r/MadeMeSmile • u/RoyalChris • Feb 25 '25

Wholesome Moments Nicholas Winton helped 669 Jewish children escape the Nazis and his efforts went unrecognised for 50 years. Then, in 1988, while sitting as a member of a TV audience, he suddenly found himself surrounded by the kids he had rescued, who were now adults.

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109.4k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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9.9k

u/JustAnotherSlug Feb 25 '25

This never gets old.

5.4k

u/migruen Feb 25 '25

Nicholas Winton did! (106 years)

3.1k

u/benedictfuckyourass Feb 25 '25

Maybe (good obviously) karma does exist

1.4k

u/RoyalChris Feb 25 '25

I upvoted your comment, turns out good karma exist.

194

u/Arbazio Feb 25 '25

Whoa, guy had, like, mad updoots... but IRL!

I hope you read the above in a Cali skater voice (gender preference: optional), because that was the spirit in which it was intended

32

u/Impressive_Car_4222 Feb 26 '25

Whichever gender skater voice is gnarlier in your head

26

u/ShredGuru Feb 26 '25

People like it when you help them be not dead.

3

u/Art0fficial Feb 26 '25

Those are #LifeGoal updoots.

The ones that made the world better and helped.

3

u/FuckYeaSeatbelts Feb 26 '25

I don't get how people can look at the world and think karma exists.

At least in the "non religious" way we use the term. I think in the religions where it exists, that's supposed to be affecting your afterlife, not current one.

2

u/AndreasDasos Feb 26 '25 edited Feb 26 '25

And Johan van Hulst, who saved hundreds of Dutch Jewish children from the Holocaust, lived to 107.

The standard Jewish blessing is for a long life, as it happens.

2

u/Sabregunner1 Feb 26 '25

it sure does. i have a philosphy about it. do good things knowing it could come back to you. but dont do them so that its comes back to you. do them, because its the good and right thing to do regardless,

i know there are several times that it has come back to me, and it was because i did good things. in hopes of continuing the trend i do good things, but again not expecting it to come back to me

1

u/cunextime2 Feb 26 '25

karma means act

1

u/falcrist2 Feb 26 '25

Nah. Henry Kissinger made it to 100.

1

u/Spiritual_Alarm_3932 Feb 26 '25

Definitely 💯 xx

1

u/TheGreatGamer1389 Feb 26 '25

Ya karma goes both ways. Good and bad.

1

u/fieryfish42 Feb 27 '25

Everyone as great as him deserves to be recognized in their lifetime..& to love as long as possible :)

87

u/dildomiami Feb 25 '25

fuck yes! thats even better!!!

97

u/Neureiches-Nutria Feb 25 '25

Hopefully in best health and sorounded by many friends

54

u/Killarogue Feb 25 '25

Wow, we share the same birthday and a connection to the Holocaust. Sometimes the world feels small.

37

u/Hidesuru Feb 26 '25

Oh bless that man that's awesome.

40

u/lotsagrease Feb 26 '25

Proving that the good don't always die young.

3

u/Inalum_Ardellian Feb 26 '25

He was so full of life even at that age. On his 100th birthday he flew a microlight and he liked it so much he wanted to do it every birthday... And iirc he did at least three times

1

u/Rugkrabber Feb 26 '25

That’s incredible. How special he got to do what he loved most for such a long time.

2

u/Letibleu Feb 26 '25

I'm happy happy he passed (2015) before seeing what is happening now around the world.

1

u/Midirr Feb 26 '25

Very rare to live that long, only 0.00094% (560 people) of Englands population are older than 105

1

u/deran6ed Feb 26 '25

And so did 669 children because of him

1

u/C-LonGy Feb 26 '25

He’s living on in the families of the many people he saved. True legacy without TikTok!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '25

That's young for someone like him! Good people die young, even if they're in their 100s!

1

u/HispaniaRacingTeam Feb 26 '25

Damn, rest easy Mr. Winton

1

u/RampantJellyfish Feb 27 '25

I guess the good don't always die young.

650

u/UnCFO Feb 25 '25

Which is why the recent movie on it starring Anthony Hopkins is even better.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/one_life

90

u/pannenkoek0923 Feb 25 '25

Anthony Hopkins is a billion years old and can still put in masterful performances. He is great, completely stole the show in the film. If none of the other characters existed, and the camera was just on his acting, I would still watch this film.

