VOLUME 6 NO. 9 SEPTEMBER 2006 AJR journal Association of Jewish Refugees September surrenders The most momentous formal cessation of generations of schoolchildren, The Parable of hostilities to take place in the month of the Old Man and the Young, notable for Jews September in modern times was that signed because its subject is the Akedah, is little by Imperial Japan on 2 September 1945, after known. Owen's poem follows the Biblical the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and account of the story of Abraham and Isaac, Nagasaki had demonstrated even to the until elements of First World War obdurate Japanese military that they were paraphernalia gradually infiltrate the verse: defeated. The first, crucial move towards the Abraham 'bound the youth with belts and German surrender in the First World War straps' and ' builded parapets and trenches' for took place on 29 September 1918, when the sacrifice - preparatory to the poem's General Ludendorff, strong man of the devastating conclusion, when the Angel calls German Army High Command and out to Abraham, who represents the eminence grise behind Field-Marshal von generation of elders and leaders, to spare his Hindenburg, lost his nerve and prevailed on son, the youth of Owen's own generation: 'But his nominal superior to advise Kaiser the old man would not so, but slew his son,- Wilhelm II that Germany must sue for peace. /And half the seed of Europe, one by one.' Like the Japanese militarists, Ludendorff One of the principal motives behind had gambled on securing peace through Ludendorff's precipitate offer of peace terms military victory on the battlefield, the was his intention to offload responsibility for 'Siegfrieden', spurning a peace by negotiating peace in defeat onto the civilian negotiation. Having knocked Russia out of politicians of Germany's parliamentary the war, he concentrated his forces on the General Ludendorff political parties, who had been largely Western front, launching a massive offensive excluded from the wartime decision-making in March 1918. He aimed to divide the frontier and regroup there in defensive process, as a means of discrediting them. In British and French forces and to drive the positions. Equally importantly, the German this he succeeded all too well, burdening the former back to the Channel, rather as Army High Command wished to maintain democratic Weimar Republic that followed Napoleon had hoped at Waterloo to prevent the political status quo in Germany, an the collapsed Empire with the odium of Wellington's forces linking up with Blücher's imperial autocracy where power rested with defeat, revolution and the harsh terms Prussians and, having defeated them the Prusso-German ruling elites, the dictated by the victors to Germany at separately, to drive them in opposite military, the aristocracy, the governing Versailles, all of which were in reality the end directions back towards their home bases. bureaucracy and the controlling industrial- results of the failed policies of Germany's Ludendorff went for broke, and Germany economic interests. It was to prevent the wartime leadership. paid the price. Typically of the Prussian dual disasters of military defeat at the front Right-wingers like Ludendorff were able to military, he despised politicians and had and radical reform at home that Ludendorff allege that the German armies had been refused to countenance the alternative sought to delay the inevitable, thereby 'stabbed in the back' by hostile forces behind political strategy of conducting negotiations inflicting fearful losses on his own men by the front - socialists, left-wing radicals, with the Allies. By the summer, his weeks of unnecessary fighting. parliamentarians, pacifists, Jews. The offensives had lost momentum, and the great No one who has read E. M. Remarque's All Weimar Republic was in a sense undermined British counteroffensive that began on 8 Quiet on the Western Front will forget his even before it had come into being, giving August 1918 - 'the black day of the German evocation of the sufferings of the German agitators like Hitler a god-given opportunity Army', as Ludendorff termed it - marked the soldiers in autumn 1918 in the face of to ride to power 15 years later on a wave of start of a spectacular series of Allied overwhelmingly superior Allied forces: popular disillusionment with parliamentary victories that took the British through the 'Shells, poison gas and squadrons of tanks - democracy. Leaders from Ludendorff to allegedly impregnable Hindenburg Line and crushing, corroding, death. Dysentery, Hitler and his Japanese allies staked their won the war. When the military balance influenza, typhus - vomiting, burning, death. countries' fates unconditionally on victory, turned against him, Ludendorff, lacking a Trench, field hospital, mass grave - no other but ended by taking their peoples down to Plan B, had no choice but to acknowledge the alternatives exist.' Nor did the Germans utter defeat, for want of an alternative bankruptcy of his strategy and sue for peace. suffer alone. strategy. All wartime leaders need a Plan B - Predictably, the Allies rejected the The British poet Wilfred Owen was killed especially if, as seems to be the case with the armistice terms that he offered on 29 on 4 November 1918, seven days before the American occupation of Iraq, they have no September, as they were clearly intended to armistice. Though poems like Anthem for Plan A either. allow his armies to retreat to the German Doomed Youth have been taught to Anthony Grenville AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

The AJR and the Wiener Library

As our members will know, the Wiener organisations are moving even closer Library is one of the leading archives, together to ensure that our vital work and certainly the oldest archive, can continue to perpetuate the memory recording the Holocaust and Nazi era. of a remarkable generation. The Wiener Its reputation extends far beyond our Library is far more than a collection of shores and the importance of its books and documents - it is a living collection is as relevant today as when Dr symbol of Jewish survival.' Wiener began his work in Germany soon Ben Barkow, the Library's Director, after the end of the First World War. It is added: 'As the Wiener Library moves unique in that, unlike other Holocaust forward into the new century, our archives, much of its collection was growing links with the AJR help to made at the time the events occurred. connect us to our origins and to remind This gives it a powerful immediacy, us why we are here. The AJR's decision to which is both chilling and inspiring. help us in this way means that all the The Library has a collection of material Library's activities will be securely consisting of 60,000 books, 2,000 Anthony Spiro, Chairman of the anchored in the memory of the periodicals (of which 200 are current), Wiener Library sufferings and triumphs of the Jewish original documents, eyewitness The AJR has always recognised refugees.’ testimonies, unpublished memoirs and a the significance of the Wiener huge collection of press cuttings dating Library. Many AJR members will have Kristallnacht service back to the 1930s. In addition, it has an visited the Library or perhaps Please join us at the AJR Centre, important photographic archive accessed its catalogue online at Cleve Road for a service to approaching 15,000 images. The Library www.wienerlibrary.co.uk and will is also the proposed home of our commemorate Kristallnacht on have realised for themselves that its Refugee Voices project once it is Thursday 9 November at 12-30 pm. continued work is of great importance. completed. Following lunch, Rev Fine will Andrew Kaufman, Chairman of the The Library today provides a resource address members and lead a short AJR, commented: 'When we heard that to oppose antisemitism and other forms service, which will conclude with the Library needed to raise £4 million for of intolerance. Many AJR members will Kaddish. a new home, the Trustees of the AJR have had first-hand experience of its Charitable Trust felt that it was entirely To reserve a space for lunch (on a work and maybe also attended one of its right that the Trust should become first-come-first-served basis) and/or conferences or excellent lectures. involved. The Trustees see the Library as a the commemorative service, please The Institute of Contemporary History principal partner for the future; both ring the Centre on 020 7328 0208. and Wiener Library, to use its full name, organisations have a common goal, to moved to its present address, an ensure that the memory of our loved Edwardian terraced house in London's ones, who perished or were forced to flee Devonshire Street, in 1958. The lease Daniel Finkelstein at the their homeland, should never be comes to an end in mid-2009 so the forgotten. The Trustees have decided to Imperial War Museum search for a new home is gathering pace. grant the Library £150,000 towards the Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein Also, the needs of the collection for cost of its new home. The Trustees will will be the guest speaker at an AJR stable environmental conditions to recommend renewing this grant annually national get-together at the promote the preservation of increasingly in the same amount for four years.' Imperial War Museum on fragile and rare contemporary materials can no longer be met in the current Anthony Spiro, Chairman of the Wiener Wednesday 8 November. building. The Library is focusing its Library, endorsed Andrew's comments The day-long gathering - open to all search on central London, particularly and added: 'We are thrilled that the AJR members of the AJR - is part of a the WC1 area, which is the academic has made this very generous gesture. It is three-day trip to London by centre of gravity of its user base. most heartening that our two members from Scotland and Northern England and includes an AJR Directors opportunity to meet members from Gordon Greenfield Finance JACKMAN around the country. Carol Rossen Administration and Personnel The visit also includes a tour of the AJR Heads of Department SILVERMAN Marcia Goodman Social Services Holocaust Exhibition and lunch at COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Michael Newman Media and Public Relations a price of £12.50. Susie Kaufman Organiser, Day Centre If you would like to reserve one of AJR Journal the limited places for this visit and Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor lunch, please contact Susan Lewis Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor 26 Conduit Street, London W1R 9TA Andrea Goodmaker on 020 8385 3078 or at Secretarial/Advertisements Telephone: 020 7409 0771 Fax: 020 7493 8017 [email protected]

