Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian in Berlin, Germany, 1933-1939; refugee in GB, 1939-1940; internee in Rushen Internment Camp, Port Erin, Isle of Man, 30/5/1940-11/2/1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Berlin, Germany, 1890-1939: family; education; employment; description of life under Nazi regime; examples of kindness shown by non-Jewish civilians Aspect of period as refugee in GB and Northern Ireland, 1939-1940: journey from Germany to London via Harwich, 27/8/1939; attitude to term 'enemy alien'; problem of language and lack of money; story of joining son in Northern Ireland.
REEL 2 Continues: description of tribunal in Newtonards, Northern Ireland; reaction to classification as 'Category B Enemy Alien'; story of son's military service with Pioneer Corps and Glider Pilot Corps; move to Amersham; arrest, 5/1940. Recollections of period as internee in Rushen Internment Camp, Port Erin, Isle of Man, 30/5/1940-11/2/1941: journey to Isle of Man via Cambridge and Liverpool; how internees' bus was stoned in Liverpool; conditions on boat journey from Liverpool to Isle of Man; initial impressions of Port Erin and arrival at Imperial Hotel.
REEL 3 Continues: lack of organisation on arrival at Imperial Hotel; attitude of landlady of Imperial Hotel towards internees; question of unsuitable placement of young girls; sleeping arrangements and living conditions in Imperial Hotel; opinion of food; story of obtaining books; question of lack of contact with outside world and problem of rumours; comparison of attitudes of different social classes to internment.
REEL 4 Continues: restrictions on movement; money; shopping; clothing; story of room mate visiting dying husband; story of money received from International Fund for Civil Internees being given to Nazi woman to distribute; attitude of camp commandant to Jews; use of internees as domestic labour by landlady of Imperial hotel; loss of personal possessions; internees duties in hotel; explanation of Service Exchange System.
REEL 5 Continues: story of making animal feed from refuse; relations between different religious and political groups in camp; story of Christmas play, 12/1940; two second hand stories of internees' Holloway Prison experiences; hierarchy of internees and camp language; description of organisation of camp and relations with staff.
REEL 6 Continues: question of freedom of movement; camp rules and regulations; various religions in camp; story of visit by Bishop of Chichester; celebration of Jewish holidays; Quaker meetings and visit by Quaker Bertha Bracey; importance of religion to internees; interdenominational services; recreational facilities; story of Minna Specht and Alice Goldberger organising school and Kindergarten in camp.
REEL 7 Continues: effects of winter gales; problem of lack of communication with family; description of second tribunal and filling in release application forms; story of visit to brother in men's camp; comparison of living conditions in men's and women's camps; morale; opinion of British democracy; question of son's military service hastening release; release and return to London; employment with German language newspaper 'Die Zeitung'; attitude towards internment.