Description
Object description
German civilian artist in Germany, 1933-1937; refugee in GB, 1937-1940; internee in Huyton Internment Camp, Huyton, GB, 1940-1941; private served with Pioneer Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1941-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Germany, 1912-1937: reasons for rise and popularity of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Party, 1933-1937; attitude towards Nazi regime's control and censorship of arts; awareness of concentration camps; activities as artist. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1937-1940: reason for emigration to GB, 1937; concept of England prior to arrival; reception on arrival in GB; various stories illustrating character of British people.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude of British people to possibility of war with Germany; discussion of painting 'Premonition'; question of artist's response to war; attitude to wartime restrictions on 'enemy aliens'; tribunal and classification as Category 'C'. Aspects of arrest and internment in GB, 5/1940: arrest, 5/1940; transfer to Liverpool and hostile reaction of local civilians; accommodation in disused factory; story of suspected Nazi internee; further comments on factory and making drawings; reaction to arrest and internment; opinion of food. Recollections of period as internee in Huyton Internment Camp, huyton, GB, 1940-1941: description of camp and living conditions; organisation of camp; duties as censor in mail room.
REEL 3 Continues: morale in camp and incidents of suicide; provision of smoked herrings; recreational and cultural activities; camp money and shop; attitude to possibility of being sent to Isle of Man; fear of German invasion; social background of internees; opinion of food; story of visit by Member of Parliament Eleanor Rathbone; visit by wife Prudence Ashbee; reason for volunteering for Pioneer Corps; attempts to obtain release from camp; attitude to conditions in camp during wartime; further comments on Eleanor Rathbone.
REEL 4 Continues: obtaining drawing materials during internment; artistic work in camp; memories of artist Martin Bloch; effects of internment on artistic work; question of subconscious and erotic elements in prison art; comparison of artistic work produced during internment and with Pioneer Corps; attitude of internees and guards to drawings. Aspects of period as private with Pioneer Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1941-1945: role of artist in military unit; problem of carrying artists materials while on active service; attitude to role of emotion and sentimentality in art.