Interview with Helmut Heinz Perls

German Jewish civilian in Breslau, Germany, 1933-1936; emigrated from German to South Africa, 1936; refugee in South Africa, 1936-1950

REEL 1 Background in Breslau, Germany, 1910-1936: Jewish community in Breslau; family; education; religion; reasons for not experiencing much anti-Semitism; discussion of anti-Semitism in Germany; father's service in Imperial German Army and political outlook; experiences of father after Kristallnacht, 9/11/1938-10/11/1938; anti-Semitism experienced at university and from ex-teacher; scenes on night Adolf Hitler became chancellor, 30/1/1933; story of hearing Adolf Hitler speak; employment; financial situation of family; belief among Jewish community regarding German Government; changes to life from 1934 including effects of implementation of Nuremburg Laws, 1935; attempt to emigrate in 1933; help gained from Jewish organisation Helping Hand; reasons for decision to emigrate to South Africa; organisation of emigration. REEL 2 Continues: financial help received from Helping Hand. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Stuggart from Bremerhaven, Germany, to Cape Town, South Africa, 1936: details of ship; fellow passengers; responsibilities during journey; song played as boat left; activities during voyage including English language lessons; story of how forty immigrants were helped by South African Jews; reason for delay on arrival in Cape Town. South Africa. Recollections of period as refugee in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, 1936-1950: distribution of Jewish immigrants; accommodation; reception from Jewish community; problems gaining employment; employment; attempt to join South African Army, 1939; problems South African Government had in gaining support for war from civilians; importance of General Jan Smuts in promoting support for war; reason for relatively low numbers in South African forces; black civilians in South African forces; reaction of parents to his emigration; organisation of emigration of parents; problems faced by parents during emigration; meeting of fiancé and arrangement of her emigration from Palestine; marriage. REEL 3 Continues: work of Jewish South African civilians; background to obtaining dental work in Johannesburg; wife's employment; nature of South African National Party; relations with South African and British civilians; shortages during war; anti-war movement in South Africa; discussion of treatment of black civilians including employment of and relations with black people and question of identifying with their situation; presence of Allied troops passing through Cape Town. REEL 4 Continues: contact with Italian prisoners of war; concerns about war; reactions to different stages of war; changes in South African attitude towards Chinese and Japanese; fate of wife's family; knowledge of concentration camps in Germany prior to emigration; learning about Holocaust; post-war visits to Germany including attitude to Germans; details of compensation received; reasons for emigration to GB, 1950.