VOLume 14 NO.2 FEBRuary 2014 journal The Association of Jewish Refugees

A tale from the November Pogrom n June 1987, AJR Information published young daughter to seek refuge for her father As the photo of the memorial plaque a letter from David Fisher, who, with elsewhere. What none of the family then that was erected to Oster in 1990 on the Anthony Read, was writing a book knew was that Oster was deeply involved site of his erstwhile residence in Berlin, onI the ‘Crystal Night’ pogrom of 9-10 in the clandestine activities of a group of at Bayerische Straße 9, shows, his role in November 1938. In line with the growing senior military figures opposed to Hitler. the resistance to Hitler has now received trend among historians to supplement Oster, who became deputy to Admiral the recognition that Mrs Rosenstiel found archival material and written documents Wilhelm Canaris, head of the Abwehr, lacking in 1987. Her son, a long-serving with eye-witness testimony, Read city councillor in Cambridge, and Fisher wished to include first- carried on the family connection hand accounts of the events of to the Osters. He recalls meeting that night in their book. Fisher’s Oster’s son Achim, a former letter requested AJR members who playmate of his mother, and more ‘have stories to tell which have recently had contact with Oster’s never found a wider audience than granddaughter when she lived their immediate family circle’ to in Heidelberg, Cambridge’s twin contact him. The book appeared, city. It was in part thanks to Colin first under the title Kristallnacht: Rosenstiel’s father that the plaque The Nazi Night of Terror, then as to Oster’s memory was installed in Kristallnacht: The Unleashing of the 1990 and its inauguration was the Holocaust (1990), and has since last occasion on which his parents disappeared from view. visited Berlin. Fisher’s letter elicited at least The military resistance to Hitler one response, from Mrs C. K. has received decidedly mixed Rosenstiel, née Meumann, of judgments from historians in Putney, London SW15, a Jewish refugee Memorial plaque to recent decades, partly because in the General Hans Oster, Berlin from Berlin, who had a very unusual story predominantly conservative atmosphere to tell. I am indebted to her son, Mr Colin Germany’s military intelligence service, of West Germany in the 1950s and Rosenstiel of Cambridge, for sending was to continue these activities until 1943, 1960s it had been depicted as a group me her reply and other documents that when men close to him were found to have of right-minded (in both senses of the provided the inspiration for this article. Mrs arranged the escape of 14 Jews, disguised as word) Germans who chose the road of Rosenstiel’s letter recounted the remarkable Abwehr agents, to Switzerland; this led to honour in opposing Hitler and paid the story of the offer by a high-ranking German his dismissal. Arrested in the wake of the ultimate price for doing so. During the army officer to help his Jewish neighbours ‘Bomb Plot’, the failed attempt on Hitler’s Cold War, the military resistance was given escape arrest during the pogrom: life of 20 July 1944, Oster was tried by a pride of place in West Germany over the In the afternoon of 9th November Nazi court, sentenced to death, and hanged Communist and working-class resistance 1938 our neighbour, the wife of with Canaris and the Lutheran pastor to Hitler, which was felt to be too close Colonel, later General Hans Oster, and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer at in its values and loyalties to the regime in called to offer the shelter of their Flossenbürg concentration camp on 9 April East Germany. Modern historians now home to my father who was a lawyer 1945. The conspirators against Hitler were largely agree that the military resistance was aged 58. The news of the arrest of forced to strip naked before being taken to politically a very mixed bag. As Gordon A. Jewish men had spread to both our the gallows. Craig demonstrated in The Politics of the families. The Osters and our family Mrs Rosenstiel concluded her letter to Prussian Army 1640-1945 (1955), senior lived on the same floor of a Berlin Fisher by taking the story of her family and officers in the Wehrmacht, the German apartment block. There were two the Osters up to 1987: army, were notorious for their antipathy