Frankel, Eric (Oral history)

German Jewish civilian in Hamburg, Germany, 1933; refugee in GB, 1933-1940; internee at Warley Barracks, Warley, Brentford and Huyton Internment Camp, Huyton, GB, 5/1940-7/1940 and Internment Camp B/70 at Fredricton, New Brunswick, Canada, 7/1940-12/1940; civilian doctor at Harold Wood Hospital, Romford and with Emergency Medical Service in GB, 1941-1945; officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps in Iraq and Egypt, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in Hamburg, Germany, 1913-1933: family; education. Aspects of period as civilian in Hamburg, Germany, 1933: reasons for leaving Germany, 1933; Nazi presence pre-1933; abhorrence of educated Germans towards National Socialism; strength of National Socialism in Hamburg; a Nazi intervention at opera in Hamburg; lack of religious adherence in his family; background to how he came to be in Italy, 1933. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1933-1940: arrival at Victoria Railway Station, London, 5/1933; gaining place at University of London, 1933; academic success; emigration of parents to GB, 7/1939; how he got his sister out of Germany, 1938; initial impressions of GB, 1933; discouragement of going into medicine in GB, 1933; treatment he received on arrival in GB; quality of education received in GB; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; loss of job, 3/9/1939. REEL 2 Continues: grading as 'friendly alien' at tribunal in Acton, 1939; becoming general practitioner at Harlow; start of job at Harold Wood, Hospital, Romford, 1/4/1940. Aspects of period as internee in Warley Barracks, Warley, Brentford and Huyton Internment Camp, Huyton, GB, 6/1940-7/1940: arrest as 'enemy alien' at Warley, 22/5/1940; conditions as Warley Barracks, 5/1940-6/1940; train journey to Huyton Internment Camp, 6/1940; conditions in camp; suffering from depression in camp; emergence of camp leaders; removal from camp, 7/1940. Aspects of period as internee in Internment Camp B/70, Fredricton, New Brunswick, Canada, 7/1940-12/1940 running ship's sick bay during voyage from GB to Canada; hostile reception by civilians in Quebec; effect on some internees of reception; shooting of three internees by Canadian troops. REEL 3 Continues: beneficial role of having grandson of Kaiser as camp leader; conditions in Fredricton Internment Camp, 11/1940; return to GB, 12/1940; reaction to return to GB; return voyage in Polish merchant ship. Aspects of period as doctor with Harold Wood Hospital, Romford and with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in GB, 1941-1945: return to job in hospital; working hours; German bombing of hospital, 1941; obtaining employment with Emergency Medical Service (EMS), 10/1942; volunteering for military service, 1945. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Army Medical Corps in Iraq and Egypt, 1946-1947: service at Shaibah, Iraq; duties in Egypt; handling German prisoners of war in Egypt; demobilisation, 1947; prior recollection of reasons for not seeking organisational help as refugee in GB from 1933.