He escaped to England with his mother in 1939, shortly before the outbreak of war. His father, an officer in the First World War, had arranged their escape with his contacts in high places, but he remained behind, believing he could rely on these "contacts" to protect him.
Before the war broke out in 1939, the man and his mother escaped to England. Their father, a veteran of World War I, had secretly arranged for their departure with high-ranking officials, but he chose to remain behind, relying on these officials to protect him.