2

u/Massive-Exercise4474 Feb 26 '25

Anthony Hopkins is the goat

166

u/Far_Pineapple_1512 Feb 25 '25

Thanks for sharing this. I’ll be watching this tonight.

91

u/stinkwick Feb 26 '25

Holy smokes, how am I only hearing about this now. Looks like an amazing historical piece, not to mention a serious tear jerker. Now if I can just talk my girlfriend into watching out with me.

12

u/vaLOLsaraptor Feb 26 '25

Tearjerker is an understatement, you will cry.

3

u/kitschtrulla Feb 26 '25

You will cry, and it will feel so good.

3

u/tobitob99 Feb 26 '25

Tear jerker is definetly understated, the whole cinema was collectively sobbing

1

u/if-I- Feb 26 '25

Yes, it is a serious tear jerker. Only the hardest of hearts will not crumble when watching the film.

1

u/EnglishRed232 Feb 26 '25

Yep it’s an amazing film 

27

u/Horn_Flyer Feb 25 '25

Same here!!

15

u/savagek29 Feb 25 '25

same aswell

3

u/FakeSafeWord Feb 26 '25

bring tissues!

1

u/dull-boy-jack237 Feb 26 '25

I’m also going to watch it. What an incredible human being

1

u/hoosyourdaddyo Feb 26 '25

me too! Paramount Plus is worth every penny!

44

u/hirambwellbelow Feb 25 '25

Thank you. I see it is on Crave in Canada so I will be able to watch it.

52

u/Croemato Feb 26 '25

Damn, Reddit made me want to watch this film and told me exactly where I could watch it in a span of moments. If that isn't peak internet, I don't know what is.

13

u/GrapeJellyVermicelli Feb 25 '25

Oh hey, Captain Beefheart 👊

5

u/SleevieSteevie Feb 25 '25

✊🇨🇦

1

u/allaboutthequeens Mar 01 '25

Damn, I was all set to watch it but they only have the French version available now.

1

u/hirambwellbelow Mar 02 '25

My French isn’t up to it either! Sorry it’s a disappointing situation

3

u/RapMastaC1 Feb 25 '25

Dang, how did I not know about this, definitely watching tonight.

3

u/MegaPegasusReindeer Feb 25 '25

Free to watch on Hoopla!

2

u/kittapoo Feb 25 '25 edited Feb 26 '25

Totally watching this, thanks!

Edit: wow. This movie was amazing. I cried at various points. It’s so uplifting that there are people such as him in the world, who are willing to do whatever they can in order to help those in need of help through the worst of times. It’s gut wrenching to know he held so much guilt over the years even though he did help so many, he was and is definitely a man to look up to that’s for sure.

2

u/findMeOnGoogle Feb 26 '25

I could watch any Anthony Hopkins movie. Is he playing a protagonist?

2

u/RiverLover27 Feb 26 '25

I watched this on a plane, which was probably inadvisable, due to all the loud sobbing I did…

2

u/Spiritual-539 Feb 26 '25

Love this movie .

2

u/maaaagicaljellybeans Feb 26 '25

This movie was excellent. Made the mistake of watching it on a plane though…I just silently sobbed, it really got to me.

2

u/kennaken96 Feb 26 '25

Thank you so much for sharing. I’m going to watch it this weekend.

1

u/Backseat_Bouhafsi Feb 26 '25

Pixar already did a movie starring this guy. It's called Up

1

u/Sal_Ammoniac Feb 26 '25

I saw it, and when seeing him being crushed over not having been able to save the kids from the last train, all I could think of was the current "leader" of the US, and what a juxtaposition of VALUES that makes.

We, as people, should be going to a better direction, not worse. It's so sickening.

1

u/Glad-Feature-2117 Feb 26 '25

Great film. No idea how it didn't receive any Oscar nominations (especially for Anthony Hopkins).

1

u/DontGoGivinMeEvils Feb 26 '25

Amazing film! Glad to see it recommended. Watched it at the cinema and someone started cutting onions, the cheek!

Here's a trailer:

Trailer: https://youtu.be/6ethollg-PI

1

u/Natural-Carrot5748 Feb 26 '25

Thank you! I had no idea this film existed, and Anthony Hopkins is brilliant. I can't wait to watch it now (and weep).

0

u/milas_hames Feb 26 '25

The movie is extremely underwhelming

228

u/LavenderGinFizz Feb 25 '25

It makes me tear up every single time I see it!

81

u/Scary_Ostrich_9412 Feb 25 '25

Me too. It is such a beautiful moment. Such a good and noble man.