2 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

Letter from Israel NEWTONS Leading Hampstead Solicitors advise on Living in interesting times recognised border, killing two soldiers Property, Wills, Family Trusts The sense of déjà vu is almost and kidnapping one? The IDF left and Charitable Trusts unbearable. Again, at the time of Lebanon six years ago. Why should our writing, Israeli soldiers are fighting in soldiers be attacked and abducted when French and German spoken Lebanon. Again, rockets are being fired patrolling the border? Home visits arranged at our northern towns and villages, with The only answer seems to be the greater intensity than before. Israelis punch line of the grim joke about the 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, are forced to live in shelters or move camel which takes a scorpion on his London NW3 5NB elsewhere in the country. Both the back across the Suez Canal and for his Tel: 020 7435 5351 Israeli and Lebanese populations are pains is stung so that they both drown. Fax: 020 7435 8881 suffering. Israel's long war has erupted When the camel asks 'Why did you do once again. it?', the scorpion replies 'Are you No Israeli is happy to see the looking for logic in the Middle East?' destruction of Lebanese homes. Israel There are some encouraging signs, has endeavoured to ensure that the nevertheless. Some Arab countries have CONSULTANT civilian population is not harmed, criticised the actions of Hamas and to long established English dropping leaflets to warn residents that Hezbollah, while others have refrained Solicitors (bi-lingual German) an area is about to be bombed. Israel's from expressing support for them. would be happy to assist clients intention is not to kill civilians but to Perhaps logic is beginning to penetrate with English, German and strike at those who seek to harm it. into some parts of this region after all. Austrian problems. This time it is here in Jerusalem that Israelis who sought to live in peace Contact Henry Ebner life goes on pretty much as before. alongside Palestinians, within some Luckily, it is the summer holiday - if the kind of territorial arrangement, were Myers Ebner & Deaner school year were in progress the convinced that most Palestinians had 103 Shepherds Bush Road disruption of daily life would be far similar aims. This may still be the case, London W6 7LP Telephone 020 7602 4631 worse. Families who have moved but there are forces at work which seem temporarily to the centre and south of determined to prevent this happening. ALL LEGAL WORK the country are trying to regard this The events of the last few weeks raise UNDERTAKEN period as their summer break. Anyone some serious questions in many minds. from the north who has relatives in a This may be the beginning of a safer part of the country is staying with paradigm shift, to borrow a phrase from AUSTRIAN and GERMAN them. Some Israelis have taken whole the sociology of science. This occurs families of strangers into their homes. when a major discovery overthrows PENSIONS The shopping malls, parks and previously accepted theories, forcing swimming pools are full of 'refugees' PROPERTY scientists to rethink everything. from the north. The museums are RESTITUTION CLAIMS The question which many people are packed with visitors. Many shops and asking themselves is: What will happen EAST GERMANY - BERLIN institutions are offering reduced prices, if Israel leaves the West Bank? The idea On instructions our office will or even free entry, for people from the of having Hamas or Hezbollah a couple north, and in Eilat all the hotels are full. assist to deal with your of miles away from Israel's narrow applications and pursue the matter A friend told me that both his son and 'waistline' near the Tel Aviv conurbation with the authorities. his grandson are currently with the is intolerable. But earlier this year army in Lebanon. Twenty years ago For further information Palestinians voted in a Hamas both he and his son served in Lebanon and an appointment government in democratic elections. If a simultaneously. For a family that please contact: more moderate government had been immigrated originally from Manchester ICS CLAIMS this can hardly be typical, but many elected and an arrangement reached 146-154 Kilburn High Road Israeli soldiers are now experiencing regarding the West Bank, what would London NW6 4JD what their fathers underwent. have happened had a Hamas government been elected subsequently? Almost everyone in Israel feels that Tel: 020 7328 7251 (Ext. 107) this time the military action is justified. Life here is never boring. But Fax: 020 7624 5002 Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip sometimes we wish we weren't living almost a year ago. What drove out the Chinese curse 'May you live in Palestinians to attack an Israeli outpost interesting times.' The author of 'Stateless in within Israel's internationally Dorothea Shefer-Vanson Schlaraffenland' in last month's issue was Edith Argy.

3 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

Veterans hold reunion in Ilfracombe Six men who began their army careers conductorship of Breslau-born in the 'alien' Pioneer Corps in Ilfracombe refugee Sgt Max Strietzel. The returned to the town this summer. The entertainment section in Ilfracombe occasion was the launch of my book;* raised over £3,000 for local charities BBC South-West filmed their return for a - a substantial amount even by documentary to be shown in the today's standards. autumn. Eric Smith's family were active in The veterans came to England from the Plymouth synagogue and were Germany and Austria as victims of Nazi caught up in the blitz on the city. persecution and were part of over Eric, his parents and his brother 3,000 Jewish and political refugees who moved to Exeter; bombed out of trained for the British Army's Pioneer Four of six veterans reunited in Ilfracombe Exeter, they moved to Barnstaple, after 67 years: (from left) Geoffrey Perry, Corps in Ilfracombe. They are: where Eric was educated at the Willy Field, Fritz Lustig, Harry Rosney Harry Rosney, a sign-writer by trade, Grammar School. In 1944 he spent nearly two years in Ilfracombe in Willy Field (born Willy Hirschfeld in celebrated his Barmitzvah in the the quartermaster's store. Originally Bonn), survivor of six months in temporary synagogue in from Koenigsberg, he was born Helmut Dachau, came to England in 1939. He Ilfracombe's Capstone Hotel. Rosettenstein. In Ilfracombe, he was was taken to Australia on the Harold Warren, born in Britain, responsible for kitting out the over troopship Dunera in appalling worked for five years in the Army Pay 3,000 refugees who had enlisted into conditions and sent back to England Corps, which was stationed in St the Pioneer Corps. in November 1941 to train for the Petrock's Hotel (now the Carlton Geoffrey Perry (born Horst Pioneer Corps. After two years in the Hotel) in Ilfracombe. He travelled Pinschewer in Berlin) began his army army he volunteered for the Tank from Norwich especially for the training in Ilfracombe. Five years later, Corps and landed with the 8th Kings wartime reunion. while posted with the British Army in Royal Irish Hussars on D-Day plus 1. Helen Fry Hamburg, he stumbled across Britain's Fritz Lustig, from Berlin, spent * Further information can be found notorious wartime traitor William Joyce some 18 months in Ilfracombe as part in Helen Fry's book Jews in North in a forest outside Hamburg. When of the entertainment section of the Devon during the Second World War, Joyce made as if to shoot, Perry shot Pioneer Corps. He was a cellist in the which was reviewed in the April him in the buttocks and arrested him. continental orchestra under the 2006 edition of the AJR Journal.

Holocaust conference in Kaifeng This summer, I was privileged to attend and actively participating in the Shanghai, 1938-45', 'Post-Holocaust a four-day conference on the Holocaust workshops. Given that they are not Social and Psychological Influences', in the Chinese city of Kaifeng. The used to questioning their teachers, this 'Jews and Chinese Society', and 'China conference, hosted by Henan was an unusual experience for them. and Israel'. University, which has a large Jewish The following is an indication of the After the conference, participants studies department, was the second of breadth of subjects and speakers at the were given a tour of Kaifeng. There are its kind, the first having taken place in conference: Jerold Gotel (London still descendants of the Jewish Nanjing a year earlier. Attending the Jewish Cultural Centre, LJCC), 'The community in the city and we heard conference were 100 staff and Historical Background of the Jews and very interesting facts about the students, mostly from Henan the Holocaust'; Trudy Gold (LJCC), community. University, but also from many other 'Antisemitism and Nazi Racial Policy'; Finally, I would like to make an appeal centres including Nanjing, Beijing and Wolfgang Kaiser (Wannsee House, for much-needed books on Jewish Shanghai. China has a long tradition of Berlin), 'An Outline of German History, subjects, including source books for tolerance to other peoples, races and 1918-39'; Tal Bruttmann (Fondation research purposes. It is impossible for religions. Indeed, Shanghai was one of pour la Mémoire de la Shoah), 'The War Henan University to obtain English- the few places where European Jews against the Jews'; and Robert Rozett language books for its library, could escape Hitler's Germany. Further, (Yad Vashem), 'Victims and especially on Jewish/Holocaust topics. the Chinese identify with what they see Perpetrators'. I myself gave personal I would be prepared to collect any such as the Jewish qualities of inventiveness testimony - the first time a Holocaust books and would be grateful if you and industry. survivor had taken part in such a could telephone me on 020 7586 5509. I listened to an impressive list of conference in China. The books can then be shipped out speakers on a wide variety of subjects. A number of Chinese academic staff through the London Jewish Cultural By the end of the conference, the also gave excellent lectures on, among Centre. students had begun asking questions other topics, 'Holocaust Refugees in Joanna Millan

