Weissenborn, Hellmuth (IWM interview)

German private served with German Army, 1917-1918; civilian artist at Leipzig Academy, 1930; emigrated to GB, 1938; interned in Hutchinson Camp, Isle of Man 1940; joined Auxiliary Fire Service in London, 1940

REEL 1 Period as machine gunner in German Army, 1917-1918: joined up at 16; summary of wartime service; sketches of battlefields at Arras. Background: father's career; early interest in art. Period at Leipzig academy post First World War: subjects studied; joining Academy staff; impact of Hitler coming to power; reluctance to give Nazi salute; admiration of Director of Leipzig Academy; recollections of Nazi Deputy Director; decision to leave Academy; moving to England via Denmark, 1938; opinion that anti-semitism in Germany came from storm troopers not civilians; description of Jewish community in Leipzig; difficulties because of Jewish wife; joke about people claiming to be National Socialists; threats of servant to denounce Weissenborn to the Gestapo. REEL 2 Continues: enquiries made at Academy by Gestapo; attitude towards politics and art; arranging immigration to Britain; attitude towards Britain; opinion of time in army during First World War; attitude to father joining socialists. Period living in Britain: difficulties of getting work; moving to Internment Camp on outbreak of war, 1939; attitude towards arrest and imprisonment; difficulties of life in camp; transported to Internment Camp at Douglas, Isle of Man, 1940; improvement of conditions; volunteering to cook for inmates; separation from wife before internment; opinion of guards. REEL 3 Continues: hopes of release to work in war effort; description of accommodation; organisation of life in camp; artistic and cultural activities; opinion of camp staff; language spoken in camp; materials used for art work; willingness of upper class inmates to work. REEL 4 Continues: listening to radio broadcasts; release from camp, 12/1940; joined Auxiliary Fire Service in London; resilience of British public during Blitz; food rations; continuation of artwork, sketches and engraving; question of physiological effects of imprisonment; relationship with ex-inmates; no desire to go back to Leipzig, in Russian zone of Germany post 1945.