Last Sunday (27 October) Radio New Zealand broadcasted on National Radio, a play written by Joe Musaphia, based on a true story about David Zwartz’s family. David Zwartz has been honorary Consul for Israel and is Chairperson for the Wellington Jewish Association.
Before leaving Germany in 1938, and an SS man, having heard that the family were emigrating to New Zealand, bargained with David’s grandfather for his Marklin model railway.
Musaphia has adapted the story for his play. On the Radio New Zealand website, the following blurb can be found:
THE TRAIN SET
Berlin 1939. The Nazis are making life uncomfortable, even dangerous, for Jewish families to stay. The Stern family is packing up the apartment, preparing to go to the other side of the world — to New Zealand. An SS officer arrived one evening to check out a model railway track for his young son. But is that his only reason for visiting?
You can hear the play here.
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