4 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006 Return to Leipzig My name is Naomi. I am European. I am 1933. He was able to take us to all the British. I am Jewish. Components of an old Jewish landmarks around town: identity which is too often pigeon- the Jewish school, hospital and holed. I prefer just stating that I am who synagogues. Our hotel, by chance, I am. I am Naomi. People can discover was next door to my grandfather's the rest. university. The dentist and his wife My grandparents were German- took us to where my grandfather had Jewish refugees. My grandfather fled lived; the names of the roads had all Nazi Germany from Leipzig in 1937. He changed, first under the Nazis and had just been released from prison, then the Communists and then after having broken the Nuremberg laws - he reunification. We would have seen had a non-Jewish girlfriend. The little without our wonderful guide. competing dentist who informed on We found the graves of my great- him did him a favour, as I see it. His grandparents in the old graveyard. imprisonment made him realise early We saw a wide storm drain where enough that he had to get out. He male Jews were rounded up after departed from Leipzig train station on 1 Kristallnacht. Hundreds were made to August 1937. In July 2006, his stand in this tiny, exposed space for granddaughter - me - arrived in the Evangelical or Catholic, and after three days before being sent to the same train station in Leipzig. getting used to the cross in the camps. Seeing this, and realising how I chose to learn German at the age of hallway, things went smoothly! It was early deportations began here, was 12 because I thought it might help me strange thinking here I am working in extremely shocking for me. Of the to understand more of my family's politics, in the country that persecuted Leipzig Jewish community, some history. I've never loved the language. It my family less than a century ago. 14,000 were killed by the Nazis. All made sense to me though. I never tried Round the corner from where I lived around town there were traces of the particularly at school, but I could speak was a memorial to a synagogue that Jewish life the Nazis had not been able German fairly easily. A year after I was burnt down on Kristallnacht. I to eradicate. In the tiling of the ceiling started learning the language, I went on passed it every day. I went to in one building there are Stars of an exchange to Germany. It was synagogue. The service in German was David; in the brickwork of another emotionally unsettling - my first time in rather surreally translated into Russian, there are more. the country which had persecuted my for the vast majority of the We went to the new Gewandhaus, family. I wanted to start afresh, but I congregation (I later learned the or Concert Hall, to hear a wonderful had problems with my host family. congregation is similar now in Leipzig). Bach concert. My grandfather, my Having read on my school information ‘My name is Naomi. I am Opa, had had a season ticket to the form that I was Jewish, they produced old Gewandhaus. Sitting in cafés, we books containing pictures of orthodox European. I am British. had iced coffee German style, just like Jews and insisted that I look at them. At I am Jewish. Components my Omi used to make. best, the family was strange and I will be studying modern history at misguided. At worst, and against my of an identity which is too Oxford this October and this trip gave will, I suspect they were trying to make me a chance to explore my personal some kind of antisemitic point. It did often pigeon-holed. I prefer history. It was strange going back to not bode well. just stating that I am who I Leipzig, where there was so much A couple of years later I met a family history, and it seemed very wonderful German girl with whom I am. I am Naomi. People remote to me in many ways. It is part have been in touch for five years now. It can discover the rest.’ of my identity, and I will never forget was her father who found an internship what happened. Having lived in for me this year. Having worked in Paris Germany before visiting Leipzig, during the first part of my 'gap year', At the end of my stay in Mainz, I took however, made me realise how alien in May 2006 I set off for Germany with a train to Leipzig, where I met my the two Germanys are. Today it is all but forgotten GCSE German. family on their first visit. There we met another land. With a friendly, Now, I am nearly fluent. I worked a dentist whom my mother had outward, open-minded, fiercely in Mainz for a member of the local contacted 15 years earlier about my liberal-minded, new generation. They state parliament, a Christian grandfather, Hans (following are just the same as me and my friends Democratic Union politician. After an ad in the AJR Journal). The dentist back home. And they want to make a replying that I was Jewish to the had been completing a thesis on the fresh start. question as to whether I was fate of Jewish dentists in Leipzig after

5 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

book was long in the making and that the final spur for completing it came after her visit to Yad Vashem in December l967 and LETTERS The Editor reserves the right her wish to acquaint Austrian youth with to shorten correspondence what she had learned there. Erika TO THE submitted for publication Weinzierl may be considered a successor to Irene Harand, the long-forgotten, EDITOR courageous Austrian campaigner against the Nazis in the 1930s. Michael Hellman London NW3 BACK TO VIENNA bombing is not equivalent to having no Sir - The letters in your August issue, with compassion for the individuals who CITY OF DREAMS their mixture of fixed views and were burned alive. However, I must Sir - Pardon my correction, Mr Grenville prejudices, are leaving me perplexed. For accept that there are people who share (July issue). The reason why the Nazis a start, I cannot understand the concept his opinion that the bombing was a war were welcomed in Austria is not the of hating Vienna. Who or what does crime. What I object to is his arrogance decline in democracy (1934-38). The Harry Needham hate? The city, its houses in branding those who do not condemn whole world was in the grip of an and its streets? Its citizens? The large the bombing as being as morally economic slump - particularly bad in majority of those surely cannot be made deficient as those who deny the Austria and Germany. When Hitler came responsible for the sins of previous Holocaust. into power in Germany, he did improve generations. Mr Chapman makes the Eric Sanders the economic state there. Motorways point that Vienna contains right-wing London W12 were built and the Volkswagen was extremists - which is, of course, true. introduced. Unemployment fell. Law and Nevertheless, in the council elections a Sir - In 1956 I was in Vienna with my order were restored. few years ago, when Haider's mother. A non-Jewish friend who had No wonder the Austrians fell for Hitler! propaganda attempted to win votes by remained in Vienna was urging her to He promised them work and better times. appealing to antisemitic feelings, his return and live there again: 'Things are They also fell for his anti-Jewish policies. party was soundly thrashed. Perhaps absolutely different now, dear lady!' The Roman Catholic Church agreed with Harry Needham should also hate After he left us, she spoke sceptically Hitler's takeover of Austria because they London, which now has a very large about his assurance. Nevertheless, she were afraid of communism and socialism. population with antisemitic views. and my father spent a number of Tyrol, Styria and Salzburg were In 1946-47 I was stationed with the holidays in Austria. They never visited particularly Nazi-friendly. When I talked British occupation forces in Vienna and Germany, nor would they buy any about the Anschluss to a Roman Catholic made a number of friends there, some of German products. (My siblings and I priest I knew, he said: 'That's what the them social democrats who had survived have to a great extent followed their people of Austria wanted.' That's why the the war and a goodly number of young example, more out of habit than entire Roman Catholic hierarchy told the students. Since then I have made friends anything else.) Now, what makes this Austrians to vote for Hitler in the with Austrians who have been, and still less than rational is that Austrian plebiscite. I remember it clearly. are, actively working to expose the evils antisemitism was well known to be (Mrs) A. Saville committed by Austrian Nazis and to more enthusiastic than the German London NW4 ensure that the younger generation is variety. One of Austria's postwar aware of them. achievements was to impress on Sir - Thank you for your rich evocation of I also have to admit that I enjoyed the everyone that Hitler was German - and both The Third Man and current Vienna. Vienna New Year's concert in January Austria an innocent victim of rape. 'Harmless Hapsburgs and Soppy Sissi' had 1947. I doubt whether any of us who The lesson I draw from all this is - very this household in stitches. As the BBC's were refugees could ever escape from much in line with Edith Argy's - that our Balkan expert Mischa Glenny puts it: the cultural environment in which we response, rational or not, to the legacy 'Austria, and its slightly cloying social grew up, nor do I see any reason why we of hatred and persecution is a personal atmosphere'. should. matter for each individual. I repudiate in I would welcome your thoughts on a Equally, I am surprised at Rubin Katz's principle any duty to my fellow Jews or second post-war film set in Vienna, which condemnation of Daniel Barenboim. He my murdered relatives and friends to you would probably recollect if you saw is not the only Israeli who attempts to boycott Austria and/or Germany. it. This was Four Men in a Jeep, about the build bridges between Palestinians and George Schlesinger American, British, French and Soviet Israelis. For that he deserves praise. Durham soldiers who jointly patrolled Vienna. Finally, I must respond to David Kemp's While it was not up to Third Man letter about the bombing of Dresden. I Sir - The Righteous of Austria: Heroes of standard, I remember it as interesting. can only imagine that he is too young to the Holocaust, reviewed by Peter The only actor I can still name is Michael have lived through the war. Surely those Phillips in your July issue, has a Medwin as the Englishman. The film of us who have, will not share his views. forerunner. The Austrian historian Erika reflected Cold War realities, but treated Retribution is also a branch of justice but, Weinzierl wrote Zu wenig Gerechte (Too the Russian as a human being. Channel 4 quite apart from that, the citizens of Few Righteous), subtitled Österreicher was to show it a couple of years ago, but Dresden were just as responsible for und Judenverfolgung 1938-1945 and cancelled without explanation.

