Description
Object description
Polish Jewish schoolchild in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, Philadelphia, United States of America and Lwów, Poland, 1914-1929; medical student at University of Montpellier, France, 1930-1935; worked as nurse in France, 1935-1939; served as medical orderly with Polish Army in France, 1939-1940; internee served as medical officer with Polish Army in Switzerland, 1940-1941; escaped from Switzerland to GB via France and Spain, 1941-1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Lemberg and Vienna, Austria-Hungary, 1910-1919: family; entry of Imperial Russian Army troops into Lemberg, 1914; move to Vienna for education; suffering from malnutrition; return to Lemberg, 1917; fighting between Poles and Ukrainians in Lemberg, 1918; return of father from service with Austro-Hungarian Army, 1918. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Philadelphia, United States of America, 1920-1922: emigration of family to United States of America, 1920; initial impressions of Philadelphia; education in Philadelphia. Recollections of period as schoolchild in Lwów, Poland, 1922-1930: background to family's return to Poland, 1922; resuming education; anti-Semitism in Poland; how Jewish children were ordered out of Evangelische Gymnasium by Poles, 1924.
REEL 2 Continues: nature of education in private Jewish school until 1928; reasons for wanting to leave Poland; decision to study medicine but refusal of university place in Poland. Aspects of period as medical student at University of Montpellier in France, 1930-1935: securing place at university; journey to Montpellier; difficulties experienced with medical course and financing himself.
REEL 3 Continues: last visit to parents in Lwów, 1935; his refusal to return to Poland after passing exams, 1935. Aspects of period as nurse in France, 1935-1939: types of work engaged in; obtaining permission to go to United States of America, 6/1939; work looking after wealthy invalid, summer 1939. Aspects of period as medical orderly with Polish Army in France, 1939-1940: volunteering for Polish Army after initial attempt to join French Army, 9/1939; call-up to unit, 2/1940; unit's stationing in Lorraine, 5/1940; retreat after German invasion, 5/1940. Aspects of period as internee with Polish Army in Switzerland, 1940-1941: crossing into Switzerland, summer 1940; relations with Swiss civilians at Bettenhausen; how he became doctor with Polish Army.
REEL 4 Continues: duties as doctor in Switzerland. Recollections of escape from Switzerland to GB via France and Spain, 1941-1943: reasons for desire to get back to France; attempt to escape to France, 1941; crossing into France, 11/1941; reaction to situation in France, 11/1941; hospitalisation for tuberculosis in Montpellier; employment; evasion of Vichy French Police; wish to escape from France to Spain; arrangements for crossing into Spain, l2/1942.
REEL 5 Continues: crossing into Spain, 1/1/1943; trek into Spain; reception at British consulate in Barcelona; how he was caught on train by Spanish authorities; confinement in prison at Lerida; use of false identity as French Canadian; his release from prison after help from British consulate; period in Madrid after release; discovery of fate of Polish Jews whilst at Gibraltar; arrival in GB. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1943-1948: reasons for not rejoining Polish Army.
REEL 6 Continues: attempts to join British Army; employment at Savoy Hotel and starting medical work in Midlands; work as General Practioner in Coventry and marriage; concern about receiving permission to stay in GB; naturalisation as British subject, 1948.