Fisch, Ladislav (Oral history)

Czechoslovakian Jewish civilian in Czechoslovakia, 1918-1939; refugee in GB, 1939-1940; civilian doctor in Birmingham and Cambridge, GB, 1940-1944; served with Medical Mission to Czechoslovakia, 1944-1945; officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps in Germany, 1946-1948

REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian in Slovakia, Austria-Hungary and Czechoslovakia, 1913-1939: family background in Slovakia; fighting between Hungarians and Czechoslovakians at Vrtki, 1918; hangings of Hungarians by Czechoslovakians; sight of Czechoslovakian former prisoners of war returning from captivity in Russia; lack of Slovak teachers after period under Austro-Hungarian Empire; problems understanding Czech teachers; Slovak/Czech relations, 1918-1939; his apprehensions about growth of Slovak Fascism; secondary and university education; medical training and qualifying during political crisis, 9/1938-3/1939; memories of German entry into Brno, 3/1939; flight from Brno to Vrtki, 3/1939; membership of anti-Nazi organisation at Brno University of Technology, Brno, 1939. REEL 2 Continues: decision to escape to Poland after 3/1939. Aspects of escape from Czechoslovakia to GB via Poland, 1939: apprehension by Slovak guards during first attempt to cross into Poland; second successful crossing of Polish border; registry with official British refugee organisation in Kraków, Poland; journey from Poland to GB. Recollections of period as refugee in GB, 1939-1940: accommodation in Paddington, London; attitude to stay in Camden, London; scholarship to Quaker College at Bournville; aid from Czech Refugee Fund; reasons for delay in registering as doctor and temporary work taken. Aspects of period as civilian doctor in GB, 1940-1944: employment as doctor in Birmingham; first use of anaesthetics; witnessing German Air Force attack on fishing boat in harbour at Torquay; German Air Force attacks on Birmingham, 1941. REEL 3 Continues: optimism about GB winning Second World War; refusal to join Czechoslovkian Army; obtaining employment at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, 6/1943; introduction of penicillin. Recollections of period with Medical Mission to Czechoslovakia, 1944-1945: volunteering for mission; journey from GB to Slovakia via Soviet Union, winter 1944-1945; taking over hospital at Kosice; move to Prague; his mission to Dachau Concentration Camp to bring back Czechoslovakian inmates back to Prague, 1945; suspicion of Czech Communists towards refugees from GB; parading of wounded German prisoners of war through Prague, 5/1945. Aspects of period as medical officer with Royal Army Medical Corps in Germany, 1946-1948: call-up for military service with Royal Army Medical Corps; posting to 77th British Military Hospital, Hamburg; duties in Germany; return to civilian life. REEL 4 Continues: becoming British citizen, 1947; career on return to civilian life, 1948. Aspects of period as civilian in Czechoslovakia, 1918-1939: degree of discrimination against Jews in Slovakia, pre-1939; liberal nature of Czechoslovakian regime; his political outlook at Brno University of Technology. Aspects of period as volunteer with Medical Mission to Czechoslovakia, 1944-1945: effect of sight of conditions in Soviet Union on route to Czechoslovakia; conditions for Soviet civilians. Aspects of period as doctor in GB, 1939-1944: lack of hostility experienced in GB; how his medical research achievements relate to his coming to GB during Second World War.