Bow, Bridget (Oral history)

German Jewish schoolchild in Elbing, Germany and Danzig, 1929-1938; emigrated to London, GB, 1938; lived in London, St Alban's, Dawlish and St Leonard's-on-Sea, GB, 1938-1945

REEL 1: Aspects of period in Germany, 1929-1936: family background in Elbing, East Prussia; parents owned pub and guest house; childhood and recreational activities; story of Nazis preventing customers going into pub and demanding free drinks. Aspects of period in Danzig, 1936-1938: education; story of parent's pub being requisitioned by Nazis; attended Jewish school; story of being spat on by Hitler Youth members; story of watching Goering lead torchlight procession through city; various memories of childhood and playing with cousins; story of post-war visit to Elbing, 1995; story of visit to see father's parents in Nove; fate of family members in Holocaust; description of train journey with mother from Danzig through Italy and Hungary, 1938. REEL 2 Continues: story of visit to Milan Cathedral; parents sent furniture to London; Aspects of period in London and St Alban's, GB, 1938-1945: arrived Victoria Station, London; first impressions of London; met by father on platform; description of accommodation in Caledonian Road and Claremont Square, Islington; story of parents earning a living by making coloured buttons for fashion trade; problem of not being able to speak English at school; story about school friend Joan; story of eating lunch at Woburn House; parents attended synagogue in Islington; family moved to Nassau Street, London, 1939; religious life; employed by parents delivering buttons to firms in London; evacuated to St Albans, 9/1939; opinion of treatment by foster families and problem of non-Kosher food; returned to London with father during Blitz, 1941; education; used basement at Peter Robinson store as air raid shelter; collected shrapnel after air raids. Aspects of period in Dawlish and St Leonard's-on-Sea, GB, 1942-1945: learned to swim; opinion of accommodation with Jewish foster family; description of education and sporting activities at Clyde House Girls School in Dawlish and St Leonard's-on-Sea; story of post-war visit to school. REEL 3 continues: Aspects of post-war life in London, GB and Munich, Germany: parents financial situation; returned to London at end of war, 1945; story of five year apprenticeship in dental laboratory at Marble Arch; accommodation; description of work as dental laboratory technician in Harley Street; further training and exams; social life; story of meeting future husband and Rabbi granting permission to marry, 1952; attitude to religious observance in family; sporting activities; career as dental laboratory technician; story of wedding at Great Portland Street synagogue, 1952; husband's career with Civil Service in London and Munich; attitude to returning to Germany; family life and religious observance; attitude to Israel.