Description
Object description
Czechoslovakian Jewish civilian in Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Czechoslovakia, 1939-1940; escaped from Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Czechoslovakia to France via Bulgaria, 3/1940-4/1940; medical officer served with Czechoslovak Army in France, 4/1940-6/1940; escaped from France to GB via Gibraltar, 6/1940-7/1940; served with Czechoslovak Army and Royal Army Medical Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Prague, Austria-Hungary and Czechoslovakia, 1913-1939: family; memories of brief period in Lemberg during First World War; German-Austrian tensions in armed forces; amusing second hand story of Austrian Archduke reviewing naked troops during First World War; reasons why most of his schoolmates from Sudentenland became Nazis. Aspects of period as medical student in Prague and Bratislava in Czechoslovakia, 1934-1939: attending medical schools in Prague and Bratislava.
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to German expansion, 1935-1939; qualifying as doctor, 1/1939; attendance of Maccabbee Games in Palestine, 1934; impressions of German Jewish contingent; sporting and communal rivalries between Czechoslovakian and Austrian water polo teams; effect of anti-Semitism on Jewish sporting achievement; Czechoslovak boycott of Berlin Olympics, 1936; presence of militaristic toys in German shops during 1930s; swimming achievements. Aspects of escape from Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Czechoslovakia to France via Bulgaria, 3/1940-4/1940: problems of obtaining documents to leave Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia; leaving for Bulgaria, 3/1940.
REEL 3 Continues: reasons for his desire to leave Bulgaria within month to join Czechoslovak Army in France, 3/1940; problems with French consulate in Sofia, Bulgaria in obtaining documents to travel to France; problems with French immigration authorities on crossing from Italy into France at Menton. Aspects of period as medical officer with Czechoslovak Army in France, 4/1940-6/1940: joining Czechoslovak Army at Agde, near Marseille, 4/1940; his opinion of German military tactics, 1940; rapid move to River Marne, 6/1940; nature of French retreat from River Marne, 6/1940.
REEL 4 Continues: story illustrating why French troops were not keen to fight Germans, 6/1940. Aspects of escape from France to GB via Gibraltar, 6/1940-7/1940: decision to make for Agde, France; choice given to Czechs to return to civilian life or continue the fight against the Germans; escape in ship from Sète, France to Gibraltar; voyage aboard SS Neuralia from Gibraltar to Liverpool, GB; reaction to sight of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet leaving Gibraltar to fight Italians, 28/6/1940; how he was given punishment for swimming in Mediterranean. Aspects of period as medical officer with Czechoslovak Army and Royal Army Medical Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1940-1945: initial service with Czechoslovak Army; transfer to Royal Army Medical Corps; commissioning into Royal Army Medical Corps; postings in GB and North West Europe. Aspects of period as civilian in Czechoslovakia, 1947-1948: return to Czechoslovakia, 1947; discrimination for having served with Western Allies; return to GB prior to Communist coup, 2/1948.
REEL 5 Continues: pattern of medical career in GB after 1948; acquiring British nationality, 1948.