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Kindertransport refugee who had ‘immeasurable’ impact on Shoah education dies

Ingrid Wuga escaped Nazi Germany aged 15

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Survivor Ingrid Wuga, who escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport at 15 and was honoured by the Queen last year for her services to Shoah education, died in Glasgow at 96. 

The Dortmund-born survivor fled in June 1939 and was later joined in England by her parents who escaped Nazi Germany on domestic visas. The family lived in West Kilbride in Scotland. 

Mrs Wuga met her husband Henry, a fellow Kindertransport evacuee, at a refugee club in Glasgow and the two married at Pollokshields synagogue in 1944.

The couple founded a kosher caterer which they ran together for 30 years.

She shared her testimony with thousands of people and received a British Empire Medal last year in the New Year’s Honours List for her services to Holocaust education.

She was involved with a number of charities, including the British Limbless ex Servicemen’s Association, the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice and World Jewish Relief.

“Two lovely daughters to raise, school, university leading to boyfriends and of course weddings,” Mr Wuga wrote of their lives together in a piece earlier this year. “We were a happy family.”

“We both spoke at over a 100 schools in Scotland, telling our story to the youngsters, on behalf of the Holocaust Educational Trust. The reward is the feedback from the students.”

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, praised her “immeasurable” impact. 

“She and her husband, fellow Kindertransport refugee Henry, dedicated themselves to sharing their testimony and ensuring that the human history of the Holocaust lives on with young people. 

“As a great supporter of our Scottish Ambassadors, the impact she had over the years is immeasurable and we will all remember her fondly.

“Ingrid will be greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, and in particular her husband Henry.

“We will continue to share Ingrid’s testimony, ensuring that she is never forgotten,” Ms Pollock said Monday.

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) paid tribute to its “warm and sociable” member, who was “very cultured and loved music.”

“Ingrid and her husband had been stalwarts of AJR events for many years. Ingrid will be sadly missed and AJR sends Henry and all the family our deepest condolences.”

Mrs Wuga is survived by her husband, two daughters, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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