Description
Object description
German civilian engineer in Germany, 1933-1935; emigrated to GB via Czechoslovakia, 1935-1936; refugee in GB, 1936-1940; internment on Rushen Internment Camp, Port Erin, Isle of Man, GB, 1940-1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Germany, 1899-1935: family; religious upbringing in Jewish and Christian faiths; education and training as engineer; attitude to Jewish identity; political activities under Nazi regime; reason for emigration to Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1935; emigration to GB, 1936. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1936-1940: daily life and employment as domestic help in Burwash; question of learning English.
REEL 2 Continues: further comments on period in domestic service at Burwash; move to London and employment as domestic help; obtaining employment as engineer in ex-husband's firm, 1939; arrival of daughters in GB, 1938; importance of contacts with Women's Engineering Society; attitude to British officials and relations with British people; attending tribunal and reason for concealing political activities in Germany, 1940.
REEL 3 Continues: further comments on tribunal and classification. Aspects of arrest and internment in GB, 5/1940: story of arrest in London; transfer to collecting station in Fulham; move to sports stadium in Liverpool and opinion of living conditions; voyage from Liverpool to Isle of Man. Recollections of period as internee in Rushen Internment Camp, Port Erin, Isle of Man, GB, 1940-1941: description of camp; attitude of hoteliers to internees; meeting camp commandant Dame Joanna Cruickshank; description of Golf Links Hotel; accommodation and living conditions; methods of earning money.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of food; censorship of mail; comparison of living conditions in Golf Links Hotel with other accommodation; circulating questionnaire among internees about conditions in golf Links Hotel and reaction of commandant; organisation of camp; monthly meetings between internees and camp authorities; relations with camp supervisors; story of requesting information about relatives of internees; degree of restriction on movement; shopping facilities; attitude of shopkeepers to internees; provision of second hand clothes; laundry and hairdressing facilities; medical care; legal affairs.
REEL 5 Continues: description of Rushen Camp Service Exchange and use of token money; services and products available through Rushen Camp Service Exchange; use of Collinson's Café as craft and cultural centre for internees; further comments on Rushen Camp Service Exchange facilities and role in camp life; requirement for internees to assist with general hotel duties; gardening facilities.
REEL 6 Continues: backgrounds of internees and formation of groups including Nazis, Orthodox Jews and Minna Specht's group; story of formation of German House; opinion of Nazi sympathisers; relations between various groups; question of internees adapting to situation; story of formation of Further Education Institution; internees involvement with Port Erin Marine Biological Station; role in formation of choir and concerts.
REEL 7 Continues: interdenominational musical evenings; question of contact with male internees; contacting relatives on Isle of Man; adult education facilities; camp library; story of former concentration camp inmate working as librarian; children's education; attitude of camp authorities to school; problem of emotionally disturbed children in camp; opinion of educational standards in school.
REEL 8 Continues: awareness of progress of war; attitude to deportation of some internees to Australia and Canada; official visits; communication with family in GB and Germany; story of writing campaign organised by Dr Anny Kaldegg; visit by daughters, 1941; relations between male and female internees and establishment of family camp; reaction to provision by Home Office of paid work for internees; story of suicide; friendships in camp; story of appearance before second tribunal and reaction to verdict.
REEL 9 Continues: question of some internees believing they had been denounced; provision of employment for internees prior to release; attitude to release procedure; problem of readjustment on release and obtaining employment as female engineer; opinion of policy of internment; attitude towards period of internment.