Description
Object description
German refugee in GB, 1933-1939; internee in Kempton Park Racecourse Internee Camp, GB, 6/1940-7/1940; internee aboard HMT Dunera on voyage from GB to Australia, 7/1940-9/1940; internee in Hay, Orange and Tatura Internment Camps, Australia, 1940-1941
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of emigration from Germany to GB, 1933: reasons for leaving Germany; anti-Nazi activities and boycott of Jewish wife's restaurant; emigration to GB, 1933. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1933-1940: question of British unawareness of approach of war; his and wife's rejection of Germany; speaking English; establishment of vegetarian Vega Restaurant in London, 1934; fear of Fifth Column in GB, 1940. Aspects of period as internee in Kempton Park Racecourse Internment Camp in GB, 6/1940-7/1940: reaction to second tribunal, 6/1940; internment; arrangement of business affairs; separation of couples; volunteering to go to Canada in hope of joining wife; conditions during interment.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of voyage aboard HMT Dunera from GB to Australia, 7/1940-9/1940: description of ship and organisation of accommodation; how internees were robbed by guards and effect on his health; conditions on board ship; treatment of internees by guards; incident of man jumping overboard; attitude of guards towards internees; types of internees aboard including Germans and Italians; stories of sinking of SS Arandora Star; contingency plans in case of emergency; incident of brother being stabbed by sentry; state of food; maintaining morale and keeping active.
REEL 3 Continues: arrival in Perth, Australia; reporting thefts to authorities. Recollection of period as internee in Hay Internment Camp, Australia, 1940-1941: treatment by Australian guards; reception on arrival in camp; encountering food problems as vegetarian; sleeping arrangements; internees' administrative organisation in camp; camp money and economy; rations; goods available from canteen and 'Vienna Café'; cultural and academic activities; Australian troops purchases in camp; his setting up vegetarian kitchen.
REEL 4 Continues: role of camp parliament; question of obtaining prison mentality; freedom within camp and laxity of guards; lack of contact with GB; description of camp money designed by interned engraver; reaction of internees' to presence of nurses in camp; withdrawal of camp money; reaction of Communist internees to German invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; effect of war news on internees; medical facilities in camp; uncertainty of length of internment; distribution of canteen profits when camp was disbanded. Aspects of period as internee in Orange and Tatura Internment Camps in Australia, 1941: transfer to camp at Orange.
REEL 5 Continues: sleeping arrangements at Orange Internment Camp; grounds for release; opinion that British Government tried to compensate for ill treatment of internees; Communist organisation of Tatura Internment Camp; return to GB and reunion with wife in restaurant; later application for naturalisation and work for Control Commission Germany.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of period as internee in Hay Internment Camp, Australia, 1940-1941: arrival in camp; Communist plans for organisation of camp; basis of camp economy; use of paper camp money for payment for doing jobs; increases in services available in camp; role of Minister of Justice; production of printed money; description of financing of camp bank; obtaining goods through canteen; distribution of profits on camp being disbanded; workings of camp economy.
