Description
Object description
Polish Jewish civilian in Kalisz, Poland, 1911-1937; emigrated to France, 1937; legionnaire served with French Foreign Legion in Algeria, 1939-1940; slave labourer in various camps in North Africa, 1940-1942; private with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1943-1944; translator with British Army in North West Europe, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Kalisz, Poland, 1911-1937: family including father's service during First World War, religion and life during period following war when father was still POW; education; experiences of anti- Semitism including health services and treatment received at Easter; knowledge of Nazi Germany; decision to leave Poland and reaction of parents. Aspects of period in transit from Kalisz, Poland, to Paris, France, 1937: details of journey to Germany.
REEL 2 Continues: contact with German Jews in Breslau; scenes in Berlin; story of arrest at Aachen and help gained from border police to get into Belgium; language; story of gaining passage to Lille. Aspects of period as civilian in France, 1937-1939: reception from relatives in Paris and decision to move to Nice; gaining of civilian work; reasons for joining French Foreign Legion; reaction of French relatives; reason for not joining Polish Army in France; process of joining French Foreign Legion; posting to Sidi Bel Abbes in Algeria. Aspects of period as legionnaire with 1st (Headquarters) Regt French Foreign Legion in Algeria, 1939-1940: background of troops; pay and rations; theft among troops including items stolen and sold himself; parades and marches during night; weapons training; problems with terrorists in area; details of brothels for legionnaires; reaction to French surrender.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as slave labourer in various camps in North Africa, 1940-1942: demobilisation and transfer to camp outside Burguent in Morocco including accommodation; details of work on Trans- Saharan railway at Bouarfa including work of Spanish POWs; climate; rations; water supply; memories of German camp leader and other slave labourers; discipline; background to posting with engineering section; details of work; state of hands and problems from scorpions; question of sunstroke; background of labourers including attitude of German Jews; news of war.
REEL 4 Continues: details of work; first contact with US Army; initial refusal to continue to work and threat received; liberation by Allied troops; journey to and scenes on coast; offer to join US Army; voyage to Greenock; interrogation in Yorkshire; rationing; reaction to situation; treatment received in slave labour camps; further details of interrogation; joining of Pioneer Corps. Aspects of period as private with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1943-1944: memories of Sergeant Robert Maxwell; details of English language course undertaken; changing of name to Robert Morgan; details of life after war; proficiency in English.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations as translator with British Army in North West Europe, 1944-1945: preparations for D-Day; spread of translators; duties including in Bonn; problems faced during landing on beaches of Normandy; movement inland; scenes on English Channel; activities during period unit was cut-off; contact with civilians; assistance given in evacuation of casualties near Caen; burial of amputated limbs; refusal of German patient to accept blood transfusion; further details of duties in Bonn; attitude to Germans including reprimand for kicking a German soldier; knowledge of Holocaust; discovery of fates of parents and extended family members. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: reasons for not returning to Poland after war; gaining of British nationality.
REEL 6 Continues: reasons for reverting to Polish name; compensation received by Tondowski and wife; background of wife including her experiences of Holocaust and its physical effects.