Description
Object description
Polish Jewish medical student at University of Nancy, France, 1931-1936; civilian doctor in France, 1936-1939; medical officer served with Polish Army in France in France, 9/1939-4/1940; served with Polish Independent Carpathian Bde in Syria, Egypt and Libya, 4/1940-5/1942; served with 3rd Carpathian Rifle Div, Polish II Corps, Polish Forces in the West in Italy, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Tarnopol, Austria-Hungary and Poland, 1911-1931: family; reaction to first meeting with soldier father, 1918; pro-Austrio-Hungarian attitude of Galician Jews; Jewish fear of Russians in Tarnopol; privations in Tarnopol; Jewish civilians fears of Ukrainian nationalists; hopes of Jewish population in new Second Polish Republic, 1918-1919; education; question of anti-Semitism in Poland during inter-war period; academic interests as schoolboy.
REEL 2 Continues: reasons for limited access to Polish universities. Aspects of period as medical student at University of Nancy in France, 1931-1936: background to studying in France from 1931; financial situation; relations with French civilians in Lorraine; completion of studies, 1936; spread of anti-Semitism in Europe during 1930s. Aspects of period as doctor in Paris and Ardennes, France, 1936-1939: starting hospital work; effects of increasing international tensions; volunteering for anti-gas work at hospital in Ardennes, 9/1939; decison to join Polish Army in France and joining machine gun unit in western France, 9/1939.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as medical officer with Polish Independent Carpathian Bde in Syria, Egypt and Libya, 4/1940-5/1942: transfer to Beirut, Lebanon, 4/1940; fall of France whilst serving in Homs, Syria and subsequent move to Palestine to join British forces, 6/1940; formation of Polish Independnt Carpathian Bde, 12/4/1940; move to Egypt, 1940; adoption of British Army tactics in Egypt; role during British Army's campaign in Western Desert; 1940-1941; period in Iraq incorporating Poles from Soviet Union into Polish forces, 1941-1942; stationing in Tobruk, Libya during seige, 8/1941-12/1941; relations with Catholics in unit and celebration of Yom Kippur in Tobruk, Libya.
REEL 4 Continues: refusal of French sailors to join Free French Forces in Alexandria, Egypt; evacuation of anti-Facist/anti-German elements of population from Alexandria, Egypt to Palestine, 6/1942. Aspects of period as medical officer with 3rd Carpathian Rifle Div, Polish II Corps, Polish Forces in the West in Italy, 1943-1945: move to Italy, late 1943; nature of Italian campaign and fighting around Monte Cassino; medical duties and atttitude towards treating German wounded; end of campaign; heavy Allied losses at Monte Cassino. Aspects of period as medical officer with Polish Army in GB, 1945-1947: initial decison to return to Poland and reasons for settling in GB; advise received from official in Polish Embassy about not returning to Poland, 1947; decision to become general practioner after specialising in obstetics and gynacology; obtaining British nationality, 1950.