Description
Object description
German Jewish schoolchild in Berlin, Germany, 1933-1938; emigrated from Germany to GB with Kindertransport, 12/1938; refugee in Leeds, GB, 1938-1942; worked for Buckingham War Agricultural Committee in GB, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as schoolchild in Berlin, Germany, 1923-1938: Polish origins of family; education in Jewish and non-Jewish schools; witnessing Communist and Nazis marches through streets; boycott of Jewish shops including family bakery in 1933; restrictions against Jewish citizens; impact of situation on father's health; avoiding deportation of Polish Jews from Germany, 9/1938; destruction of family bakery on Kristallnacht, 11/1938. Aspects of leaving Germany for GB on Kindertransport, 12/1938: arrangement for leaving Berlin; parent's reaction to his leaving.
REEL 2 Continues: journey to GB; opinion of accommodation at Dovercourt Bay Refugee Camp and Lowestoft Refugee Camp. Aspects of period as refugee in Leeds, GB, 1939-1942: opinion of accommodation and facilities in hostel; helping brothers to get to GB; inability to help his parents and sister; employment; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; hearing of father's death in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp; correspondence with mother and sister; starting to work for Buckingham War Agriculture Committee in 1942. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: meeting wife; studying accountancy.
REEL 3 Continues: growth of his accountancy business. Reflections on Holocaust experience: fate of mother and sister in Auschwitz II-Birkenau Concentration Camp; donation of correspondence with mother and sister to Imperial War Museum archive; fate of wife's family; decision not to speak to children about experience; admiration for those who survived Holocaust and lead 'normal' lives; how street displays of Nazi newspaper Der Sturmer disappeared during Olympic Games in Berlin, 1936.
REEL 4 Continues: memories of opening ceremony of Berlin Olympic Games, 1936; belief that Jewish identity strengthened by persecution; psychological effects of experience; belief that memorials are important to remind Germans of the past; return visit to Berlin; degree of wartime awareness of Holocaust; compensation situation; attitude towards Germans; importance of Israel for Jews worldwide. Aspects of period as refugee in GB, 1938-1942: attitude towards British people; question of anti-Semitism in GB.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of work for Buckingham War Agricultural Committee in GB, 1942-1945: nature of scheme; character of work; contact with German prisoners of war; thrashing work; call up for military service and his deferment; official nature of scheme; emigration of some of those who had been on scheme to Palestine; post-war involvement in Kindertransport reunions.
