Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian engineer emigrated to GB, 1936; internee in Kempton Park Racecourse Internment Camp, GB, 1939-1940 and in Onchan Internment Camp, DougIas, Isle of Man, 1940-1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Germany, 1912-1936: family; education; employment; reason for leaving Germany, 12/1936. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1936-1940: arrival in GB, 12/1936; employment as heating engineer; situation of parents in Berlin, 1936-1939; parents emigration to GB, 1939; story of appearing with family before tribunal, 10/1939; type of questioning.
REEL 2 Continues: further details of tribunal; verdict of tribunal and reason for being classed in Category B 'enemy alien'; attitude of employer to restrictions imposed. Aspects of arrest and internment in GB, 5/1940: description of arrest in London, 5/1940; relations with other internees; attitude to being a Category B internee; journey to Kempton Park Racecourse Internment Camp via Wellington Barracks, London; attitude of military to internees; problem of lack of news and buying a copy of the Daily Telegraph Newspaper from soldier; reaction of parents and wife Anna Spiro to being interned.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as internee in Kempton Park Racecourse Internment Camp, GB, 5/1940: description of camp; opinion of military administration; volunteering to organise use of lavatories; problems of pro-Nazi and anti-Nazi internees being interned together; conditions during transit at Warth Mills Internment Camp, Bury. Recollections of period as internee in Onchan Camp, Isle of Man, GB, 6/1940-1/1941: attitude of local population to arrival of internees including publication of anti-Semitic article in local newspaper; description of camp; relations between different groups of inmates and growing sense of unity; camp administration; opinion of camp supervisor; attitude to being interned.
REEL 4 Continues: psychological problems of internees; further comments on camp administration; method of appointing camp leaders and duties; selection to run camp post office; attitude to censorship; procedure for opening parcels; amusing story of parcel containing Union Jack underwear; telegrams; relations with camp authorities; attitude to deportations; comparison of Category B and C internees; state of health during winter.
REEL 5 Continues: appointment as deputy camp supervisor, then camp supervisor; opportunities for internees to be released including joining Pioneer Corps; attitude to visits by Member of Parliament Eleanor Rathbone; daily routine and duties as camp supervisor; reason for not receiving Red Cross delegation; opinion of camp commandants; description of Beaverbrook Mission to Isle of Man for recruitment of internees into industry, 10/1940; rivalry between Beaverbrook Mission and Pioneer Corps for recruitment; attitude to release under Beaverbrook Scheme; personal qualities required to be camp supervisor; story of wages being paid to camp administration staff from canteen profits; recreational activities including camp 'university'.
REEL 6 Continues: further comments on role as camp supervisorr; work outside camp including farming and gardening; organisation of camp hospital; story of canteen scandal; attitude to internee deportations to Canada and Australia; using his position in charge of post office to prevent deportations; description of second tribunal; story about Pioneer Corps recruiting officer; opinion of system for visits to camp; advantages and disadvantages of being camp supervisor; problem of adjusting to civilian life following release, 1/1941; attitude towards period of internment.