staircases, one for tradesmen. Mrs I am still in touch with his surviving to parliamentary, democratic forms of Oster proposed that if the Gestapo daughter and am planning to attend government, for their aggressive militarism, called at the front door, my father the family celebration of the 100th and for their disregard for civil rights and could easily slip across to their flat by anniversary of Hans Oster’s birth in freedoms. the back door. Hamburg in August. Needless to say Army officers had sworn a ceremonial In the event, the Meumanns decided the Germans have never adequately oath of loyalty to Hitler in August 1934 that the plan represented too great a risk to recognized Oster’s heroic efforts to and had been more than content when he the Osters and opted instead to send their save them from Hitler. continued overleaf  journal FEBRuary 2014  A tale from the November Kindertransport plaque rededicated Pogrom continued at House of Commons ceremony repudiated the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the provisions of which had severely limited the size of the German armed forces, and proceeded to rearm at full speed. Nor were they critical of Hitler’s policies towards his domestic opponents: they raised no objection when he crushed the Communist Party and the trade unions and destroyed the parliamentary democracy of the Weimar Republic. They were also thoroughly supportive of his initial aims at expansion; for the military, the Versailles settlement of (from left) Sir Erich Reich; Lord Dubs; the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House; Germany’s eastern borders was a standing Baroness Betty Boothroyd; Kinder Rolf Penzias and Eve Willman; Ruth Abraham, daughter grievance and its rectification meant, for of Kind Judy Benton; Rev Bernd Koschland them, the reincorporation into Germany t an event organised by the AJR Speaker when the plaque was installed, of territories awarded after 1918 to Poland on 20 November 2013, former and Lord Alf Dubs, himself a Kind. and other Eastern European states. Their A‘Kindertransportees’ commemo- Following the rededication ceremony, principal objection to Hitler before 1939 rated the 75th anniversary of the debate some 60 Kinder joined Lord Dubs and was that his policies risked precipitating in Parliament that led to their rescue. Baroness Boothroyd in a Celebratory Tea The event began with a special in the Strangers’ Dining Room. a war with Britain and France before ceremony to rededicate the plaque Welcoming fellow Kinder, Sir Erich Germany was fully prepared and, after erected in June 1999 in gratitude for Reich, Chairman of the AJR’s Kinder- 1942-43, that he was leading Germany into Parliament’s decision of 21 November transport Committee, referred to the the abyss of defeat. 1938 to create the Kindertransport. pivotal role played by Philip Noel-Baker, Most of them, as conservative Paying tribute to the Kinder, the Rt Hon the Member of Parliament who had nationalists, opposed Hitler not from a John Bercow MP, the current Speaker initiated the 21 November 1938 de- standpoint of moral or political principle of the House, reflected on his own bate, which had followed the events family’s migration to the UK and the of Kristallnacht, and said ‘This special but because they saw that he was losing huge strides that had been made in occasion gives us cause to celebrate the war. That lack of a coherent moral the protection of human rights since but also to recognise the significance and political alternative to the barbarity of the Holocaust. of the debate that led to our rescue, Nazism was a crucial weakness in the right- Also present at the ceremony were for which we and our families will be wing resistance to Hitler. It contributed Baroness Betty Boothroyd, who was the eternally grateful.’ to the failure of the conspirators once they finally acted, on 20 July 1944, when the bomb planted by Colonel opposition to the Nazi regime in time of Oster’s role in the resistance dated back Graf Stauffenberg at Hitler’s military war. The resistance also had adherents in to 1938, when he was at the centre of a headquarters at Rastenburg, East Prussia, the Foreign Office, among them State group of conspirators opposed to Hitler’s failed to kill him, leading to the rapid Secretary Ernst von Weizsäcker, another plans for an attack on Czechoslovakia; suppression of the attempted coup d’état whose commitment was less than full- on that occasion, Neville Chamberlain’s and the arrest, execution or suicide of hearted. The resistance won to its cause capitulation to Hitler at Munich cut the most of those involved. The hub of the some civilian politicians, including Carl ground from under them. right-wing resistance to Hitler consisted Friedrich Goerdeler, a former mayor But the Abwehr continued to provide of senior military officers, many of of Leipzig who would have served as Oster with the ideal cover for his whom, such as former Chief of General chancellor in a post-Hitler government, clandestine activities, its intelligence Staff General Ludwig Beck, were hesitant and Wilhelm Leuschner and Julius Leber work allowing him to set up contact with about committing themselves to outright from the banned Social Democratic Party. other opponents of the Nazis like Henning There was, however, no doubt about von Tresckow, who organised attempts on Hans Oster’s principled stand against Hitler. Hitler’s life from his position as a senior AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman As his offer to help a Jewish family on the staff officer with Army Group Centre on night of 9-10 November 1938 showed, the eastern front, or General Friedrich Directors he was one of the few officers to retain Olbricht, who held a key strategic position Carol Rossen his moral values; these were to override in Berlin. Fabian von Schlabrendorff, who David Kaye his sense of military and patriotic duty to as Tresckow’s adjutant had smuggled a Head of Department Germany even after the outbreak of war. bomb onto a plane carrying Hitler from Sue Kurlander Social Services Oster did not hesitate to pass information Army Group Centre back to Germany to the Dutch government about Hitler’s in March 1943 and who only escaped AJR Journal Dr Anthony Grenville Consultant Editor plans to invade the Netherlands in 1940 – execution in February 1945 when the Dr Howard Spier Executive Editor information that would have cost the lives ‘People’s Court’ before which he was being Andrea Goodmaker Secretarial/Advertisements of tens of thousands of German soldiers if tried took a direct hit from an American the Dutch had heeded the warnings and bomb, described Oster as ‘a man such as Views expressed in the AJR Journal are not taken the appropriate military precautions. God meant men to be, lucid and serene in necessarily those of the Association of Jewish ‘Second to none in his detestation of the mind, imperturbable in danger’. Refugees and should not be regarded as such. regime,’ in Professor Ian Kershaw’s words, Anthony Grenville

2 FEBRuary 2014 journal Day trip AJR Centre farewell party: One door closes … into the past n the bittersweet occasion of AJR Centre Manager Ros Collin n 10 November last, Kristallnacht, the closure of the AJR Centre encouraged members to come in or Pogromnacht as it is now Oin December, some 80 guests future to the Sobell Centre, run by Ocalled in Germany, I was invited attended a farewell party at Belsize Jewish Care at Amélie House in Golders to Freiburg to attend the premiere of Square Synagogue. Guests were Green. The Sobell Centre offers a wide the play Die Kinder von La Hille – Eine entertained by a medley of songs by range of activities and services and Kinderrepublik (The Children of La Hille Glenys Groves, who regularly performs serves hot and cold, non-meat lunches. – a Children’s Republic). Performed by a at the AJR’s Annual Celebration Lunch. Ros Collin will herself be present on group of non-Jewish local children, the AJR Chief Executive Michael Tuesdays and Thursdays to help with play tells the story in words, mime and Newman and Executive Director Carol the transition to the AJR’s new meeting songs (some in Yiddish) of 100 Jewish Rossen paid tribute to the Centre’s place. She stressed that, as was the children who survived the war in an old loyal and hardworking staff, to the case at Belsize Square Synagogue, the chateau in south-west France. role played by the then AJR Treasurer AJR would be arranging transport for Die Kinder von La Hille is based Ludwig Spiro, who had overseen the members who otherwise could not on memoirs and books which have creation of the Centre, and to the attend. We very much hope members appeared over the