Ravera, Alda (Oral history)

425554723
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Description

Object description

Italian civilian worked as secretary with Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in France, 1944-1946; civilian worked in Germany and France, 1946-1949

Content description

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1915-1944: Italian family background including move to mother to London; siblings and education; civilian work including contact with Ezra Pound and details of Social Credit Secretariat; outbreak of war while in Italy including links maintained with Italy in London; reason for sister becoming an enemy alien; question of impact of Mussolini; civilian work during war; outbreak of war; restrictions on enemy alien sister; family home; details of shelter taken during air raids; description of air raids witnessed; fire watching duties. REEL 2 Continues: further details of civilian work and leisure activities; shelters used during war; problems returning to beds; gaining of civilian work with American Army; details of work in London and Cheltenham; change to khaki uniform and posting to AG Printing Department of SHAEF; details of flight to Paris. Aspects of period as secretary with Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in France, 1944-1946: details of pay; accommodation and office; details of work and leisure activities; reprisal taken against a German. Aspects of period as civilian in Germany and France, 1946-1949: civilian work at IG Farben factory in Frankfurt; knowledge of company's involvement in Holocaust; story of typing up an account of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun's last days. REEL 3 Continues: journey to and details of work; relationship with American troops including description of IG Farben factory and visit to Luxembourg; state of Frankfurt; leisure activities in Frankfurt and London; story of shelter taken at Tottenham Court Road Underground station after dancing; visits to Italian club in Soho including patrons interned and story of father's near internment; story of meeting husband and marriage; story of visit to Britain, 1953; opinion of American women from period in New York; awareness of Holocaust during late 1940s; relationship with American troops; change of currency in Paris, 1948; leave; relationship with French civilians. REEL 4 Continues: contact with White Russian; reflections on life.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Smith, Lyn (Recorder)
Ravera, Alda (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2005-05-19
Dimensions: whole: Duration 96, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 28357

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Ravera, Alda
Crosa, Alda
Pound, Ezra Weston Loomis
Allied Forces, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Associated places

GB, England
London, England, United Kingdom
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom
IT
France
Paris, Département de Ville de Paris, France
DE
DE & Frankfurt
LU
US
New York, New York, United States of America
Associated themes

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Object Details

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Associated people and organisations

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Associated themes

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