2

u/frn Feb 26 '25

r/mademebawlmyeyesoutrightbeforeistartwork

78

u/eiretara7 Feb 25 '25

Same!  I’ve seen this clip plenty of times but it still makes me tear up, and it’s beautiful to watch.  It’s nice to be reminded of the goodness of people.

26

u/coma24 Feb 26 '25

I love the fact that so many people have seen it, no what's coming, and still watch it. Add me to the list.

73

u/1Bookworm Feb 25 '25

Yes, me too. There is also a Japanese man called Sugihara who did something similar. True heroes both of them.

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/chiune-sempo-sugihara

39

u/-Trooper5745- Feb 26 '25

And even a military official in the Salvadoran embassy

10

u/1Bookworm Feb 26 '25

Thank you for sharing this as i wasnt aware of Colonel Contreras heroic deeds

2

u/OutsidePressure6181 Feb 26 '25

Amazing thank you

177

u/ms_kathi Feb 25 '25

I know, this is the kind of world I want to live in!

155

u/windyorbits Feb 25 '25

You’re in it right now!

108

u/xwaspofthepalisadesx Feb 25 '25

i know this is a bit silly but i found this so profound

161

u/birdandbear Feb 25 '25

Everywhere, every moment of every day, there are millions of acts of kindness, compassion, selflessness, and love happening all at once. They're small, local, and don't often make the news, but they're each a little point of light in the darkness.

That's the part of us worth fighting for. Sometimes, it's the only thing that keeps me going.

52

u/Real-Exercise5212 Feb 25 '25

Apparently, I needed to read this as im having to stop myself from crying. Thank you

102

u/bl1y Feb 25 '25

It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. That there is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.

28

u/Real-Exercise5212 Feb 26 '25

Okay. That did make me cry. It's good to be reminded that there is good with the bad, even if the bad feels all-encompassing. Thanks for the reminder

6

u/bl1y Feb 26 '25

I will not say: do not cry; for not all tears are an evil.

15

u/LittleBookOfRage Feb 26 '25

That's what went through my mind reading it too.

3

u/BnaCat45443 Feb 26 '25

No matter how many times I hear it, it still gives me chills.

3

u/moon_crackers Feb 26 '25

Was hoping this would be posted in the comments. Instantly cried.

3

u/DontLookAtMeFool Feb 26 '25

Was having a hard time convincing myself to get out of bed and try for another day. Thank you (all) for this. And for the 5-minute cathartic sob.

1

u/bl1y Feb 26 '25

Little do you all know that this wasn't me, it was Tolkien! Mwahaha, stolen upvote valor!

1

u/DontLookAtMeFool Feb 26 '25

Oh, I know the source. 😆 But you brought it here at the perfect time. Props to you for that.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Spiritual_Alarm_3932 Feb 26 '25

What a beautiful post, @birdandbear.

I too believe this is so. Lots of little lights in the darkness, leading to kind acts & goodness. All over the world. 🌎 x

17

u/windyorbits Feb 26 '25

Sometimes it’s hard to look away from something awful because it’s so shocking that you can’t help but stare at it - so you end up not noticing the good things happening right beside the awful.

Like how everyone in traffic slows down to stare at the burning wreckage of a car accident but we don’t really get to see the first responders tending to the burned hands of the good samaritan who pulled a stranger’s family from the wreckage before their car became engulfed in flames.

11

u/dat_asssss Feb 25 '25

Not silly at all— but then again it made me cry lol

1

u/The_Void_Reaver Feb 26 '25

The unfortunate reality is that incredible acts of heroism often require horrible acts of evil.

2

u/Efficiency-Holiday Feb 26 '25

Do you mean many opportunities to save people from nazis lie ahead?

7

u/windyorbits Feb 26 '25

I mean there are opportunities to save people from Nazis right now AND there’s already people taking those opportunities.

1

u/NoGloryForEngland Feb 26 '25

Fuck yeah (although your first message gave the opposite impression)

1

u/windyorbits Feb 26 '25

My first comment wasn’t really about Nazis but rather just pointing out that they already live in a world full of heroes.

1

u/SockNo948 Feb 25 '25

from where I'm sitting I'm not entirely sure that's true

3

u/windyorbits Feb 26 '25

Try standing up to get a better view.

1

u/Cutsdeep- Feb 27 '25

not me

1

u/windyorbits Feb 27 '25

That makes sense since you do seem like someone living on Mars.

16

u/EnvironmentalAngle33 Feb 25 '25

You are 🤗 living it.