Hitler and the war as those in other parts published in 1985 in a second enlarged Andrew Sheppard of Germany. Not to condemn the edition. In her foreword, she said the Dublin

6 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

BAHNHOF GRUNEWALD to England! Perhaps you had help which Sir - Eric Kaufman (July) states that falls between these two categories. If you ARE YOU ON A LOW Bahnhof Hamburg was the transportation have not contacted me, please do so now. point for Berlin's Jews to the Should you not have had a response from INCOME AND IN NEED concentration camps. Not so. The me, please contact me again. OF HOMECARE HELP? Hamburger Bahnhof is a gallery displaying Let me remind you that in Yad Vashem, AJR might be able to offer you contemporary art. The shipping in cattle among the Righteous Gentiles, there is trucks of Berlin's Jews took place from not a single British or American Quaker's financial assistance for cleaning, platform 17 of Bahnhof Grunewald, the name. This terrible omission we may be gardening and caring. beautiful wooded suburb of west Berlin. able to correct, with your help. I think the Members who might not When I visited this memorial - so aptly response I have received is the most otherwise be able to afford sited where something dreadful actually wonderful tribute to the AJR Journal and homecare please contact: happened - some years ago, it struck me those who work on it. It is proof that the that the wrought-iron work all along the Journal is serving a wonderful purpose Estelle Brookner, Secretary platform, listing numbers and and fulfilling a real need. AJR Social Services Dept destinations, contained an error Peter Kurer Tel: 020 8385 3070 frequently made. It referred to Jews. It 7 Bruntwood Lane should have referred to German Jews or, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1HS even better, Jewish Germans. I was not part of an ethnic minority when I grew up Companions in Berlin. I was a German. I was a Berliner. AJR NETWORK OF FRIENDS Sir - Readers may be interested to know of London Still am. Now a London-type Berliner. I Incorporating that since the formation of local AJR don't allow a Hitler to define who I am. Hampstead Home Care Peter Zander groups, we have had a network of friends London W1 around the UK. On a recent trip up north, I made contact with the AJR member in A long established company that town and was most cordially invited providing care in your home BOMBING OF DRESDEN A 'WAR CRIME' to tea in her home. The lady was a Assistance with personal care Sir - David Kemp is obviously unaware that complete stranger to me but, as we both General household duties the last Jews remaining in Dresden were came from Germany, there was a bond Respite care about to be deported to extermination and we had a wonderful afternoon Medical appointment service camps when the raids by British and US Air together and parted as friends. So Force bombers took place. The resulting I would urge anyone travelling around 'OUR CARE IS YOUR CARE' chaos saved their lives. The 'good' the UK to contact any AJR member on 020 7483 0212/0213 burghers of Dresden no doubt supported your route and I am sure you will have a the bombing of Warsaw, Rotterdam, great time with a Landsmann. SPRING Coventry and London - to name but a few - (Mrs) Meta Roseneil by the Luftwaffe, as well as the Buckhurst Hill, Essex GROVE deportation of their fellow Jewish citizens. 214 Finchley Road War crime be damned! What did the London NW3 populations of German cities expect? Care THANK YOU AJR parcels from heaven? Mr Kemp will no Sir - I have just returned home after a London's Most Luxurious doubt classify me as 'morally deficient' - great week in St Annes, the success of RETIREMENT HOME especially when I tell him that I flew in a which is entirely due to the care and • Entertainment-Activities bomber at low level over West Germany in organisation provided by Ruth Finestone • Stress Free Living May 1945 and, on seeing the destruction and Susanne Green. As one who has • 24 Hour Staffing • Excellent Cuisine of cities large and small, came to the organised things in the past, I can well • Full En-Suite Facilities conclusion that there was a god of justice appreciate the amount of work that has Call for more information in heaven after all. gone into the planning and preparation or a personal tour Ernest G. Kolman of the week and, above all, the seven 020 8446 2117 Greenford, Middx sixteen-hour days you put in at St Annes. No form of thanks can be adequate. After or 020 7794 4455 a lifetime of organising things for others, [email protected] A TRIBUTE TO THE QUAKERS I particularly enjoyed having things Sir - The response to my article, which you organised for me for once! kindly published in your June issue, has in Heinz Skyte 2s COMPANY itself been a tribute to the Quakers. I have Leeds 2s Company specialises in tried to respond to each letter, phone call companionship, whether for yourself, and email. Greatly encouraged, I plead your family or friends. We can be there again to anyone who received help from Sir - I spent one week in St Annes with the at any time and any place to accompany the Quakers to contact me. You may have AJR and I would like to tell you how you on any shopping trips, journeys, holidays, walks or even a cuppa. Living been met on a railway station on your way wonderful Ruth Finestone and Susanne in or living out. to the Kindertransport or, like myself, you Green were. They could not do enough for everybody. Why not call us for an informal chat on or your parents may have had a guarantee 020 7586 8988 mobile: 0778 880 8907 from Quakers which enabled your parents Helene Parnes ALL STAFF SCREENED AND VETTED to obtain a visa to get out of Nazi Europe Harrow, Middx

7 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

ART beauty of Vivien Leigh. Over the next 40 years those he immortalised REVIEWS NOTES included Derek Jarman, Tilda Swinton, Marlene Dietrich and Katherine A man of rare ability Hepburn. Gloria Tessler ALBERT AND VICTORIA: THE RISE McBean's playfulness is expressed in AND FALL OF THE HOUSE OF composite pictures of Hermione SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA Gingold juxtaposed with Hermione Baddeley, a self-portrait as Neptune, or by Edgar Feuchtwanger Beatrice Lillie with a lily phone. Like London and New York: Hambledon artists from the Renaissance onwards, Continuum, 2006, 288pp. he places strategic symbols, i.e. Agatha Few areas of British life have been Christie, beside a bottle of arsenic and more enriched by the Jewish handcuffs. refugees from Central Europe than In 1963 EMI recruited him for the the academic discipline of history. first Beatles record sleeve, which Among those who had already features them looking down from the established themselves balcony at EMI House. Years later he professionally before fleeing from took them back to the same balcony Hitler to Britain were Erich Eyck, and captured their change in fortunes. author of standard studies of But he never lost the spirit of a poseur, Bismarck, the Wilhelmine Empire shown in the self-portrait Christmas and the Weimar Republic, Hans cards he sent to friends, his puppetry, Liebeschütz and Wilhelm Levison. his papier maché masks of Garbo and More numerous were younger Novello, and Greek god bust. Audrey Hepburn by Angus McBean, 1951 refugee historians who did most or From thick impasto to a delicate all of their academic training in Art, society and surrealism take on the wash - the use of paint is the subject of Britain, including such major figures Hollywood gloss at the National the National Gallery's Passion for as Geoffrey Elton, Francis Carsten, Portrait Gallery, where Angus Paint, in the Sunley Room until 17 Sidney Pollard, Peter Pulzer and John McBean Portraits looks at 1950s September. Twenty-four paintings Grenville. glamour, record sleeves and a touch of from the gallery's touring exhibitions Salvador Dali. feature Rubens to Degas, Courbet to Among the latter is Edgar Born in 1904, McBean showed an Francis Bacon. There's a delightfully Feuchtwanger, scion of a early passion for making masks and subtle Sunset from the Bay at North distinguished Munich family, in theatrical props, which caught the eye of Devon by David Bomberg. Two whose list of publications books on Ivor Novello, who asked him to examples of paint through the British subjects like Disraeli sit photograph the production of The Happy generations are Anthony van Dyck's alongside those on Germans like Hypocrite. The first American star to rather austere Lady Elizabeth Bismarck. His latest volume, a study come to his Victoria studio was Lupe Thimbleby and her Sister, in which the of the pre-eminent royal couple of Velez, but his surrealist lens soon former is about to get married against the nineteenth century, very focused on the still unknown Audrey her family's wishes. Contrast this with appropriately crowns a body of work Hepburn, whom we see emerging from John Singer Sargent's portrait of the that interweaves the history of the sand between high plinths, her two daughters of Asher and Mrs author's native country with that of expression innocent and knowing at the Wertheimer, 250 years later, in which his adopted homeland, for Albert, same time. In contrast, the art deco the velvet and satin textures are as husband of the Queen of England, portrait of actress Rene Ray in clay curls vivid as the differences in expression. was himself of course an import and Spike Milligan's head under a glass Sulin Wang's Liwu River Loops uses from Germany. dish give a nod and a wink to Monty quick-drying car paint with a porcupine This book gratifyingly surpasses Python. quill to create a most beautiful and the sum of its parts. It covers known McBean was bestriding two eras, colourful floating design. Bacon's use of ground, taken individually, in its never quite abandoning the mannered paint, however, is the most technically depictions of Victoria and Albert; of 30s style. Yet his best work owes less to daring. His Three Studies for a Portrait the Queen's leading ministers surrealism and more to his studied of Isabel Rawsthorne captures the (Melbourne, Peel, Palmerston, lighting effects in monochrome, in which essence of movement and expression Disraeli, Gladstone, Salisbury); of her he captures the reflectiveness of which is more the preserve of the eldest daughter Vicky, her marriage Quentin Crisp and the translucent camera than the portrait artist. to the heir to the German throne and

