Description
Object description
Russian child in Berlin, Germany, 1931-1938; schoolchild in Arnhem, Netherlands, 10/1938-1/1940; schoolchild in London, GB, 1940; evacuee from London to Braunton, GB, 1940-1941; schoolchild at Bloxham School, Bloxham, GB, 9/1941-7/1949
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of family background in Imperial Russian Empire, Soviet Union and Berlin, Germany, 1914-1931: family origins in Imperial Russian Empire; father's military experiences during First World War; effect of Russian Revolution on parent's lives; how increasing restrictions led to parent's decision to leave Soviet Union; how parent's overcame difficulties of emigration; parent's settling into German society during 1920s; father's career as art history lecturer. Aspects of period as child in Berlin, Germany, 1931-1938: his birth and christening into Russian Orthodox religion, 8/1931; character of Russian community in Berlin.
REEL 2 Continues: importance of Russian Orthodox religion and culture; intrusion of Nazism into daily school life; reaction to photograph of Adolf Hitler and appeal of Hitler Youth; degree of awareness of anti-Semitism; his opinion of Adolf Hitler and reaction to his parent's neutral attitude; question of how Germans were made to feel that war was inevitable; militarisation of German life; attending military rally with father; degree of awareness of Nazi party leadership; his image of Adolf Hitler; lack of awareness of restrictions placed on father as non-Aryan.
REEL 3 Continues: self-image as Russian boy living in German society; awareness of power of Nazi party members; how parents concealed plans for him to leave Germany. Recollections of period as schoolchild in Arnhem, Netherlands, 10/1938-1/1940: departure from Berlin and journey to Arnhem, 10/1938; accommodation with wealthy Dutch foster family; adapting towards life and education in Arnhem; question of how Adolf Hitler was viewed in Netherlands; parent's emigration plans; meeting his mother on train on her way to GB, 1939; sight of anti-invasion preparations on Dutch/German frontier, autumn 1939.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude to prospect of German invasion of Netherlands; reasons why his father was unable to leave Germany; problems faced by father as Russian Jew and how he was hidden by friends during Second World War; technique used by father when interrogated by Gestapo; father's keeping of war diary; circumstances leading to his emigration to GB, 1/1940; character of Dutch foster family. Aspect of period as schoolchild in Southfields, London, GB, 1940: flight to GB, 20/1/1940; reunion with mother at Shoreham Airfield, 20/1/1940; accommodation in London; introduction to English language; reaction to seeing mother again.
REEL 5 Continues: life with mother in GB; starting elementary school; evacuation from London; attitude of mother's employer towards him; relations with fellow schoolchildren. Recollections of period as evacuee in Braunton, GB, 1940: relations with fellow evacuees; relations with initial host; relations with second host family and billeted Polish airmen; growing friendships and games; progress at school and learning English; loss of contact with Dutch foster parents after invasion of Netherlands; change in attitude of school towards him after German invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941.
REEL 6 Continues: how he dissociated himself from Josef Stalin; his acceptance of British attitude towards Adolf Hitler; question of aid mother received as refugee; his attempts to practise Russian Orthodox religion; effects of poor eyesight; contrast between British and continental way of life; rationing; character of education. Aspects of period as schoolchild at Bloxham School in Bloxham, GB, 9/1941-7/1949: how mother organised entry into public school; reasons for bullying; attitude of pupils towards conscientious objector teachers.
REEL 7 Continues: his integration into public school system; attitude towards religious services and sports; mother's status as cook at school and leaving to work in domestic service; unwillingness to return to Germany after Second World War; father's visit to GB, 1947; how GB had become home by 1945; opinion of British treatment of refugees.