The destruction of Lidice, a village in Czech Republic, by the Nazis during World War II is an important, but little known part of European history. In 1942, Hitler ordered the arrest and execution of Lidice residents, and sanctioned the destruction of the village. Of the 488 Lidice natives, only 17 children survived, having been placed with German families. News of the Lidice tragedy spread, and inspired Stoke-on-Trent city councillor, Sir Barnett Stross, to enlist the help of local coal miners to rebuild Lidice. Stross worked with the miners to launch the ‘Lidice Shall Live’ campaign, to raise funds for survivors to rebuild their village. Despite the strain of war-time recession, the city of Stoke-on-Trent raised £32,000 (the equivalent of £1 million in today’s terms) to help restore Lidice.

Although the story is an inspiring, key part of Stoke-on-Trent’s history of internationalism, it remains relatively unknown. It was a piece…