Description
Object description
German Jewish child in Germany, 1931-1936; emigrated to GB, 1936; interned on Isle of Man, 1940-1943
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Germany, 1931-1936: family background in Hamburg and Berlin; story of father emigrating to GB, 1933; story of pre- and post-war connections with Ullstein/Axel Springer publishing house; effect of Nazi regime on father's career; question of post-war compensation; story of free trip to Berlin with wife, 1983; anti-Semitic attitude of mother's family; reaction to finding Jewish family connections; religious beliefs; memory of seeing Hitler driving past in Reichstrasse, Berlin, 1936; attitude to Nazi regime; story of cousin joining Luftwaffe; attitude to German/Jewish identity. Aspects of period in GB, 1936-1940: story of move to Golders Green, London, with mother, 1936; memories of daily life; parents registered as enemy aliens; story of visiting grandparents in Berlin, 1938/1939.
REEL 2 Continues: moved to Macclesfield to live with stepsister following internment of parents, 1940; story of being bullied at school for German name and running away. Aspects of period on Isle of Man, 1940-1943: joined mother in Port St Mary internment camp; memories of learning English; problem of bullying for being German and lack of support from teachers; change of name from Hess to Hudson, 1943; daily life in Port St Mary; attitude to school; story of meeting father on Isle of Man; relations with father; moved to Queensferry; opinion of accommodation; memories of air raids; reaction of parents to bullying because of German nationality; long-term effects of bullying; attitude to parents' German friends; question of embarrassment about mother's German accent; story of return to London, 1943. Aspects of period in GB, 1943-1945: memories of D-Day and V1 bombs, 1944.
REEL 3 Continues: story of evacuation to Leeds, 1944; description of journey and arrival at church hall; story of being taken to live with member of Women's Voluntary Service; opinion of accommodation and living conditions; behavioural problems; attitude to German origins; returned to London; memories of VE Day and Victory Parade, 1945. Aspects of post-war life and employment in GB: education; employment as points clerk with Crosse and Blackwell; description of National Service with RAF as fighter plotter; attitude to period of National Service; story of holiday in France with parents; memories of wartime damage in London; food supplies; attitude to mother's reduced status.
REEL 4 Continues: description of home work done by mother; contacts with German relatives; story of obtaining information about death of grandparents, 1942/1943; reaction to seeing pictures of Bergen-Belsen; attitude to German origins and identity; relations with father; marriage into British family; employment career; family; reason for writing memoirs.