Description
Object description
German Jewish civilian schoolchild in Mayen, Germany, 1923-1938; emigrated from Germany to GB on Kindertransport, 12/1938; private with Pioneer Corps, 1942-1943; served with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1944-1945; served with T Force in Germany, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Mayen, Germany, 1923-1938: description of family home; details of family shop; problems from 1923 hyperinflation on business; memories of childhood; Jewish community in Mayen; examples of anti-Semitic behaviour toward family including revenge taken in 1945; indoctrination of school friends; education; civilian work in Kassel; details of arrests of family member on and after Kristallnacht, 11/1938; events in prison and release in Koblenz; walk to Mayen; reactions to situation; damage to Jewish property; earlier plans for emigration in 1936; help gained from Frederick Pottle to gain visas for USA; reasons family did not go; background to gaining place on Kindertransport. Aspects of journey from Mayen, Germany to Harwich, GB, 12/1938: items taken to GB; Nazi boarding of train on German-Dutch border; reception from civilians in Netherlands; voyage to Harwich; sorting of children on arrival; journey to Lowestoft. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 12/1938-1941: flooding of camp on first night; periods in Broadstairs and Dovercourt; volunteering for work at Kitcher's Camp in Sandwich; story of being taken in by Foster family in Devon; knowledge of English language; rations; learning of English; father's relationship with Foster family; details of Foster family; outbreak of war; registration as enemy alien.
REEL 2 Continues: details of correspondence with parents; continued efforts of Frederick Pottle to get Henley to the USA; civilian work in Devon; relationship with locals; reason for move to London in 1941; experiences of blitz; civilian work; joining of army, late 1941; period in Pioneer Corps including background of troops and training; transfer to infantry; further details of civilian work [Short Reel].
REEL 3 Continues: details of training in Buxton and Inverness including reason for being posted away from home; change of name from Otto Lichtenstein; memories of operations in North Africa, 1942-1943. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1944-1945: arrival in France and advance into Belgium; bombing of cinema in Antwerp; reception from civilians in Normandy and Belgium; landing on Normandy; desire to reach Germany; description of newspapers. Aspects of period as private with T Force in Germany, 1945: formation and role of unit; details of advance with army; make-up of unit; training; treatment of civilians; state of towns visited; ease of fulfilling duties; stories of gaining revenge; opinion of and relationship with civilians; story of getting rid of sergeant major; examples of inaccurate bombing including in Mayen; discovery of Holocaust; story of revenge taken against Mayor of Mayen; visit to Bergen- Belsen concentration camp; fate of grandmother and parents.
REEL 4 Continues: details of postcard written by grandmother en route to Theresienstadt; talking about experiences; family; importance of testimony; religious beliefs; relationship of family with Frederick Pottle; attendance at Kindertransport reunions.