Description
Object description
Austrian Jewish civilian schoolchild emigrated on Kindertransport from Austria to GB, 7/1939
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Vienna, Austria, 1928-1939: area grew up in; family home; relationship with non-Jewish population; religion; family including relationship with sister; memories of build-up to Anschluss with Germany; entrance of German troops in Austria; realisation that life would change; knowledge of events and personalities; changes of outlook among friends including change of banner on parliament building; anti-Semitic laws introduced; description of anti-Semitic poster; move into 2nd District including betrayal by family friend; events witnessed on Kristallnacht, 9- 10/11/1938.
REEL 2 Continues: arrest of father; arrangement and news of place on Kindertransport. Aspects of journey from Vienna, Austria, to London, GB, 7/1939: events at Vienna station; disembarkation and farewell from sister; memories of train journey to German-Dutch border; details of Austrian passport including treatment from Germans guards and reception from Dutch civilians at Aachen; reactions to situation including first sight of sea and description of ship; voyage to Harwich; train journey to Liverpool Street; details of Kindertransport Memorial at Liverpool Street Station; story of attempt to ask for toilets on behalf of cousin Alfred Kessler; return to Ipswich after not being claimed. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 7/1939: details of period at Barham House and tribute to British MPs who supported the Kindertransport; rations; move to Gateshead to live with Miss Charldon.
REEL 3 Continues: contact with family; memories of Miss Charldon; evacuation to Morpeth; memories of Jim and Nell Ferguson; education and learning of English; religion; story of visit to church including treatment from locals; sacredness of front room; story of learning fate of family, 1942; civilian work; story of return to Morpeth; question of being watched by organisations while in Morpeth; move to London at 16 and connections with organisations; reason for move to London; education; civilian work in Morpeth; accommodation; story of eviction from Norbury on a Sunday morning and subsequent journey to East End; description of Jewish community in East End; details of civilian work including with Daily Express; story of holiday in Spain and gaining work as tour guide to Austria, 1961.
REEL 4 Continues: civilian work, 1961-2001; talks given about Holocaust in Britain and Europe; visit to family home in Vienna; story of learning full details of family's fate in Maly Trascianiec; further details of talks given on Holocaust; question of hating Germans and Austrians; reflections on Kindertransport; details of Kindertransport reunions.
REEL 5 Continues: importance of Holocaust testimony.