years, including philanthropy of Paul Balint, who had will come along. my own chapter in We Remember as well as my sister’s book A Girl Called helped finance the project. Michael Newman Renée. It was written and directed by Monika Hermann, a clinical psychologist specialising in theatre pedagogy who Belgium, where the Jewish Refugee came ‘Les enfants du Château de la Hille’. wanted to impress upon the children Committee arranged for us to join a hostel When life in La Hille became too taking part how one can survive under on the outskirts of Brussels together with dangerous for our older comrades, some the most difficult and dangerous some 45 girls from Germany and Austria of them tried to escape to Switzerland conditions without parental or hardly who had no family in Belgium. When or Spain, but sadly 12 were caught by any adult supervision and still remain Belgium was overrun in 1940, our hostel the Germans and perished in the camps. a functioning and civilised member of joined a group of 50 boys and together Even so, it is a miracle that most of the society. we travelled for four days in two goods 100 La Hille children survived the war. It was a most moving and almost wagons, without food, water or toilet Over 400 people came to watch the esoteric experience to see my own story facilities, until the train eventually came performance. The interest they showed, performed by German children, as I was to a stop near a small, forlorn village the warm reception I received from one of the 100 children of La Hille. After in the Haute-Garonne area of France, the children and their parents, and the my father’s deportation to Poland on 28 where we were accommodated in a barn sensitive way in which I was interviewed October 1938, our life in Berlin became belonging to the local squire. by the local paper and a German TV crew precarious and my mother took the ex- Life in the barn was extremely diffi- will remain a lasting memory for me. tremely courageous decision to put my cult: we slept on straw, had no running It was the first time for 75 years that I elder sister and me on a Kindertransport water or toilets, food was scarce, and had found myself alone in Germany – train leaving for Belgium, without a the winter of 1940 was particularly hard. surrounded entirely by non-Jews – and sponsor or the necessary entry permits, The following year we were moved to a felt at ease. It gave me hope that a new which, being Ostjuden, we were unable disused chateau in the Basses-Pyrénées, generation could heal some of the pain to obtain. where conditions were slightly better as inflicted by their forbears and create a After some very anxious moments we had beds to sleep on, though still no better future for mankind. at the border, we were allowed into running water or sanitation. Thus we be- Betty Bloom

AJR member awarded British Empire Medal JR member Thomas Eugene Ltd into the major public company Shaw (formerly Jurgen Eugene F. I. I. PLC (Footware Industry Investments). ASchonfeld) has been awarded He was active in promoting international a British Empire Medal in the 2014 trade and the company was a major New Year’s Honours List for his work manufacturing employer in the UK. He in helping those less fortunate than received a personal letter from Golda himself in both the Jewish and wider Meir with regard to developing trade community. between Israel and the UK. Born in Hamburg, Tommy, 85, Throughout his life Tommy has came to the UK alone in 1939 as a dedicated himself to the service of ten-year-old Jewish refugee. Not part others. For decades he was the unpaid of any organised evacuation, he was chairman of the charity Buckets and left to fend for himself. He eventually Spades, a Jewish home for mentally unfair adjudications. managed to find a place at Polton handicapped children of all religions. Today, Tommy, who lives in north- House refugee camp in Scotland, He also served as a volunteer prison west London, continues to contribute where he formed life-long friendships visitor, visiting lifers at Wormwood to the community, helping charities with fellow refugees. Scrubs; in the juvenile courts; and such as the Community Security Trust, Tommy developed the shoe as a tax commissioner helping those the Holocaust Educational Trust and manufacturing business T. E. Shaw appealing against what they saw as CancerBACUP.

