In 1938, a British stockbroker traveled to Czechoslovakia, and through a combination of hard work, fundraising, bribes, and great personal risk, rescued 669 Jewish children from the Nazis. He then said nothing about what he had done for 50 years.
His name was Nicholas Winton, and he died today at 106 years old. The dramatic rescue only came to public attention after his wife discovered a scrapbook about it in 1988. He was subsequently hailed as the "British Schindler," and given the Czech Republic's highest award, among many others, though he was reportedly baffled by all the attention.
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