Description
Object description
German Jewish artist and designer refugee in London, GB, 1937-1940; internee in Huyton Internment Camp, Huyton, GB, 5/1940-7/1940
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Germany, 1901-1937: atmosphere in Nazi Germany; question of having Aryan-sounding name and being able to continue working as designer; reason for emigration to GB, 1937; story of future wife's problem with passport; journey to GB. Aspects of period as refugee in London, GB, 1937-1940: accommodation and living conditions; opinion of attitude to British expectation of war with Germany; wartime morale in GB; attending tribunal and classification as 'enemy alien'; reaction to being arrested and put in police cell. Recollections of period as internee in Huyton Internment Camp, Huyton, GB, 5/1940-7/1940: transfer to camp; description of camp and opinion of food.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of abilities of camp commandant; facilities in camp; attitude to being interned; reason for growing beard; artistic activities in camp using available resources; camp educational facilities and library; domestic and cooking facilities; organisation of daily routine in camp; duties as 'housefather'; story of internee from France; further comments on role as 'housefather'.
REEL 3 Continues: relations with guards; social background of internees and formation of social groups; writing letters; opinion of behaviour of 'Category A Enemy Aliens' internees; confidence in British victory in Second World War; languages used in camp; English classes; attitude of camp authorities towards internees; recreational and sporting activities; censorship of letters; story of sending secret messages to wife; preparation of escape plan in event of German invasion.
REEL 4 Continues: story of designing ampule sealing machine and question of release; description of drawing about release; effect of internment in artistic activities; choice of language in writing; attitude to danger as an antidote to complacency; attitude of internees to internment; story of preventing separation of father and son; morale among internees; awareness of progress of war; question of adapting to life as internee and effect of internment on self-development.
REEL 5 Continues: degree of contact with guards; organisation of camp; story of visit to camp by Member of Parliament Eleanor Rathbone and effect on morale; attitude to deportation; reason for not volunteering for Pioneer Corps; attitude to being at war with native country; comparison of British and German culture; release after nine weeks of internment. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1940-1945: daily life and employment; accommodation; opinion of British character during war; various memories of childhood in Germany during First World War, 1914-1918; attitude towards internment in Huyton Internment Camp.