm welcome in Britain

By Rob Attar

Published: Friday, 10 May 2024 at 06:56 AM


Before and during the Second World War, Britain provided a safe haven for thousands of people fleeing Nazi persecution. But, as the author Paul Dowswell argues, this is not an entirely heroic story. In conversation with Rob Attar, Paul explains how huge numbers of Jews were denied entry to Britain and reveals how many of the refugees who were accepted received a hostile welcome.

Paul Dowswell is the author of Aliens: The Chequered History of Britain’s Wartime Refugees (Biteback Publishing, 2023)