8 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006 the bitter treatment they endured trade, industry and commerce is not persecution for themselves and from Bismarck; of the diplomatic and explored in detail. Admittedly, that their three young children. dynastic issues with which the royal would have required another book. Gill's grandmother, Olga Fajans, couple wrestled; of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Nevertheless, it was Britain's was one of the first women to study Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina industrial, technological and medicine in Germany. Intelligent and Alexandra. It examines the failure of economic primacy that was the rational, she nevertheless the interrelated clan of European foundation of its superpower status underestimated the threat posed to royalty, most of them Victoria's or in the nineteenth century, and Albert her, as a Jew, by Nazism, choosing in Albert's kin, to prevent Europe's pressed hard for measures aimed at 1935 to return to Germany from a descent into the First World War, in maintaining Britain's lead. visit to Teheran where her elder an era when competing national After his death, complacency, daughter and family were then living. interests came to predominate over dilettantism and poor management By 1938, she had been dismissed ties of dynastic solidarity. The book's whittled away Britain's advantage from her post in a pharmaceutical strength lies in combining these and allowed nations like America and company and was compelled to set varied facets of British, German and Germany to surpass her. It was then off back to Teheran, where she spent international history into a narrative that the diehards' distaste for his the war years. that is at once entertaining and modernising measures, and indeed Gill's mother, Lorchen Hempel, the authoritative. Whether dealing with for all the wealth-creating middle child of three, was born in the political manoeuvrings of enterprises on which Britain's Giessen in 1904. Her childhood, Bismarck's early years in power or prosperity depended, initiated the mirrored both in her own memoirs with Anglo-Russo-German dynastic melancholy process by which the and in those of her mother, included machinations, it remains throughout country that once was the 'workshop idyllic periods spent in the accessible in its style and perceptive of the world' had by the late countryside and with loving in its analysis. twentieth century lost almost its grandparents, and yet was generally Feuchtwanger concentrates on entire manufacturing sector. Albert, not happy for she felt herself to be traditional history - dynastic, thou shouldst be living now! the least favoured of the children. diplomatic, political and Anthony Grenville Moreover, her parents' marriage was constitutional - the sections on Albert increasingly unharmonious (they and the Coburg connection meriting separated in 1919). Repeating the particular attention. Prince Albert Engaging picture of a family pattern, Lorchen entered into was a man of exceptional intelligence twentieth-century German- an ultimately unhappy marriage with and ability, a great rarity in the Jewish family the classicist Günther Zuntz. The couple, with their three young English ruling house, which had not OMA, MU AND ME seen anyone of any real quality near children - one of them Irene Gill (at by Irene Gill the throne since Elizabeth I (and has that time still Gabi Zuntz) - left Salisbury: Fivepin, 2006, 281pp. not again since). Feuchtwanger Germany initially for Denmark, then expertly demonstrates how Albert Part autobiography - and a three- for England (Zuntz having obtained a managed to combine his loyalties to fold one at that - part biography, this library post in Oxford). his home Duchy of Coburg and its book both presents and reflects on At this point, the narrative ceases dynasty, to Germany more widely, to the lives of representatives of three to be primarily that of the two older Britain and its imperial, economic- generations of the author's family. women, as Gill's own life begins to industrial and diplomatic interests, The text comprises an unusual - and take its place alongside the lives of and to the monarchy into which he very successful - blend of memoirs her grandmother and mother; married. Feuchtwanger shows that in written by Irene Gill's mother and indeed, her childhood memories of Albert England had effectively grandmother, family correspondence refugee life in Oxford in wartime are acquired a new king who, by sheer and the author's own recollections among the most memorable in the talent and industry, might have and comments. This exclusively book. Zuntz's fellow exile Paul Maas, changed the direction of British female narrative, beginning with the for instance, was a frequent visitor constitutional development, had he birth of Gill's grandmother in and so, too, was the young Enoch not died in 1861, aged little over 40. Danzig in 1869, charts the Powell. Gill recalls how these brilliant Of economic history there is less. vicissitudes of defeat, totalitarianism, men would converse in classical We see rather little of Albert the antisemitism, exile and war before Greek in the family's crowded end-of- moderniser, beyond an account of finishing up in present-day Britain, terrace house. At other times, visitors the Great Exhibition of 1851; Gill's home since 1939, where her would sing Schubert Lieder around otherwise, his contribution to British parents sought refuge from Nazi the piano which would result in

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'elderly refugees mopping the tears was fashionable'. Having spent 28 Water, water everywhere from their eyes'. Gill's schooldays in years as a freelance illustrator, he Oxford, generally happy, were recently returned to book publishing. Once, when rivers were the arteries of nevertheless marked by her He has drawn over 4,000 commerce, the Thames was alive with overriding desire to conceal what she commissioned pictures, many during boats and there were no container herself describes as 'my dark origins'. his six years illustrating for The lorries, canals were a popular means of If the final chapters of this book, Listener. transporting goods. As for washing charting Gill's mother's last years and The longest section is Art and water, before it was piped into our Gill's own adult life in post-war Design with l8 entries. I particularly homes, sparing use was the order of the day. Aristocratic families moved from Britain, fall flat in comparison, this is liked the caricature of Marc Chagall castle to castle so that the one they had scarcely surprising (though there showing the painter with a palette in just occupied could be 'sweetened'. one hand and a violin tucked under might have been a case for a little Good Queen Bess, we are told, had a his chin as he floats above a typically judicious editing here). But this is a bath every month, whether she needed it minor quibble. Gill's triple-voiced Chagallesque village. There is also a or not. section on 'degenerate' sport. work from the female perspective Until the inventive Mr Bazalgette built (her male characters, even the Unfortunately for sports fans, this the first brick sewers to take waste from interesting Günther Zuntz, remain section is one of the shortest, the our houses, walking near the gutter must largely peripheral) offers the reader other being jazz. Both sections have been a nauseating experience. The an out-of-the-ordinary, convincing contain only three entries, which Romans seem to have managed their and engaging picture of a German- suggests that we Jews have fallen hygiene better. Their baths were places of luxury and dalliance. In fact, the town Jewish family of the twentieth rather short in those areas. of Bath, or Aqua Sulis, had facilities far in century. Each section has a quotation in large type. Vicky, probably Britain's advance of anything that was available Charmian Brinson until many centuries later. greatest political cartoonist of the twentieth century, declared: 'If When I came to England, my foster parents' house didn't boast a bathroom. readers do not complain, you have Once again kettles were heated for the Accessible and entertaining not got a cartoonist! My job is to tin tub and, being small, I could just sit in HITLER'S LIST: AN ILLUSTRATED tread on people's toes' - which makes GUIDE TO 'DEGENERATES' - JEWS, it. I wondered what the grown-ups did, interesting reading in the light of the apart from strip-washes. The mystery BOLSHEVISTS AND OTHER recent Danish cartoon furore. was solved when my foster mother UNDESIRABLE GENIUSES Like other books in this series, (auntie) said on Friday night 'Uncle's Illustrations and text by John Hitler's List is pithily annotated, gone to the baths.' Later I was introduced Minnion accessible and entertaining. to this ritual. You entered a tall building Liverpool: Checkmate Books (65 Laraine Feldman and paid a fee at a counter. Then you Dudlow Lane, Liverpool L18 2EY, tel were given a number and made your way to the corresponding cubicle. While you 0151 722 8950), 2005, 138 pp., Annely Juda Fine Art were undressing, the bath was filled with paperback, £13.99 23 Dering Street (off New Bond Street) water at the right temperature. You could Tel: 020 7629 7578 As a Jew born after the war, I found stay in it as long as you wished and, if it Fax: 020 7491 2139 this newly revised edition (first got cold, you called out 'More hot water edition 2004) extremely interesting. I CONTEMPORARY PAINTING for number x!' hadn't heard of many of the people AND SCULPTURE In other places where we lived, there were bathrooms, but restrictions featured and enjoyed reading about prevailed. For a start, you were only the ones I had. Many of those WANTED TO BUY supposed to use five inches of hot water included here are no longer with us, during the war. Any more was but we are still fortunate enough to German and unpatriotic. Also, the system itself was have George Weidenfeld, Roman English Books cumbersome and expensive. On Friday Polanski and Eric Hobsbawm. night rusty geysers were pressed into Perhaps Melvyn Bragg would like to Bookdealer, AJR member, service. This immersion was considered get them together on the South Bank welcomes invitations to view and quite enough to last for the week. Show sometime soon. purchase valuable books Strangely enough, some years ago my Each of the 90 potted biographies brother-in-law was made a Companion of Robert Hornung has a caricature of its subject drawn the Bath. To my disappointment, his 10 Mount View, Ealing duties did not include scrubbing the by John Minnion. John Minnion has London W5 IPR Royal back! been drawing in black and white for Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 8998 0546 Martha Blend as long as he can remember 'when it

