Kropach, Koloman (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

Austrian Jewish civilian doctor in Austria, 1937-1938; chemist and doctor in Iraq, 1938-1942; internee in Latrun Internment Camp, Palestine, MacIndoe Internment Camp, Kenya and Soroti Interment Camp, Urganda, 1942-1943; medical officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps in Kenya and Somaliland, 1943-1948

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Austria-Hungary and Austria, 1912-1937: family; education; memories of food distribution by Italian Army in Vienna, 1918-1919; effects of Great Inflation on family fortunes, 1923; his support as student for Social Students of Austria organisation; his peripheral role in political disturbances in Vienna, 1934; inability to get paid hospital work after finishing medical studies; reasons for decision to go into medicine; effects of Depression on family; attending medical course at University of Vienna during 1930s; discrimination against Jews in university teaching; unpaid hospital work in Vienna, 1937. REEL 2 Continues: part time employment undertaken to earn money. Aspects of period as civilian doctor in Vienna, Austria, 1938: experiences during Anschluss, 3/1938; reasons for enthusiastic reception for Germans in Vienna, 3/1938; how he wound down his brothers medical practice after 3/1938; attitude of Austrian Nazis towards Jews; background to brother's migration to Iraq, 1938. Aspects of journey from Austria to Iraq via Albania, Italy and Lebanon, 1938: leaving Austria for Trieste, Italy without visa, 9/1938; obtaining visa for Iraq, 9/1938; voyage to Albania on pleasure steamer; entering Albania. REEL 3 Continues: story of Polish Jew stranded in Albania attempting to get to Palestine; obtaining ticketing in Tirana, Albania to sail from Brindisi, Italy to Beirut, Lebanon; aid received from secret policeman in Brindisi, Italy; arrival in Beirut, Lebanon, 9/1938. Aspects of period as civilian chemist and doctor in Iraq, 1938-1942: arrival in Baghdad; obtaining employment as chemist in oil company and subsequent sacking as 'enemy alien', 1939; how he managed financially in Baghdad, 1939-1940; starting medical work at Kut-al-Amara, 1940; flight by taxi from Kut-al-Amara to Baghdad at time of Rashid Ali Coup, 6/1941. REEL 4 Continues: story of Jewish surgeon expected to deal with German Very Important (VIP) after his aircraft was shot down by Iraqis during Rashid Ali Coup, 6/1941; pogrom against Jews in Baghdad during three days prior to arrival of British led forces, 6/1941; reaction of Iraqis to Rashid Ali Coup, 6/1941; resumption of his medical practice. Aspects of period as internee in Latrun Internment Camp, Palestine, 1942: reasons for his deportation from Iraq to Palestine, 6/1942; work as doctor in Latrun Internment Camp. Aspects of period as internee in MacIndoe Internment Camp in Kenya, 1942: voyage from Palestine to Mombasa, Kenya aboard HMT Laconia; aid received in Mombasa, Kenya; move into camp. Aspects of period as internee in Soroti Internment Camp, Uganda, 1942-1943: move to camp. REEL 5 Continues: medical work in camp. Recollections of period as medical officer with Royal Army Medical Corps in Kenya and British Somaliland, 1943-1948: offer of commission in Royal Army Medical Corps, 6/1943; arrival in Nairobi, Kenya; initial mistrust he met with from British Army personnel, 1943; nature of medical work in Northern Frontier Province, Kenya; role as liaison officer to Italian prisoners of war in Kenya, 1943-1944; move to British Somaliland, 1945; nature of medical work in British Somaliland; his arrival in GB, 1948 after marriage to British Army nurse in Mogadishu, British Somaliland, 1947; lack of discrimination experienced in GB and medical work undertaken. REEL 6 Continues: prior recollection of brief internment at RAF Habbaniya in Iraq on outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Interwar (association), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Kropach, Koloman (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1996-05-12
Dimensions: whole: Duration 155, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 16652

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