Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian in Berlin, Germany, 1933; refugee in Oxford, GB, 1933-1938; civilian in Oxford, GB, 1938-1940; evacuee in Toronto, Canada, 7/1940-3/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Berlin, Germany, 1897-1933: family; marriage to Franz Simon, 1922; attitude towards rise of Nazism; anti-Semitism in academic hierarchy; story of receiving telegram from husband in United States of America warning of Nazis threat, 1932; meeting Professor Frederick Lindemann and invitation to work in GB; Professor Frederick Lindemann's background and relationship with Winston Churchill. Recollections of period as refugee in Oxford, GB, 1933-1940: domestic situation on arrival in Oxford; initial impressions of Oxford, 6/1933; reception on arrival in Oxford; question of how British people were unaware of situation in Germany; how children learnt English; English social conventions.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude towards being a refugee; story of husband bringing scientific apparatus and group of scientists out of Germany, 1933; question of attitude towards scientists in GB: degree of contact with refugee organisations; financial situation; decision to buy large house to accommodate refugees; story of visit to Home Office to arrange permit for parents; impressions of refugees during visit to Woburn House; domestic arrangements; story of preparing meal for refugees; attitude to integrating in British society; help received from Gilbert and Mary Murray; how husband passed information to Professor Frederick Lindemann and received journal from German academic.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian in Oxford, GB, 1938-1940: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; naturalisation, 1938; origins of refugee scientists involvement in atomic research; relation between British and American atomic research; experience acting as interpreter at 'enemy alien' tribunals. Aspects of period as evacuee in Toronto, Canada, 7/1940-3/1944: evacuation of children to Canada, 6/1940-7/1940; her own evacuation; accommodation in Toronto; opinion of treatment by Canadians and encountering anti-Semitism; husband's visits to United States of America; attitude of Americans towards British refugee scientists; attitude towards husband's atomic research work; husband's reaction to use of atomic bombs against Japan, 8/1945; leaving Canada, 3/1944.
REEL 4 Continues: Reflections on period as refugee: post-war visits to Germany including; husband's reaction to being awarded scientific award; attitude towards witnessing devastation in Germany; husband's opinion of German scientists acceptance of anti-Semitism under Nazis regime; attitude towards refugee status and nationality; opinion of British treatment of refugees during 1930s; contribution of refugee scientists to GB; question of lessons learnt as refugees.