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Greeted regularly by longstanding West Theodore Herzl at Marseilles for Haifa, Hampstead neighbours and her many PROFILE staying with an aunt on Kibbutz Givat friends in the AJR and the refugee Hayim, but, being a town girl, went on community, Steffi Steiner remains at 81 to live in Beit Brodetsky in Ramat Aviv, Ronald Channing a warm-hearted, independent extrovert. where she worked for Express Tours She was born Stephanie Sussmann in travel agents. When Steffi became Berlin in 1924. Her father, Manfred, was unwell in 1963, her mother brought her a doctor of law, often working late into Stephanie Steiner back to London for treatment where, the night. An only child, Steffi admits from 1966 to 1969, she worked for A private person who loves that he spoiled her. Her mother, Peltours travel agent. the company of others Hildegard Irene Franck, who came from Joining the AJR Club and other Katowitz in Upper Silesia, was a rather refugee organisations, she met Kurt distant figure who spent much of her Steiner, a widower who worked in a time in court with her husband. By a large London-based building company stroke of good fortune, Hildegard held and had an only daughter, Henrietta British nationality through her father. (Henny). He too was Berlin-born and The family's well-to-do lifestyle in the had been in a labour camp, but never Charlottenburg district meant that Steffi talked about his experiences. They was brought up by a governess and were married at Belsize Square played alone in the apartment's garden, Synagogue in 1966 and settled in a though her parents came every evening house on the North Circular Road in to recite a non-Jewish prayer with her. Neasden. Sadly, apart from a visit to Katowitz in A devoted couple, they formed an 1936 to see her cousins and maternal especially close relationship after grandmother, she had little or no contact Kurt's retirement in 1977, outliving with her wider family and virtually no many of their small circle of friends. In connection with other Jews or Judaism. 1987, following the death of her mother Steffi began her education at the local at the age of 90, they moved to her school belatedly in 1931 at the age of CHANNING RONALD PHOTO: former West Hampstead apartment and seven. However, when Hitler became distressing for a young refugee girl. Kurt expanded his voluntary work for chancellor, her parents enrolled her in a With the outbreak of war, she was the AJR. In 2002 he died suddenly aged Jewish school. evacuated to live with an upper class 89, leaving a large void in Steffi's life. In 1934 the Gestapo tried to arrest her family who had a large house in Luton, The apartment remains much as it father, but he avoided imprisonment by where her father made regular weekly was when Kurt was alive, with telephoning his friend, the chief of visits. But on reaching the age of 17, mementos, cuttings and photographs police, whose protection he maintained Steffi felt compelled to gain her adorning the walls. Steffi still reads two until 1936. So that his wife could regain independence, leaving school with no newspapers a day, mostly the Telegraph British status, they divorced. This formal qualifications - though she and the Mail, and maintains a strong enabled Steffi and her mother to leave obtained her GCEs later at evening interest in current affairs. She watches for England in March 1937 on the liner school. television very little, preferring Radio Bremen, which docked in Southampton. A job with the JNF meant returning to 4's more intelligent programmes, and Steffi recalls being sent to a girls' live with her mother in London, moving still copes with paying bills and filing. boarding school in Gerrards Cross, on to work as a typist in Park Lane and Henny visits her stepmother once a returning a year later to Haverstock then, in 1946, to the Board of Trade, week and Steffi goes to Daleham Central School in London's Chalk Farm where her father was a translator. In Gardens lunch club and the AJR Centre district. She had learned English fairly 1950 she began work at the Israel in Cleve Road, meeting her friends Ken quickly and was well treated by staff and embassy as a telephonist and was Saunders and Fred Dunston and children alike. Her mother had rented promoted to the press department, enjoying the AJR's main events. She part of an eight-roomed house in often receiving invitations to the used to go on holidays with the AJR Finchley Road and was able to make a residence of Ambassador Eilat. For a until they became rather too much for living by letting rooms. Though her couple of years she even joined the her. ‘I like the British people and they father came in 1938, her parents Territorial Army's WRAC and described seem to like me', she volunteers. 'They remained separated and, although they it as 'the best time of my life'. have a lovely sense of humour and I stayed on good terms, it was surely In 1961 Steffi embarked on the SS respect them in every way.'

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INSIDE West Midlands (Birmingham) summer Myrna chairs Essex discussion on topical luncheon issues Brilliantly hot weather marked the day of our With Myrna Glass as chairperson, we had a the AJR summer luncheon, held in the delightful lively discussion about such issues as home and garden of Eileen and Ernst Aris whether the Queen should retire; whether who, as well as hosting the event, generously immigrants should learn the British way of provided the main course. With an life; and whether the police should be given attendance of over 35, the occasion was more powers. There were almost as many Edgware members remember their highly successful in its own right, as well as different opinions as there were members of youth being a very welcome continuation of a the audience. Julie Franks Some 55 of us enjoyed a most pleasant summer luncheon. Philip Lesser afternoon listening to jazz tapes Next meeting: Tues 12 Sept. Katharina prepared so nicely by Alf Keiles, who also Next meeting: Tues 12 Sept. Fred Austin MBE, Hübschmann on the Wiener Library gave us a brief introductory talk on the 'My Various Escapes' history of jazz. The tapes were based on HGS talk on genealogy American/Negro/Jewish themes and North London: 'What Sort of Job is That?' Our speaker Jeanette Rosenberg had done even some Israeli ones. How nice to Our speaker, Jeffrey Segal, had over the years an enormous amount of research on the remember one's youth! Felix Winkler run the whole gamut of the acting genealogy of her German-Jewish family. She profession: repertory with the Royal presented the results on slides and we were Regional get-together in Welwyn Shakespeare Company, West End and fascinated by the wealth of material shown, Garden City provincial stage, films, radio and TV. He spoke not only regarding family trees but also This was by far the best get-together in not as a leading man but as a jobbing actor - photographs. Max Sulzbacher recent years. Groups came from one of the many on whom hinges the success Next meeting: Mon 11 Sept. Helen Fry, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, Ilford, North or failure of any production. 'Refugees in Uniform' London and Oxford. Guest speaker Eve Herbert Haberberg Pollard kept us amused, particularly when she spoke about her time as editor Thur 28 Sept. Outing to Hatfield House 'Any Questions' in South London of the Sunday Mirror with the late An 'Any Questions' session was organised by Robert Maxwell as publisher. It does Surrey revelry Walter Woyda, who also acted as question seem that the formation of ever more Our annual garden party was hosted by the master. Among topics discussed were the groups throughout the UK is fulfilling a bubbly Janet with Anthony Portner, in their monarchy, accountability in all walks of life, need and, to that extent, more power to delightful Chertsey home and garden. political correctness, and 'Then and now'. As Myrna and her co-organisers. Fortified by an excellent array of tasty buffet always, refreshments were served and those Herbert Haberberg dishes, the revelry reached record levels, as present had the opportunity to socialise in did the mercury on that day, but we managed pleasant company. Myrna Glass to keep cool with lots of drink on tap and Next meeting: Thur 14 Sept. Frank Miller, Friendly fellowship interchange in shading below the Tall Trees, as this home is 'From Mecca to Vienna: The Story of the Hull aptly named. Rubin Katz Bagel' Meeting at a member's house, we listened with interest to a recently joined Scotland and Newcastle get-together in Second meeting of Hendon group lady telling us of a week's voluntary Edinburgh The second meeting of this group was, like Israeli army support action during a brief The highlight of the 4th Scotland and the first, very well attended. The AJR's Hazel holiday there. There was a happy first Newcastle AJR get-together was a Beiny chaired a discussion on current affairs meeting between her and another presentation by cartoonist/author John and our old friend Michael Newman gave us member who had been unable to attend Minnion of his book Hitler's List. John's skill in an interesting talk on the future of the AJR. for several months. We agreed actively depicting the essential personal dynamics of Annette Saville to support the planned Northern Groups his subjects was honed while he was a visit to London on 7-9 November. Our schoolboy observing and drawing his Pinner: 'Changes in the Jewish World usual friendly fellowship interchange teachers. A second presentation, by since 1990' was enjoyed by everyone over Susanne's Heartstone's Paula Kitching, was an appeal to cakes and biscuits. Bob Rosner AJR members to contribute to a Holocaust Our speaker, Neville Nagler, former exhibition in Scotland. Jonathan Kish director of the Board of Deputies, discussed Next meeting: Sun 17 Sept the general position of the UK community and its activities, especially the Crime prevention in Brighton and Hove Ilford Fair Reporting Group talk treatment of asylum-seekers (in comparison Malcolm Carlisle, Crime Prevention Officer in Jack de Metz told us that the Fair with 1939) and the current rise of Hove, outlined the work of the local police Reporting Group's website contained antisemitism, which he ascribed to slow force, stressing the connection between drug numerous instances of anti-Jewish and reactions by government agencies. He dependency and burglary. He said that anti-Israel hostility which are rarely suggested that the treatment of the thanks to greater vigilance, preventive reported or investigated by the police, Jewish community was a litmus test for measures and the use of technology, crime in particularly in France and Eastern how minorities in general are treated. Brighton and Hove had decreased Europe. Edith Poulsen Paul Samet considerably. Ceska Abrahams Next meeting: Wed 6 Sept. Fred Rosner, Next meeting: Thur 7 Sept. Lawrence Landau, 'German Philosemites, Jewish Next meeting: Mon 18 Sept, 1.45pm Vivien 'The Work of an Honorary Consul'; Thur 28 Antisemites' Harris, 'Jewish Genealogy' Sept. Outing to Hatfield House

