Description
Object description
German civilian art historian in Lübeck, Germany, 1933-1939, emigrated from Germany to GB, 9/1939; refugee in GB, 9/1939-7/1940; internee in Kempton Park Racecourse Internment Camp in GB, 7/1940 and Hutchinson Internment Camp, Douglas, Isle of Man, 7/1940-6/1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Lübeck, Germany, 1912-1939: family; education; university education; question of being half-Jewish and employment; role in helping Jews to emigrate; story illustrating evasion of Nazi regime's export taxes; reason for emigrating to GB; attitude of English relatives during war; discrimination against Jewish father in Lübeck; problem of being half-Jewish in Nazi Germany; question of military service and policy of German Army towards Jews and half-Jews; story of leaving Germany and decision not to return, 9/1939. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1939-1940: assistance provided by Committee for Non-Aryan Christians at Woburn House; communication with parents.
REEL 2 Continues: story of appearance before tribunal, 10/1939; reaction to classification as 'enemy alien' and restrictions; attitude of British civilian population to German refugees; volunteered to serve with Pioneer Corps. Aspects of period as internee at Kempton Park Racecourse Internment Camp in GB, 7/1940: arrest and internment in camp, 7/1940; description of living conditions in camp; attitude of internees to British authorities; question of camp being infiltrated by spies. Recollections of period as internee at Hutchinson Internment Camp, Douglas, Isle of Man, 7/1940-6/1941: description of camp and facilities; accommodation; blackout; sleeping arrangements.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of food; varied social background of internees; story of being elected 'housefather' for camp; problem of enforcing rule; protests by internees against internment; relations with camp commandant; role as 'housefather'; roll call; organisation of internees; development of camp university and organisation of lectures; problem of different languages and mistranslations; Jewish customs.
REEL 4 Continues: celebrations for Yom Kippur; influence of Orthodox Jews; story of attempted escape; consumption of alcohol in camp; treatment of furnished accommodation by internees; memories of painter Kurt Schwitters; facilities for young internees; question of early release; educational classes; sporting activities; question of homosexual activity in camp; attitude to being classed as 'enemy alien'; clothing; state of health and medical facilities; problem with poisoned eye; problem of depression among internees.
REEL 5 Continues: financial arrangements; question of internees using skills to earn money; wide range of internees including prominent academics, scientists and musicians; methods of obtaining artists' materials; story of breaking up piano; memories of prominent internees including: writers Richard Friedenthal, Alfred Unger, and Heinrich Fraenkel, journalist Rudolf Olden, graphologist Eric Singer, industrialists and doctors.
REEL 6 Continues: memories of designers and politicians in camp; political views of internees; discussion of Jewish question; effect of war on German industry; memories of artists, art dealers and art historians in camp; further comments on artist Kurt Schwitters and opinion of work during and after Second World War; question of artists adapting to camp life; opinion of work of sculptor Paul Hamann.
REEL 7 Continues: opinion of work of sculptor Ernest Müller-Blensdorf and painter Erich Kahn; attitude to art and politics during wartime; description of Hellmuth Weissenborn's window decorations; opinion of work of artists Fred Uhlman and Fritz Kramer; role of commandant in organising art exhibitions in camp; social groups in camp; problem of internees assimilating into British way of life; attitude of British public towards internment.
REEL 8 Continues: story of internees volunteering for service with Pioneer Corps and training in camp; story of joining Home Guard following release in 1941; description of release procedure; story of internment of Scottish brothers born in Germany; role of camp intelligence officer Captain Jorgenson; examples of jokes in camp language 'Emigranto'; problem of boredom; communication with relatives; physical exercise and sporting activities.
REEL 9 Continues: recreational activities outside camp including escorted walks, swimming and film shows; attitude to searching of rooms; celebration of Jewish and Christian holidays; visitors to camp; attitude to progress of war and fear of German invasion of GB; relations with camp authorities and attitude to co-operation; attitude towards period of internment.
