Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian in Cologne, Germany, 1933-1939; emigrated from Cologne, Germany to London, GB, 1939; refugee in London, 1939-1940; survivor of the sinking of SS City of Benares in Atlantic, 9/1940
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Cologne, Germany, 1917-1933: family including death of father during First World War, Recollections of period as civilian in Cologne, Germany, 1933-1939: reasons for ending education and not working; effects of Nazis rise to power; desire to become nurse; anti-Semitic experiences during training for housekeeping; supportive and anti-Semitic civilians; deportation of stepfather to Poland; move to new home; money obtained from relatives abroad; civilian employment; links with Zionism.
REEL 2 Continues: events on Kristallnacht, 9/10/1938-10/11/1938; preparations for emigration to GB; public support for Chancellor Adolf Hitler; further details of Kristallnacht, 9/10/1938-10/11/1938. Aspects of journey from Cologne, Germany to London, GB, 1939: search and interrogation on border at Aachen; details of journey to London; nature of relative's business; earlier attempt of brother to emigrate; emigration of family members. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1939-1940: arrival and initial accommodation; employment; learning English.
REEL 3 Continues: initial experiences of British food; story of mouse in accommodation; contact with Jewish community; learning English; fate of German school friends; religion; brother's employment with uncle and reason for not joining him; emigration of family members to GB; aid given to friend to emigrate; political awareness; reaction to Munich Agreement, 9/1938; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; sheltering durng German air raids; listening to speeches by Prime Minister Winston Churchill; relations with British Jews; blackout; reactions to fall of France, 6/1940.
REEL 4 Continues: reasons for decision to travel to New York; train journey to Liverpool; preparations for journey; night in Liverpool hotel. Aspects of period aboard SS City of Benares in Atlantic, 13/9/1940-17/9/1940: couple watching out for Gurvitch; details of Convoy OB 213; ship's passengers; knitting; memories of other first class passengers; contact with crew and children; lifeboat drill. Recollections of sinking of SS City of Benares and rescue in Atlantic, 9/1940: torpedo hit on ship; items lost; story of being redirected away from lifeboat station; loss of children in lifeboat; boarding of lifeboat; help given to people in water and method of rowing boat; sight of ship sinking; departure of convoy; period in lifeboat; arrival and boarding of HMS Hurricane; bathing and smoking; sleeping arrangements; dropping of depth charges; contact with seamens. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1940: interview on arrival; train journey to London; telegram sent to parents.
REEL 5 Continues: reception on arrival home; obtaining ticket for passage on RMS Samaria from GB to US; story of blessing received from priest on boarding RMS Samaria; status as survivor of SS City of Benares in New York; question of talking about experiences; question of fear during sinking of ship; loss of children in lifeboat; population of lifeboat; activities of Lascar sailors; assistance given to seamen in rowing boat; clothing worn; fellow passengers and water supply; relations with seaman on board HMS Hurricane; processing on arrival in Greenock; question of concern about sailing again; contact with priest aboard RMS Samaria.
REEL 6 Continues: possessions lost during sinking; reasons for not obtainingcompensation. Aspects of period as civilian in US, 19401-1945: degree of civilian awareness of events in Europe; relation with Jewish community; involvement in war effort; service of brothers in US Army; civilian employment; food situation; sympathy toward Soviet Union in US during war and later McCarthyism; attitude to Holocaust Memorial Day; importance of Israel; question of contact with other SS City of Benares survivors.