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Ilford trip to Waddesdon Manor Ruth Jackson, who brought the two As a former resident of Frankfurt am Main, I together, and they found much in Paul Balint AJR Centre regarded it as a special pleasure to join the common. Maggie Conu 15 Cleve Road, London, NW6 Ilford group for a trip to Waddesdon Tel: 020 7328 0208 Manor, one of the Rothschild family homes. Tunbridge Wells regional get-together Our trip began with a brief account of the Allan Conway gave us a most interesting AJR LUNCHEON CLUB Rothschild family, including slides of some talk on graphology, following which we Wednesday 20 September 2006 of the treasures in the house. The house, had a discussion on feeling British. The vast 11.45 am for 12.15 pm with its panelled rooms, stupendous majority of us feel very much at home in this Peter Heimes chandeliers, famous paintings and rare country and are truly grateful to be here. As 'The Life of a Private Investigator' artefacts, takes one's breath away. But the always, thanks to Myrna Glass and other lure of the wonderful gardens beckoning us AJR staff for the hard work they put in to Kindertransport from the windows did not permit us to making this such a stimulating meeting. KT-AJR special interest group linger too long in the house - it was a Inge Ball delight to wander around the numerous Monday 4 September 2006 flower beds. A marvellous day out for the 11.45 am for 12.15 pm FUTURE MEETINGS Ilford group. Meta Roseneil Joanna Millan Cardiff Mon 4 Sept. Lunchtime Get-together ‘My Experiences as a Magistrate’ Wessex Tues 5 Sept. Lunchtime Get-together South West Midlands: Sunday lunch with plus speaker from Wiener Library Reservations required the Neubauers Newcastle Sun 10 Sept. Kathleen McCreery, Please telephone 020 7328 0208 Nineteen of us enjoyed a delightful Sunday ‘Ella Schliesser, Actor and Activist’ lunch at the home of Richard and Wendy Oxford Tues 19 Sept. Susannah Alexander, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 9.30 am - 3.30 pm Neubauer in the Royal Forest of Dean. A 'An Overview of the Jews in England’ new member, Renate Beigel, from Vienna, Edgware and Hendon Tues 26 Sept. Outing September Afternoon entertainment had no idea that any other survivors were in to Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. Call the area. By chance, she met a friend of Susan Lewis on 020 8385 3070 Mon 4 KT Lunch - Kards & Games Klub Tue 5 CLOSED AJR GROUP CONTACTS Wed 6 Douglas Poster Brighton & Hove (Sussex Region) Newcastle Fausta Shelton 01273 734 648 Walter Knoblauch 0191 2855339 Thur 7 Jack Davidoff Bristol/Bath Norfolk (Norwich) Mon 11 Kards & Games Klub Kitty Balint-Kurti 0117 973 1150 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Tue 12 CLOSED Cambridge North London Wed 13 Katinka Seiner Anne Bender 01223 276 999 Jenny Zundel 020 8882 4033 Thur 14 Jen Gould Cardiff Oxford Mon 18 Kards & games Klub Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Susie Bates 01235 526 702 Tue 19 CLOSED Dundee Pinner (HA Postal District) Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 Vera Gellman 020 8866 4833 Wed 20 LUNCHEON CLUB East Midlands (Nottingham) Sheffield Thur 21 Guyathrie Peiris & Bill Patrick Bob Norton 01159 212 494 Steve Mendelsson 0114 2630666 Mon 25 Kards & Games Klub Edgware South London Tue 26 CLOSED Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 Lore Robinson 020 8670 7926 Wed 27 Sheila Games Edinburgh South West Midlands (Worcester area) Françoise Robertson 0131 337 3406 Thur 28 Margaret Opdahl Ruth Jackson 01386 552264 Essex (Westcliff) Larry Lisner 01702 300812 Surrey Edmée Barta 01372 727 412 Glasgow DIARY DATES Claire Singerman 0141 649 4620 Weald of Kent August 23 Lunch at Day Centre, Max and Jane Dickson Harrogate afternoon trip to 01892 541026 Inge Little 01423 886254 Tiptree for Cream Tea Hendon Wessex (Bournemouth) Hazel Beiny 020 8385 3070 Mark Goldfinger 01202 552 434 September 10 Annual Tea at the Hertfordshire West Midlands (Birmingham) Watford Hilton Ernest Aris 0121 353 1437 Myrna Glass 020 8385 3077 Oct 29-Nov 5 Bournemouth holiday HGS Gerda Torrence 020 8883 9425 November 9 Kristallnacht service at Myrna Glass, AJR South and Midlands Hull AJR Centre Groups Co-ordinator Bob Rosner 0148 2649156 020 8385 3077 For further information about any of Ilford Meta Roseneil 020 8505 0063 Susanne Green, AJR Northern Groups these events, please call us on Co-ordinator 020 8385 3070 Leeds HSFA 0151 291 5734 Trude Silman 0113 2251628 Susan Lewis, Groups’ Administrator Liverpool 020 8385 3070 Susanne Green 0151 291 5734 'DROP IN' ADVICE SERVICE Manchester KT-AJR (Kindertransport) Members requiring benefit advice please Werner Lachs 0161 773 4091 Andrea Goodmaker 020 8385 3070 telephone Linda Kasmir on 020 8385 3070 to make an appointment at AJR, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Editorials and articles published, and opinions expressed, in the AJR Journal are not Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL necessarily those of the Association of Jewish Refugees and should not be regarded as such.

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Thanks AJRTEA Ludwig Spiro is grateful for the many good wishes he received at the time of his recent accident. SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2006 Birth 2.30 PM Congratulations to Caroline (née Treitel) and AT THE HILTON HOTEL Jon - a son, Conrad Samuel, on 26 June 2006. WATFORD Deaths Austin Freda. On 9 July 2006 aged 98 Freda If you haven’t already booked, Austin (née Kohn) died after a short illness. A grandchild is a wonderful blessing Beloved wife of Frederick Austin (previously to have. If you would like to spend places are still available Friedrich Aufrichtig), sister-in-law of more time with them then you need Martha Aufrichtig Leibel and Robert to call CORRECT COMPUTERS. Please telephone us on Aufrichtig, all of whom predeceased her. She Imagine being able to see your 020 8385 3070 remains forever in the loving memories of family whenever YOU want. We her nephews Ronny and Charlie Roberts and teach complete beginners to use a her niece Eve Austin Yavers and family. computer and will show you how to have video conversations with any Leo Baeck Housing Association Ltd Lewinsohn Eric, 1919-2006. Holocaust of your family. That’s as easy as Clara Nehab House survivor who lost his parents at Auschwitz, making a telephone call but one Residential Care Home worked in manufacturing and later became hundred times better. Call us now on an inspiring German teacher, translator and a 0207 449 0920. All single rooms with en suite popular member of the local community. bath/shower Short stays/Respite Survived by his second wife Meriel and and 24 hour Permanent Care. Large many descendants, including great-great- attractive gardens, Ground Floor grandchildren. Simon R Rhodes M.Ch.S. Lounge and Dining rooms, Lift Selo Louis. With a heavy heart I have to STATE REGISTERED access to all floors. Easy access to report the demise of my son Louis at the age CHIROPODIST local shops and public transport. of 55. The family are inconsolable, especially Enquiries and further information please contact: Surgeries at: his wife Anna, three children Martin, Monica The Manager, Clara Nehab House and Sebastian, and his brother David. Deep 67 Kilburn High Road, NW6 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NW11 0DA sorrow is felt by close relatives in the USA. (opp M&S) Phone: 020 8455 2286 Laura Selo. Telephone 020 7624 1576 2 Pangbourne Drive PillarCare Home Care Stanmore Middx HA7 4QT Quality support and care at home Telephone:020 8958 8557 Care through quality and professionalism • Hourly Care from 1 hour-24 hours Celebrating our 25th Anniversary Visiting chiropody service 25 years of experience in providing the available • Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care highest standards of care in the comfort of your own home • Convalescent and Personal Health Care • Compassionate and Affordable Service BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE • Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff 51 Belsize Square, NW3 4HX We offer a traditional style of • Registered with the CSCI and UKHCA religious service. Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 1 hour to 24 hours care Registered through the National Care Standard Commission Details can be obtained from the Studio 1 Utopia Village Synagogue Administrator 7 Chalcot Road, NW1 8LH Call our 24 hour tel 020 7794 9323 Telephone 020 8959 7086 or www.colvin-nursing.co.uk email: [email protected] Minister: Rabbi Rodney J Mariner SWITCH ON ELECTRICS ACACIA LODGE Regular Services Rewires and all household Friday evenings at 6.45pm Mrs Pringsheim, S.R.N. MATRON electrical work For Elderly, Retired and Convalescent Saturday mornings at 10.00am PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 Religion School: Sundays 9.45am - 12.30pm (Licensed by Borough of Barnet) Mobile: 0795 614 8566 • Single and Double Rooms. Nursery School: 9.15am - 12.15pm • Ensuite facilities, CH in all rooms. Belsize Under 3's: 9.30 am - 11.30 am • Gardens, TV and reading rooms. • Nurse on duty 24 hours. Space donated by Pafra Limited ALTERATIONS • Long and short term and respite, OF ANY KIND TO including trial period if required. Meeting Rooms and our refurbished LADIES' FASHIONS communal hall are available for cultural Between £400 and £500 per week I also design and make 020 8445 1244/020 8446 2820 office hours and social functions. 020 8455 1335 other times Tel: 020 7794 3949 children's clothes 37-39 Torrington Park, North Finchley, London N12 9TB West Hampstead area 020 7328 6571