2

u/ShredGuru Feb 26 '25

Just don't ask how many people the Nazis killed compared to how many the nice person saved

1

u/ShredGuru Feb 26 '25

Don't focus on the Nazis, focus on all the people fucking with them.

0

u/scarredMontana Feb 26 '25

You want to live in a world where a man has to save 669 children from a dictator and possible death?

80

u/Candyland-Nightmare Feb 25 '25

First time I've ever seen it. This is what I love about Reddit. Been part of it a long time and a lurker for a bit before that, and I still see things for the first time that others say are reposts. While I still see my share of those, I don't mind because it could be the first time for someone else.

21

u/Haandbaag Feb 26 '25

Beautifully said. It was my first time seeing it too! After seeing it and reading all the poignant comments this sub should be renamed r/mademecry 😭

39

u/ClickClackTipTap Feb 25 '25

I watch it all the way through every time!

I probably shouldn’t announce that to repost bots, but it’s true.

20

u/No_Kangaroo_9826 Feb 25 '25

Fuck it get the good feelings

30

u/pcadverse Feb 25 '25

I watched this one show more times than I can count. In a world of hell, one man, quietly, secretly and unbeknownst to family saved hundreds of kids from the nazis. Until one day someone in the family uncovered his records and outed him. Baruch dayan haemet!

88

u/Simon_Drake Feb 26 '25

Another opportunity to inform people that a couple of years ago the UK's Right-Wing government changed the law on refugees and this would have been illegal if Nicholas Winton did it today.

The law used to say it was illegal to profit from assisting people in applying for political asylum in the UK. The Conservatives changed it to remove the "for profit" part so it is now illegal to assist someone in applying for asylum in the UK, regardless of how justified the claim is, where they come from or what they are fleeing from.

What Nicholas Winton did for 669 children would get him put in prison today. It's deeply disturbing that our modern governments repeatedly fail to learn the lessons of the past and align themselves with the wrong side of historical atrocities.

15

u/Stormtomcat Feb 26 '25

that's sobering and the opposite of making me smile.

3

u/Karukos Feb 26 '25

If there is anything for you to keep in mind in mind now is that actions like these have been illegal before. People did them anyways. We do not have to sit idly there, we can do what's right.

1

u/nzMunch1e Feb 26 '25 edited Feb 26 '25

I'm trying to find when this was done but am having no luck? Can you point me in the right direction please.

I found it, was 2021:

Offence of knowingly and for gain facilitating the arrival in the United Kingdom of an asylum-seeker

A person only commits offence if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe the individual is an asylum- seeker. Section does not apply to anything done by a person acting on behalf of an organisation which aims to assist asylum-seekers and does not charge for its services

1

u/audiophunk Feb 26 '25

You've got it wrong. They're the only ones that have learned from the past. They see where they went wrong and won't be making the same mistakes this time.

Meanwhile the rest of us are watching dogs playing the piano on youtube.

1

u/Simon_Drake Feb 26 '25

Please explain what correct moral lesson learned from the past leads to making this illegal.

-17

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

20

u/Simon_Drake Feb 26 '25

What you've just done is casually claim all refugees and asylum seekers coming to England are murderers who stab people. That's far-right propaganda and you should be deeply ashamed of yourself for blindly repeating hate.

26

u/Boeing367-80 Feb 25 '25

The impact of just being a decent person.

21

u/Altaris2000 Feb 25 '25

This puts a tear in my eye every single time I see it.

17

u/RapMastaC1 Feb 25 '25

I had just seen Schindlers list for the first time last year, and I started looking for this clip because of the end where all the real rescues and their families were paying respects to his grave.

29

u/Mentalizer Feb 25 '25

I upvote every time I see it and will continue to do so. The world needs more Mr. Winton’s

11

u/Every-Lingonberry946 Feb 25 '25

May he be remembered for defying the so-called natural order

15

u/countfizix Feb 25 '25

They did though. Thanks to him.

51

u/LazyEntertainment968 Feb 25 '25

Trump/Putin’s worst nightmare is a man with such great compassion

15

u/mach198295 Feb 26 '25

Trump would call him a loser.

4

u/AndaleTheGreat Feb 25 '25

This will never not make me cry

3

u/MaxTheRealSlayer Feb 25 '25

Yeah no matter how many times it's reposted, I watch it. Incredible moment for all involved. But he can see that his risks and involvement were so impactful on so many lives? This is what success looks like, and he deserved to feel that proudness and fondness of himself

2

u/Ali_Cat222 Feb 25 '25

I'm crying so hard and it's unusual for me to get moved to the point of tears. And I've seen this before 😭

2

u/tonyd1957 Feb 25 '25

Wow.....made me cry.

