Sommerfeld, Ruth (Oral history)

German Jewish civilian living in Gera, Germany, 1927-1938; deported to Zbaszyn, Poland, 1938; emigrated to GB on Kindertransport, 1939; civilian refugee in GB, 1939-1945

REEL 1 Background in Gera, Germany, 1927-1938: family opinion of problems following death of father; area grew up in; education including treatment from teachers and story of school trip; story of friend asking mother to stop visiting; anxiety gained from mother; family home; reasons for deportation to Poland; removal from school and return home; preparations for departure and belief that Buchenwald was destination; departure from home and fate of possessions; train journey to Polish border including stop in Leipzig. Aspects of period as civilian in Zbaszyn, Poland, 1938-1939: relationship with Polish civilians; accommodation; supply of meals; sleeping arrangements; organisation of Jewish community; difference between Poland and Germany; skills learned in Zbaszyn; religion and Zionism in family; story of family members who emigrated to Poland, late 1930s; background to family settling in Germany, 1917; post-war contact with relatives including resentment felt towards them; background to gaining place on Kindertransport. REEL 2 Continues: reactions to departure; stay in Warsaw including visit from mother; voyage to London aboard Warzowa. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1939: scenes and reception on arrival; journey to Birmingham; reaction to poverty; evacuation to Coalville; details of hosts, the Glyn family including relationship with maid, Peggy, and Christmas 1939; length of stay in Coalville; return to Birmingham; details of hosts, the Jacobs family, including leisure activities; air raids; second evacuation to Lincolnshire; details of hosts, the Burdett family including events during stay and leisure activities; education; background to joining secretarial college and Zionist youth movement. REEL 3 Continues: membership of Zionist Youth Movement; details of education including financial support and accommodation; final contact with mother, 1941; lack of desire to discover fate of mother; attitude to Germans; learning about Holocaust; lack of understanding about wartime climate in modern world; contact with and memories of The Boys; discussion of Israel's importance for Jews; civilian work as teacher including teaching about Holocaust; story of visit to Rabbi Schneersohn while in Warsaw; details of original Kindertransport memorial at London Liverpool Street Station including damage to prayer book given to Somerfeld by Rabbi Schneersohn; effects of experiences on life.