Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian in Germany, 1/1933-5/1939; escaped from Germany to GB, 5/1939; private served with No 88 Coy, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps and No 88 Coy, Pioneer Corps in GB and France, 1940-1941; officer served as instructor with Force 12, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Germany, 1912-1939: family and Jewish history in area around Bad Kreuznach; work of father and death of mother; memories of First World War; education including story of only anti-Semitic incident experienced; story of being invited to Schutzstaffel (SS) meeting; description of Schutzstaffel (SS) meeting including impression left by speech made at meeting by Adolf Hitler; contact after war with man who had invited him to the Schutzstaffel (SS) meeting and other non-Jewish classmates; relationship with non-Jewish friends following Nuremburg Laws, 1935; story of giving up theatre box for Joseph Goebbels; opinion that Adolf Hitler would not come to power, pre-1933; story of hearing news of Adolf Hitler becoming chancellor, 30/1/1933; details of fraternities at University of Berlin; memories of Professor Martin Wolff.
REEL 2 Continues: sporting activity at University of Berlin; decision to move university; involvement with development of German-Jewish Hiking Group and background to becoming leader of 'Little Black Flag' splinter group; significance of colour black for many Germans; nature of pre-war membership of Schutzstaffel (SS); attempt to move to Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main for final year of university education; civilian work; involvement with religion; banning of Jews from sport; organisation of sporting facilities for Jews; invitation to attend training for 1936 Berlin Olympic Games; description of Jewish group in training including story of Gretel Bergman; description of 1936 Berlin Olympic Games including watching American athlete Jesse Owens in Long Jump; discussion of Adolf Hitler's supposed refusal to shake hands with Jesse Owens; explanation of how Jewish stereotypes allowed many Jews to go unrecognised.
REEL 3 Continues: description of hearing Joseph Goebbels speak; details of special number plates introduced for cars belonging to Jewish citizens and reaction to such laws; story of taking car to a testing station following introduction of number plates law; story of receiving fine for driving on road that Jews were banned from using; story of visits to Rexingen and interview with Reinhard Heydrich at Gestapo Headquarters, Berlin; help given to people escaping to South America by a man at the Romanische Café; events leading to his meeting Adolf Eichmann; details of period teaching sports in Jewish schools including story of a headmaster having to give speech for Hitler's birthday.
REEL 4 Continues: Kristallnacht, 9/11/1938-10/11/1938 and subsequent escape from Germany: family; hearing news of Herschel Grynszpan's assassination of diplomat Ernst von Rath in German Embassy in Paris, France; refusal to walk with non-Jewish friends; reprimand from friends; scenes of burning synagogue in Berlin; looting of Jewish shops; news on return home; method of escape from home to avoid arrest; story of gaining passage to GB for himself and family; details of emigration procedures; confiscation of paper nappies on arrival in GB, 5/1939; voyage aboard the SS Washington from Hamburg to GB, 5/1939. Aspects of period as civilian in Hampstead, London, GB, 1939-1940: arrival in GB and journey to Barnes; finding accommodation in Hampstead; registration as alien including story of changing son's name to Thomas; story of cutting napkin ring so it could be brought to GB; story of a celebration party held by German exiles; outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; evacuation of family to Bedford; joining of army including swearing of allegiance. Aspects of period as private with No 88 Coy, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps and No 88 Coy, Pioneer Corps in GB and France, 1940-1941: posting to Kitchener Refugee Camp Richborough near Sandwich, GB; arrival at camp; reunion with sporting friends from Germany; pattern of training.
REEL 5 Continues: story of journey to Le Havre, France; night in camp and subsequent breakfast; fate of No 215 Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps; duties at Le Havre Harbour; story of receiving rifles and rifle training; arrival of German Army troops; issue of ammunition; attack made on German tanks; method of making rifle sling; story of lunch eaten on farm; return visit to camp and French Marines found there; activities in camp; return to Le Havre Harbour, France; building of camp at Rennes, France including sight of refugees on road; evacuation from Rennes, France; reaction to news of Soviet behaviour in Poland; journey to Saint-Malo, France; activities during stay on racecourse; march to harbour; boarding of boat; conditions on board; embarkation; air activity; eating of emergency rations; arrival in GB; handing in of weapons; train journey to Alexandra Palace, GB; postcard sent home; background to joining Special Operations Executive, 1942. Aspects of period as officer instructor with Force 12, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1942-1945: training at Petersfield; parachute training; arrangement into groups for exercise.
REEL 6 Continues: training exercise to test security of Portland Harbour; details of a training exercise. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt) in GB, 1945-1946: posting to and duties with Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt); interview with War Office Selection Board; refusal of posting to Germany; duties as German instructor with Allied Control Commission, Germany; process of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: stories of family members left in Germany; learning about concentration camps; discussion of how talked to children about Holocaust very gradually; discussion on teaching of the Holocaust and Imperial War Museum's Holocaust Exhibition; background to formation of The Primrose Club.
REEL 7 Continues: arguments over expansion of club; details of period as leader at The Primrose Club including encouraging children to forget the past and problems arising from non-status of children; story of making of the film 'Answer to Auschwitz'; outstanding members of The Primrose Club; reason why there were fewer girls in club; adaptation of girls to life in GB; development of '45 Aid Society; reaction of London's Jewish community to The Primrose Club members; religious beliefs of The Primrose Club members; memories of Hugo Gryn; relations among boys from The Primrose Club; own relationship with boys.
REEL 8 Continues: confusion as child of need for separate Jewish Clubs; story of reporting on 1948 London Olympic Games; opinion of supposed status as exile; speaking in German schools.
