Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian emigrated to GB, 1933; interned as enemy alien, 1940; NCO served with Pioneer Corps in GB and North West Europe, 1940-1944; served as intelligence officer and interpreter with 8th Corps and 6th Airborne Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945; served as head of Security Office for Potsdam conference, 7-8/1945 and with Army Publicity Department in Berlin, Germany, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Mannheim and Heidelberg, Germany, 1910-1933: Anglo-German Jewish parents; story of leaving Germany for job in London, 1933. Aspects of period in GB, 1939-1940: story of unsuccessful attempt to enlist at outbreak of war, 9/1939; interned at Lingfield Racecourse, 7/1940; description of camp and work with medical section; use of bromide in internees food; reason for joining Pioneer Corps, 1940. Aspects of period with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1940-1944: summary of postings and duties, 1940-1943; interest in stocks and shares; volunteered as ski instructor for 155th Bde, 52nd Lowland Div, 1943; description of duties and living conditions; story of taking language test and assignment as interpreter, 1944.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to role as interpreter; description of voyage to Normandy, France, 6/1944. Aspects of operations with Pioneer Corps in North West Europe, 1944-1945: description of conditions on landing beach; problem of broken tooth; attached to A Branch, 8th Corps General Staff Intelligence; description of intelligence gathering duties; interrogation methods; question of adequate training for duties; relationship between dealing in stocks and shares and intelligence work; various examples of intelligence gathering methods and material; reason for refusing commission; attached to 6th Airborne Div, 1944; description of training in Bulford, GB; posted to HQ in Ciergnon Castle, Ardennes region, 12/1944; weather conditions; story of obtaining candles from local convents; problem of impostors posing as Allied servicemen; change of weather conditions and RAF operations against German tanks.
REEL 3 Continues: description of handover of British positions to Americans after end of Ardennes offensive; opinion of American canteens and facilities; story of swapping uniform and boots with Americans; comparison of British and American trucks, drivers and transport system; further comments on operations with 8th Corps; transport and communications problems during Arnhem campaign in Holland, 1944; story of mayor protecting local Dutch girls; extent of French and Dutch collaboration with Germans and comparison with Belgians; further comments on operations with 6th Airborne Div; description of training to cross Rhine; memory of crashed gliders and dead pilots; story of finding German map case; story of requisitioning car: description of role in locating Nazi 'Werewolf' groups in Bavaria; reason for confiscating cameras and film.
REEL 4 Continues: seizure of weapons; relations with German civilians; requisitioning of vehicles; story of slave labourer and farmer; description of advance across Germany and crossing River Elbe; opinion of Montgomery; story of death of 6th Airborne Div's colonel at Wismar; relations with Russians; memory of Dornier factory operating in open air; story of finding large supplies of underwear and camouflage clothing for the Russian front in barracks; memory of picture of Hitler with dagger through face; story of meeting with Russian from Vlasov Division; problem of VD among German troops; returned to GB, 5/1945.
REEL 5 Continues: reason for refusing job with MI5. Aspects of period in Germany, 1945-1946: posted as head of Security Office for Potsdam Conference in Babelsbergh, Germany, 7-8/1945; relations with Russians; story of ATS staff having to be protected from Russians; illness and period in hospital; opinion of Russian security services; story of locating Admiral Raeder; posted to Army Publicity Department, Berlin, 8/1945; opinion of CO Colonel Jackson; description of duties; story of acquiring German Eagle from Reichstag building; story of Jewish woman; memory of meeting artist Knud Knudsen.
REEL 6 Continues: reaction to news of Holocaust; comparison of behaviour of frontline and other troops in Russian and Allied armies; story of taking book from ruins of Chancellery, 1/1946; description of conditions in Berlin; opinion of behaviour of Russian troops to German civilians; loss of family members in Holocaust; attitude to Germans; attitude to employment of former Nazis by Allies; story of finding building used by Goering's Economic Warfare Organisation.