3 journal FEBRuary 2014 Remembered at last ! rowing up in a small congrega- murders which had taken place. He positions and, in fact, the Montabaur tion in Newcastle upon Tyne, felt the memorial needed to be in the memorial was placed at the entrance Gwe were always taught Jew- centre of the town. Montabaur also to the town hall. ish morals and values by our parents mentioned that they had political prob- Reverend Bernd Koschland, who had and grandparents. Alongside this, we lems in reaching a consensus on such a arrived in England on a Kindertransport visited our synagogue weekly, made matter! Finally, both towns alluded to on the same day as our grandfather, Shabbat every Friday evening as a finance being a major problem. came over especially from London and family, and were always told in an Our father is not one for giving up spoke movingly. He led the mourners age-appropriate manner about our and the correspondence continued. from around the world reciting the grandparents’ terrible struggles in But in September 2011, frustrated by El Maleh Rachamim and leading the Europe under the Nazi regime. This the lack of progress, he asked for an Kaddish. made our Jewish roots an extremely opportunity to address the mayor and Around 30 descendants and their poignant issue. families travelled to Herborn from the Our paternal grandfather, Alfred USA, Israel and Europe, among them Stern, remains traumatised to this several who had never previously set day by the events he experienced foot on German soil but felt compelled during the Holocaust in Germany. An to attend and support this event. In only child, he managed to escape to Montabaur 36 descendants attended, England in March 1939, aged 13, on 29 of them from our own Stern family, the Kindertransport and never saw his half of whom we had never met. They parents or grandparents again. too came from all over the world. Our As 17- and 15-year-olds, we were parents were, of course, present, as taken to Germany in April 1999 by our were our aunt, Tina Kraus from North- parents, Monica and Gerald Stern. We wood, Middlesex, and the youngest visited the town of Montabaur, where family member, Ethan Stern, aged 16 our grandfather was born and where months – fourth generation! – from he and his parents, Willi and Betty Berkhamsted. Stern, had lived. We were all shocked The unveiling of each memorial to discover that Jews had inhabited was a civic event presided over by the the town since the 1300s. Yet the only mayors, the local MP and other digni- sign that a Jewish community had ever taries. We were so proud to witness existed there was a plaque on a super- Gerald Stern and sister Tina Kraus at the our father address the crowd of around market denoting where the synagogue north-facing side of the Herborn memorial 150 in Herborn and 200 in Montabaur! had stood until it was burned to the ‘Today,’ he said, ‘is a very important ground on Kristallnacht. town council in Montabaur personally. day, when this town has chosen to On returning home, our father Despite some opposition voiced at this remember its former Jewish citizens wrote to the mayor asking if the town meeting, the proposal for a Holocaust and to honour their memory with this would consider erecting a memorial to memorial at long last received approval prominent memorial. I hope that what all the Jews who had been deported some three months later. The installa- happened in the past, here in this town and murdered. No reply was received. tion of Stolpersteine was also finally and throughout Germany, will never be We subsequently discovered that agreed and, amazingly, many current forgotten.’ The events were covered on Montabaur had changed the name of residents kindly volunteered to pay local TV and in the press. its Judengasse street to Elisabethen- for these. Our father presented both mayors strasse and that it had not permitted A lobby by schoolchildren objecting with certificates from the Wannsee the installation of Stolpersteine (‘stum- to the removal of the name Judengasse Conference Memorial and Educational bling stones’). also ensured that it was reinstated, Site in Berlin. The certificates read ‘In All this inspired our father to con- though alongside its new name. recognition of the contribution made tinue corresponding with Montabaur’s Last year our parents visited and to remembering their Jewish citizens new mayor, Klaus Mies. He also wrote persuaded both mayors that the 75th who were murdered during the Holo- to the mayor of Herborn, where our anniversary of Kristallnacht in Novem- caust so that those dark days are never grandfather’s grandparents, David ber 2013 would be a fitting date for forgotten.’ and Rosa Löwenstein, had lived and unveiling the memorials. This seemed Over the last 14 years, our father from where our great-grandparents to focus their attention. has spent countless hours working and great-great-grandparents had Our parents submitted a design to achieve the objective of establish- been deported. Various excuses were for the Herborn memorial, naming 63 ing proper memorials in these towns. offered. In Herborn it was suggested victims. The town of Montabaur held Others should be encouraged to do that a memorial erected to the fallen a competition and the sculptor Hans the same as many towns in Germany, soldiers of the two World Wars was Bernhard-Olleck was commissioned Austria and other parts of Europe have the family’s memorial too. Montabaur to design their memorial, naming 24 sought to hide unpalatable aspects of proposed that the Jewish cemetery, victims. their local history. which is out of town and locked, would On Friday 8 November, the Herborn For our father and our family, es- be a fitting place. However, our father memorial was finally inaugurated. A tablishing these memorials was a very insisted that the purpose of a memo- similar ceremony took place in Mon- emotional process and it is satisfying to rial was to act as a lasting reminder in tabaur on Sunday 10 November. Both the family’s home town of the horrific memorials were in very prominent continued opposite 

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nd I remember that line spo- our exiled second violinist Berthold ken by Max Adrian, the actor ‘Yes, I Salander. Despite her 93 years, Aand comedian, in drag, gently Charlotte has come all the way from mocking the Viennese refugees with remember New York with her daughter. Roger their nostalgia for the coffee houses Vienna’ Salander lives in Breitenfurt and is and elegant lifestyle! That must have known to many of us as a clarinetist been during the war, when bitter-sweet by Hedi Schnabl-Argent and teacher at the Conservatory. revues were still acceptable and before We welcome Lilly Drukker, the tion of Vorstand – it is a mixture of head, we knew the full story. daughter of our exiled first violinist chief, principal, chief executive, director, I have always remembered Vienna. I Josef Geringer, who has come from chairman – but Dr Hellsberg is none of was ten years old when we left, just six Philadelphia with her husband. She these. He plays the violin as a member weeks before the war, my parents and is 86 years old and a stellar witness of the orchestra; he is not the leader, he I together – the luckiest day of my life. to history. We greatly admired her is the elected representative and speaks Very few in our large family were as appearance in the documentary for the musicians. lucky. My childish memories of Vienna, Schatten der Vergangenheit (Shad- Dr Hellsberg welcomed the children, coloured by my parents’ stories of cul- ows of the Past). grandchildren and great-grandchildren tural and intellectual pursuits, by their We are also pleased that Eva of the musicians who ‘disappeared’. Then appreciation of beauty and their love Perigo and her son, Peter Lancaster, came the moment: he asked the players of the city, were somewhat clouded by are here today. They live in England sitting at the desks of the victims to leave my experience of exclusion from school and are the granddaughter and and every activity I enjoyed, of bewilder- great-grandson of our former oboist, ment and fear and humiliation. There is nothing which can repair Armin Tyroler, who was murdered in Like many of us, I have been invited one’s own mistakes and omissions: 1944 in Auschwitz. At the time of her several times to visit Vienna as a guest what happened or didn’t happen is escape from Austria, Eva Perigo was of the Jewish Welcome Service (JWS). now a part of history … We hope that just two and a half years old. Twice I made an excuse, the third time – through our invitation and your time Two other relatives of persecuted last October – my family persuaded me spent with the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic musicians to go and I did. Other Viennese refugees now residing in Austria whom have written about the kindness and you will be assured that the we also welcome are Mag. Helen dedication of the largely non-Jewish or- sufferings and sacrifices of your Rupertsberger-Kopp, the niece of ganisers, the generosity and efficiency fathers, grandfathers and relatives our second violinist Leopold Föderl, of the JWS, the appropriately sensitive have sharpened our senses to the who returned to Vienna after the war programme. And all that is true. There ethical and moral responsibilities and taught here at the Academy. We also welcome Mr Kurt Schmid, the was much talk of reconciliation, res- which our orchestra must exercise. toration, recompense, resilience and nephew of Rudolf Jettel, our princi- restitution. But in a fabled coffee house, Your ancestors have the unique pal clarinetist for many years and a I heard an older couple talk about Aus- place which they deserve, in our prominent teacher. tria’s need for a ‘strong leader’. consciousness and in our hearts. I am very happy that all these The gracious grandeur of the city honoured guests were able to accept moved me but I couldn’t feel com- the