Lesser, Ephraim (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British officer cadet with International Brigades Officers' Training School at Pozorubio, Spain, 8/1937-1/1938; officer served with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 2/1938-8/1938; served as liaison officer with Brigade Commissariat, XV Bn International Bde in Spain, 8/1938-10/1938

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Hackney, London, GB, 1916-1934: family; education; political background; attitude towards Judaism and incidents of anti-Semitism; membership of Jewish Habonim scout organisation; question of Jewish attitudes towards Fascism and Communism. Aspects of period as member of Labour Party in Hackney, London, GB, 1934-1937: recruitment to Labour Party, 1934; meetings; influence of political orators and Left Book Club. REEL 2 Continues: attitude towards Marxism; relations between Labour Party and Communist Party of Great Britain in Hackney. Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes and journey from GB to Spain, via France, 1937: initial rejection in 1936; attempts to dissuade him during recruitment interview, 1937; brother Sam Lesser's experiences in Spain; start of journey to Paris, France; equipment and currency; questioning by French officials at Dieppe, France; accommodation in Paris, France; move to Carcassonne, France; crossing Pyrenees Mountains; encounter with Belgians near border. REEL 3 Continues: crossing frontier and onward journey; repatriation of volunteers at Valencia, Spain; impressions of journey. Aspects of enlistment in British Bn, XV International Bde at Headquaters, International Bdes at Albacete, Spain, 8/1937: reaction to joining XV International Bde; incidents illustrating privations of Spanish civilian population; memories of Tom Wintringham. Recollections of training as officer cadet with International Brigades International Brigades Officers' Training School at Pozorubio, Spain, 8/1937-1/1938: move to Pozorubio; opinion of initial training; contact with local civilians and their political attitudes; selection of cadets for officers' training school, 1/1938. REEL 4 Continues: memories of Russian/Soviet instructor 'Ramon'; training routine including drill, arms drill, field tactics; attitude of experienced soldiers towards training offered at school; opinion of influence of Communist Party in the International Bdes; hospitalisation for hepatitis in Murcia, 11/1937; duties as training officer on return to Tarazona de La Mancha; learning Spanish. Recollections of period as officer with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 2/1938-10/1938: joining battalion near Teruel; situation at Teruel. REEL 5 Continues: move to battalion headquarters on Belchite front, 3/1938; background to retreat; Nationalist Air Force attacks; sustaining shrapnel wound at Caspe, 3/1938; meeting Karol 'General Walter' Świerczewski at Headquarters, 35th Div; recovery and recuperation at International Brigades Benicassim Hospital and in Barcelona; impressions of Barcelona, 4/1938; journey to rejoin unit on Sierra Pandols. Aspects of period as liaison officer with Brigade Commissariat, XV International Bde in Spain, 8/1938-10/1938: attitude towards commissars. REEL 6 Continues: under Nationalist Air Force attack; drawing up map for unit taking over positions; reaction to withdrawal of International Bdes, 10/1938; return to GB, 12/1938; battalion casualties after leaving line; aid received from Spanish Aid on return to GB. Recollections of service with XV International Bde in Spanish Civil War, 1937-1938: question of reasons for going to fight in Spain; attitudes towards Labour Party members; question of attitudes towards revolution among brigade personnel; story of making radio broadcast from Barcelona, 1/5/1938. REEL 7 Continues: opinion of Malcolm Dunbar and Dolores Ibárruri, 'La Pasionaria'; attitude towards going to Spain.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Interwar (content), Interwar (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Lesser, Ephraim (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1986-09-18
Dimensions: whole: Duration 190, Number Of Items 7
Catalogue number: 9408

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Lesser, Ephraim (Oral history)

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