God bless Nicholas Winton.

2

u/Conscious_Wind_2255 Feb 25 '25

Please someone give him a hug 🥹

2

u/wavesmcd Feb 25 '25

🥲Never 😊

2

u/ArcadianDelSol Feb 25 '25

Long after you and I are gone and forgotten, people will see this and remember Nicholas Winston.

2

u/thegreatbrah Feb 25 '25

For real. It's so crazy. Dude did what he could to save them, and spent the rest of his life never knowing whether they made it past whatever the next road block mightve been so good to see. 

I hope we're never in a position to need people like this again.

2

u/Choppergold Feb 26 '25

He should be a household name across the globe

1

u/kft1609 Feb 25 '25

this and Mr. Pigden get me every single time.

1

u/petitepedestrian Feb 26 '25

I sob every dang time.

1

u/solargarlic2001 Feb 26 '25

It really doesn’t. Gets me every time.

1

u/PuzzledExaminer Feb 26 '25

That's insane...

1

u/benice_orgohome13 Feb 26 '25

Agreed 🩷

1

u/Ill_Tumblr_4_Ya Feb 26 '25

I have seen this literally dozens of times at this point. It never fails to give me chills and bring tears to my eyes.

What a truly wonderful moment.

1

u/realitythreek Feb 26 '25

It makes it even more powerful to see all of the children who grew old because of him. What an incredible impact he made.

1

u/unbalancedcentrifuge Feb 26 '25

I tear up....every single time!! That is an awesome human being and I am so glad he got to see how his awesomeness impacted other people. I can not imagine how good a feeling that must be.

1

u/hunstinx Feb 26 '25

I still get goosebumps when I watch it.

1

u/why_is_my_name Feb 26 '25

makes me cry every time

1

u/Basicallyinfinite Feb 26 '25

My first time watching and I can't imagine it ever could get old

1

u/anonymous_devil22 Feb 26 '25

Unlike the Jewish kids this guy saved...

1

u/DontGoGivinMeEvils Feb 26 '25

I really recommend the film One Life.

It was recently in the cinemas in the UK but I'm not sure if it made it internationally. It's about Nicholas Winton saving the children and the people who worked with him. Warning: onions get cut while watching it.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/6ethollg-PI

1

u/Hypnotized78 Feb 26 '25

I love seeing this. I hate to have to say that it’s approaching time for a new generation of heroes to face down the darkness.

1

u/tonytrouble Feb 26 '25

Brings me to tears.. man I hate nazis!!!

1

u/Express-Ad4146 Feb 26 '25

Not old but who cares? Half Americans don’t seem to mind nazzis anymore. I’m so saddened. I remember back in 1995 my cousin showed me what the devil markings were. It was a swastika. I don’t know exactly why—yet, but he said it meant you represented all evil and to never ever get affiliated with. Now I’m in shock that a lot of grown adults are ok with it. Please America, change for the better.

1

u/Sharchir Feb 26 '25

I cry every time

1

u/Tight_Photograph7262 Feb 26 '25

Came to comments to say the same. What an incredible man

1

u/Searcher_since-1969 Feb 26 '25

No it doesn’t, I can watch that clip over and over!

1

u/doyoueventdrift Feb 26 '25

Its so old it’s now new. I don’t know the background of Nicholas and if he was in a privileged position to help these kids, but the king of USA and his nobles with all their power wouldn’t lift a finger to help anyone.

1

u/Youngsinatra345 Feb 26 '25

Man I really hate it when a drop of water gets on the screen and makes it flip out, bravo sir, thank you for giving these peoples beautiful lives.

-1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '25

2 years ago, I saw this and it was heartwarming. Now I just think about the 17,000 children in Gaza those now grown adults helped to kill.

3

u/skeleton-is-alive Feb 26 '25

And why do you say these kids are responsible for Gaza exactly? What is the one piece of information you are using to make that racist assumption please we would all love to know

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '25

The same way we as US citizens pay taxes, vote and have been a part of dozens of wars and millions of deaths. Zionists aren't a race, they're a delusional faction.

1

u/skeleton-is-alive Feb 26 '25

Nice cop out

1

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '25

We all share the blame.

-35

u/[deleted] Feb 25 '25

[deleted]