Introduction

The story of the Kuczynski family stands apart from the many other biographies of German-Jewish families who were caught up in the turbulence and vicissitudes of the twentieth century. There have been numerous ones written about the impact of Hitler fascism on Jewish families and individuals, both novels and biographies; there have been films, plays and academic studies. The overwhelming majority of these have been conceived from the point of view of the victims: the discrimination, suffering, displacement and consequent trauma, followed perhaps by transcendence. Almost everything they did throughout their lives was dedicated to changing society and bringing about one with more justice and equality. The lives of the Kuczynskis are fascinating for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the motivations of those who remained active, after the end of the Second World War, at the front, between the opposing forces in the new Cold War.