1414 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006

algebra and obtained his PhD in 1951. Central Office for Obituary There followed a year in Nancy in France, at that time a centre of modern Holocaust Claims Paul Cohn mathematics, and ten years as a lecturer in Michael Newman Paul Moritz Cohn, one of this country's Manchester. In 1962 he joined London Slave labour deadline most distinguished mathematicians, was University, first as Reader at Queen Mary According to German law, the last day Professor Emeritus at University College College, then as Professor and Head of on which compensation payments from London following his retirement in 1989 Department at Bedford College and finally the German Foundation Remembrance, from the Astor Chair of Mathematics at at University College. Responsibility and the Future may be University College. His highly original and important made to eligible Holocaust survivors or Paul was born in Hamburg in 1924, the contributions to wide areas of algebra led to their heirs is 30 September 2006. son of Jakob, a businessman, and Julia, a international recognition and multiple Created in July 2000, the Foundation school teacher. When the Nazis came to contacts with workers in America and was endowed with DM 10 billion power, his parents sent him to the 'Jüdische Continental Europe. He was elected a (approx. £3.3 billion) from the German Schule in Hamburg' (Talmud-Tora-Schule), Fellow of the Royal Society in 1980. He was government and industry to make where he learned English well enough to active in the London Mathematical Society have no problem communicating when he (the premier professional body of reparation awards to former slave and later arrived in England. Already his mathematicians in Great Britain) and forced labourers. These payments favourite subject was mathematics. served as its president in 1982-84. His represent the first time the use of slave and forced labourers has been Emigration became essential following enthusiasm for mathematics never left Kristallnacht, when Paul's father was him; indeed, Cambridge University Press addressed by the Federal Republic of imprisoned for nearly four months. announced a new edition of one of his most Germany. Without an emigration permit there was influential research monographs shortly To the end of July this year, nowhere to go except Shanghai, and sailings after his death. approximately 136,000 former slave were fully booked. England was prepared to Paul wrote about his family history, going and forced labourers had received take children without guarantee and thus it back about nine generations, in the AJR compensation from the Foundation. was that Paul arrived alone on a Journal. More recently, he was a regular Around 24,000 heirs of survivors who Kindertransport. He never saw his contributor, sending in brief reports about died after February 1999 have also parents again. meetings of the AJR's Hampstead Garden received reparation awards. He was put to work on a chicken farm in Suburb branch. He also maintained an Hungarian deadline extended the south of England, where he remained interest in the German language and At the end of July, the AJR received until 1941. Then, after briefly training as a history. He was much amused when, on a notification that the deadline to apply visit to Germany, one of his hosts, not precision engineer, he worked in a factory to the Hungarian government knowing his origins, complimented him on for nearly five years. In this period he compensation programme had been his German, noting with surprise that he studied by correspondence, passed the extended until 31 December 2006. Cambridge Scholarship Examination, and spoke with a Hamburg accent. The scheme pays a one-time award of was awarded a scholarship to study We knew Paul for well over 50 years as a HUF 400,000 (approx. £1,000) to mathematics at Trinity College - a friend and colleague. We are all the poorer Hungarian Nazi victims and their heirs remarkable example of strength of for his passing. He is survived by his wife as compensation for a lost parent, character coupled with unusual ability. Deirdre, their two daughters Juliet and spouse or child. Half of this amount is Having graduated in 1948, Paul stayed in Yael, and five grandchildren. paid in respect of a murdered sibling. In Cambridge to do research in abstract Karl Gruenberg and Paul Samet cases where there are no such living Arts & Events Diary - September relatives, a living sibling is entitled to half of the compensation amount. To 12 November 'Identities 2006' Ark of the Covenant and God's 'Holy Application forms (and guidelines) Exhibition marking minority identities in Presence' Club 43 are available from this office. Face-to- Britain. Jewish Museum, Camden Town, Wed 20 'Islam and the Jews: face or telephone appointments to tel 020 7284 1997 Commonalities and Conflict' Lecture by assist with completing application To 10 September 'Life is Red' Exhibition Charles Landau. London Jewish Cultural forms can be arranged by contacting of miniatures, sculptures and textiles Centre, 8 pm. Four sessions, including 27 this office. created by students from Prague, London September and 4 and 11 October. Tel 020 Completed forms should be sent to: and Nuremberg representing their 8457 5000 The Central Compensation Office, 1116 responses to the Holocaust. Jewish Budapest, Hauszmann Alajos utca 1, Mon 25 Ken Baldry, 'Franz Liszt: Pianist, Museum, Finchley, tel 020 8349 1143 Hungary. Composer, Man' Club 43 Mon 11 Dr A. Rosner, 'Jew Süss and the Written enquiries should be sent to: Josephus Trilogy. Two of Lion Mon 2 October Club 43 No lecture (hall Central Office for Holocaust Claims Feuchtwanger's Historical Novels' not available) (UK), Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Club 43 Club 43 Meetings at Belsize Square Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL, by fax to Mon 18 Geoffrey Ben-Nathan, 'Ethiopia Synagogue, 7.45 pm. Tel Hans Seelig 020 8385 3075, or by email to and the Bible: The Queen of Sheba, the on 01442 254360 [email protected]

15 AJR JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2006 OUN R D A and with Ronald Channing ABOUT Newsround France seeks closure in Dreyfus affair President Chirac has led a ceremony Support for Israel under attack marking the centenary of the Board presidents speak out rehabilitation of Alfred Dreyfus, who was convicted of treason on trumped- Unprovoked cross-border attack, attacks, but if military strategists up charges. The President said his continual bombardment by missiles of concluded that this was the way to rehabilitation was a rejection of civilians in Israeli villages, towns and respond, unhappily innocent civilians antisemitism and a victory for human cities from across the border with would be caught up in the fighting. The rights. The ceremony was an attempt to Lebanon, and the resulting damage, injury world must see that 'Israel is defending end a controversy which has divided and loss of life, brought condemnation of itself' and should be regarded as 'having France for more than a century. these terrorist acts and unanimous been forced to take action'. Auschwitz death camp renamed support for Israel's right to self-defence Jo Wagerman OBE referred to a letter Following pressure from the Polish from former presidents of the Board of from her daughter who was living in Israel government, the UN has agreed to Deputies of British Jews. and whose graduate son had just entered rename Auschwitz Concentration Camp Meeting in the historic Bevis Marks pilot training school. They had marched on in order to emphasise that the Germans, Synagogue in the City of London on to the parade ground to the cheers of their not the Poles, were responsible for it. It Sunday 23 July, a concerned audience families - which, she declared, said a great is to be renamed the Former Nazi focused its attention on contemporary deal about Israel: 'We are prepared to place German Concentration Camp of threats to the security of the Israeli nation. our nearest and dearest on the front line!' Auschwitz. Uniquely, it was an occasion on which all On the issue of casualties, Israel was a Anger over show of works by Hitler's six living presidents of the Board democracy that provided shelters against favourite sculptor participated in a question-and-answer bombing for all its citizens - which An art gallery in Schwerin has provoked panel organised by East London contrasted with Lebanon, where outrage by staging the country's first synagogues and the Jewish Chronicle. aggressors had built bunkers for post-war exhibition of Hitler's favourite As chairman of the panel, the current themselves and their combatants but not sculptor, Arno Breker. Breker, who died in 1991 at the age of 91, has never been president of the Board, Henry Grunwald for the people. fully rehabilitated in the eyes of the QC, sought the panel's views on Israel's Dr Lionel Kopelowitz took the view that German public. The organisers of the response to the killing of eight members of Israel was fighting terrorism 'on behalf of exhibition said they wanted to provoke an IDF patrol on Israeli soil, the capture of the free nations of the world'. It was a debate, not rehabilitate the artist. a further two soldiers and the raining common knowledge that Hezbollah was down of missiles on to the civilian backed by Syria and Iran and acted as a Sir Sigmund receives German order population of northern Israel. Lord Janner force independent of the Lebanese Sir Sigmund Sternberg has been awarded the Knight Commander's Cross of Braunstone QC said that the situation government in the area from the Litani of the Order of Merit of the Federal was 'extremely worrying', especially for River to the border with Israel. Republic of Germany. The order was those with families in Israel, and that Henry Grunwald was disturbed by the presented by His Excellency Ambassador there was no indication of the reality of a considerable publicity which Hezbollah Wolfgang Ischinger in a special peace process. He believed that Britain's had gained in the media. There was a limit ceremony in London. The Ambassador Jewish community would support Israel in to what the Board could do. Reluctantly he said Sir Sigmund had 'made a special every way it could, but was concerned it suggested that Israel did not always have and invaluable contribution to would take time for the Israeli army to articulate representatives to present its reconciliation and understanding, first succeed in its moves against both case. Jo Wagerman warned about between Germans and Jews, and most Hezbollah and Hamas. receiving 'conflicting messages' from recently in the field of Jewish-Christian- Judge Israel Finestein QC noted the Israel, while Dr Kopelowitz added that in Muslim relations'. the UK, Israel had never taken its public 'scaring experience' which had made the Graf Zeppelin found government of Israel embark on this relations seriously enough. The wreck of the Graf Zeppelin, Nazi campaign. Former Prime Minister Asked if the Jewish community was its Germany's only aircraft carrier, has Sharon's policy had been to quit Gaza and own worst enemy, Eldred Tabachnik QC finally been located. Launched in 1938, complete withdrawals from the West felt it was important to strive for common the ship never saw service - a casualty of Bank, yet it was the 'declared ambition' of ground within the community and to agree infighting within the Nazi elite and the the government of Iran to 'remove' the on broad principles. This involved changing tide of war. She was scuttled whole of Israel. A proxy army had been expressing 'passionate sympathy' for the by fleeing German troops in April 1945 established answering to the Iranians. No State of Israel, but not by expressing this and found in shallow water near one appeared to have anticipated these in extraneous newspaper advertisements. Szczecin in Poland.

Published by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Telephone 020 8385 3070 Fax 020 8385 3080 e-mail [email protected] Website www.ajr.org.uk

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