Description
Object description
German schoolchild living in Berlin, Germany 1924-1939; emigration by Kinder Transport to GB, 1939; lived in GB, 1939-1944; served as private with Royal West Kent Regt in North West Europe, 1944; served as interpreter with 4th Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers in North West Europe, 1944-1945; served with Intelligence Corps in Germany, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Berlin, Germany, 1924-1939: Jewish family background and social circumstances; education at Jewish school; sporting activities and recreations; question of anti-Semitism and situation following Hitler coming to power; story of watching Hitler drive past; story of Jewish family friend dying in concentration camp; story of attempt to blackmail father following traffic accident; story of warning from German policeman of imminent arrest and deportation of Polish Jews, 10/1938; story of warning from German policeman and precautionary move to Berlin suburbs prior to Kristalnacht, 9/11/1938.
REEL 2 Continues: effects of Kristalnacht, 9/11/1938; father's involvement in Zionist movement and providing documentation for Jewish emigration; uncle's marriage to non-Jewish German and their subsequent emigration to Argentina; question of emigration to Palestine and father's decision to remain; plans for emigration to Palestine via, GB; attending agricultural course in Hamburg. Emigration by Kinder Transport to GB, 23/8/1939: send off; possessions carried; train journey and Channel crossing. reception by Jewish taxi drivers at Liverpool Street Station, London; period in farm on south coast prior to move to Abergele. Recollections of period at Gwrych Castle, Abergele, 1939-1941: division into age groups; working parties; Jewish religious services, musical activities and discussion groups; question of knowledge and use of English.
REEL 3 Continues: reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; letter contact with parents via Sweden; reactions to news of father's arrest and imprisonment in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, 10/1939; cessation of regular contact with other; contacts with family in Palestine and Argentina, 5/1940; nature of farm work including relationship with farmer and labourers; preparations for kibbutz life in Palestine; detachment for working party on estate at Ruthin; playing violin; question of training as electrician in Leeds and reaction of Jewish Children's Board. Period at Waltham Cross and Stamford Hill and Cheshunt, 1941-1944: question of working in graveyard; securing work in nursery at Cheshunt.
REEL 4 Continues: lodgings in Stamford Hill; work in nursery; influence of left wing friends including writing article on socialism and refugees for 'Comrade', 1943, taking educational correspondence courses and their hospitality; question of anti-Semitism and opinion of English; athletic activities and participation in Junior British Empire Games, 8/1943; German air raids and personal morale affected by religious beliefs; status as friendly alien; application to join RAF and question of assignment to Polish forces; membership of Zionist athletics club; nursery pay; reactions to call up, 5/1944; attitude to Germans.
REEL 5 Recollections of conditions of lifestyle during period with General Service Corps, Maidstone, 5/1944-11/1944: origins of recruits; intelligence tests; barrack room accommodation; kitting out; morning routine; food rations; drill; PT; weapons training including rifle, Bren gun, grenades and bayonet; gas mask; recreational visits to Maidstone; relationship with recruits and instructors; cleaning rifle; preparations for kit inspections; personal morale; intelligence test results; identification parade during rape investigation; question War Office Selection Board.
REEL 6 Continues; background to application to join Jewish Brigade in preparation to commission; posting for continuation training with Royal West Kent Regt; rifle range; cross country runs; cases of anti-Semitism; assault course; story of accidental shooting of officer during night exercise; dispute with NCO during night exercise; scrumping apples; sports day; personal morale; recreations; question of Jewish religious services and kosher food; attending piano recital. Period with Royal West Kent Regt in Belgium, 11/1944-12/1944: personal morale during Channel crossing; rejection on volunteering assist as translator with German POWs.
REEL 7 Continues: relaxed discipline; German dive bomb attack; barrack accommodation in Ostend; situation during German Ardennes offensive, 12/1944; occupying dugout; briefing. Period with 4th Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers in Belgium and Netherlands, 1944-1945: background to transfer to unit; posting as German interpreter to Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy; relationship with Colonel Melville; intelligence training; recommendation to brigadier and role assisting in evacuation of German civilians and animal livestock prior to Rhine crossing; billets; story of pipe major; composition of IS; story of reconnaissance patrol onto Rhine island and personal morale under fire; background to accepting opportunity to join Jewish Brigade and question of promotion; view of Rhine crossing operations, 3/1945.
REEL 8 Continues: view of Rhine crossing operations, 3/1945; crossing pontoon on motorcycle; leave in Brussels; V2s; prior view of V1 in Maidstone, 1944. Period in Edinburgh prior to posting to Jewish Brigade, 1945: victory parade, 5/1945; reactions to end of war; cancellation of posting to JB. Attending Interpreters' School Brussels, 1945: flight out in Lancaster; origins and skills of interpreters; question of acting as French interpreter; linguistics tests; learning interpreting skills. Period with Intelligence Corps in Germany, 1945. INTERVIEW SUSPENDED AT INFORMANT'S REQUEST FOR PUBLISHING REASONS
