Dr. Hilda Cohen
| Dr. Hilda Cohen | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1928 Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
| 🏳️ Nationality | German-British |
| 💼 Occupation | Physician, Magistrate, Public Servant |
| Known for | Kindertransport survivor, contributions to Jewish community in Wales |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Dr. Cohen |
| 👶 Children | 4 |
Dr. Hilda Cohen (born November 1928) is a German-born British physician, magistrate, and Kindertransport survivor who rebuilt her life in Wales after fleeing Nazi Germany. She is noted for her long-term public service, contributions to the Jewish community, and advocacy for preserving Holocaust memory.
Early life
Hilda Cohen was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to Hugo and Caroline Rosenthal (née Schwabacher). She was the youngest of three children and lived with her widowed grandmother in a devout Orthodox Jewish family. Her family attended the Orthodox Breuer Shul on Friedberger Anlage, and she attended the Jewish primary school Hirsch Schule.
During Kristallnacht in November 1938, Hilda witnessed the destruction of local synagogues and the escalating threat to Jewish life in Germany.
Escape via Kindertransport
In July 1939, at the age of ten, Hilda was sent to Britain through the Kindertransport. Her parents and grandmother remained in Germany and were later deported to Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania, where they were murdered during the Holocaust.
Upon arrival in Britain, she was initially in London and later placed with a Jewish foster family, the Shermans, in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Hilda quickly adapted to her new life, writing diaries in English and attending secondary school in Cardiff.
Medical career and public service
After completing her education, Hilda Cohen trained as a physician and worked in a blood transfusion unit.
She became involved in local politics and was elected councillor for the Gabalfa Ward in Cardiff in 1962. She later became an alderman and served as a magistrate (Justice of the Peace) for over 40 years, combining her medical career with long-term civic engagement.
Jewish community and heritage work
Dr. Cohen has been an active member of the Jewish community in Wales and London, supporting synagogue life and cultural preservation. She has contributed to maintaining the heritage of Jewish refugees in Wales and promoting awareness of the Kindertransport legacy.
Legacy
Dr. Hilda Cohen's life exemplifies the resilience of Kindertransport survivors who rebuilt their lives after losing their families. She has been cited in the UK Parliament as an example of the importance of the Kindertransport program and has shared her story through interviews, oral histories, and Jewish heritage initiatives.
Personal life
Hilda Cohen married a fellow member of the Jewish community, and they raised daughter and sons. She lived in Cardiff until 1999, when she moved to Golders Green, London, to be closer to her extended family.
References
- AJR Refugee Voices: Dr. Hilda Cohen
- Hansard, UK Parliament: Kindertransport Commemoration
- Golders Green Shul Journal, September 2018
- Jewish Heritage Wales: Kindertransport in Wales
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