stage and the family members of the our invitation and spend a week in fortable. Then something happened victims to take their places. Then he ad- Vienna, where, in addition to today’s that transformed my visit. The Vienna dressed the musicians and the ghosts of rehearsal, they will visit our museum Philharmonic had issued an invitation musicians and their descendants: and archives and hear the concert on to the descendants of exiled and mur- Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of Sunday. At this time, I would like to dered Jewish players to coincide with the Vienna Philharmonic:* thank Mag. Bernadette Mayrhofer, our stay. We joined together for some This is a very special day which is who not only compiled the detailed events but we were not programmed unique in the annals of our Orchestra’s and well-researched biographies of to attend concerts. It just happened rich history. It is very significant for us the exiled and murdered Philhar- that on a free afternoon a few of us all to have with us today a group of monic members for our website but were offered the opportunity to listen people who are the descendants of also personally established contact to a rehearsal of Anton Bruckner’s Fifth members of our Orchestra who were with their relatives. It is she who Symphony. That was all we expected: exiled or murdered during the era of paved the way for the presence of the privilege of hearing music in the National Socialism. On behalf of the our guests here today and it was she gorgeous, gilded Musikverein (all per- Vienna Philharmonic, I extend to them who, together with Simone Iberer, formances were sold out). We were the warmest of welcomes. dealt with the logistical aspects of seated in a box next to the stage; the Three of these people are Char- flights and assistance. orchestra was already on stage. Enter lotte Slodki, her daughter Linda, and We owe additional gratitude to Dr Hellsberg, the Vorstand of the Vienna her nephew Roger Salander – the the Jewish Welcome Service as well Phiharmonic. There is no exact transla- daughter and two grandchildren of as to Mag. Susanne Trauneck and Mag. Milli Segal. It is fitting that our guests have been integrated REMEMBERED AT LAST! continued into the Jewish Welcome Service’s programme. This has special mean- know that future generations can now We could not be prouder of what our ing for me because it reminds me so visit the towns and pay their respects father has achieved and it just proves vividly of our collaboration with Leon to family members who perished. that persistence pays off. We are very Zelman, who was so closely involved We felt overcome with emotion grateful that these imprints of our with us, and with me personally, while attending these unveilings and family and their plight are now prop- regarding the Memorial Concert were delighted to meet – in many erly recorded so that they may never in Mauthausen in 2000. I believe cases for the first time – the large be forgotten. number of relatives who were present. Joel Stern and Jenna Stern continued on page 9

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the tragedy of the massive loss incurred by the Holocaust to treat minorities justly today, those murdered millions will have died in vain. Ruth Barnett, London NW6

OBSTACLE COURSE Sir – Come on, Anthony Grenville (‘The Home Office and the Kindertransport Par- The Editor reserves the right ents’, January)! Stop white-washing the to shorten correspondence British government over the failure to save submitted for publication the lives of parents of not just Kindertrans- port refugees but also of all other refugee children permitted entry. Of course it was the declaration of war ‘Elite Club’ that put an end to the ability to get the Sir – I was very interested to read Peter Sir – Might I suggest that Peter Phillips parents out of Germany, Austria, etc, but Phillips’s ‘Anglo-Jewry vs Continental looks back at how German Jewry anybody who wasn’t swept up in the fever Jewry: Time Heals’ in your last issue, received the Ostjuden – like my own of ‘peace in our time’ with worthless pieces although I don’t share his opinion that parents – who came to Germany after of paper knew perfectly well that sooner or the ‘so-called animosity’ is over. the First World War, without money or later – and likely sooner – there would be a His article did, however, make me other worldly goods, in order to escape war with Hitler. Churchill for starters knew smile when he summed up ‘Was Anglo- the anti-Semitism rampant in Poland this perfectly well even if the UK in March Jewry welcoming to Continental Jewry? and to create a better future for their 1938 was not ready to fight a war. Yes, No. Was Continental Jewry arrogant children. there was bureaucracy from the Nazis but towards Anglo-Jewry? Yes.’ They certainly were not received with the British Sir Humphreys were the prime My mother-in-law came from a very open arms, nor was help given to them contributors to what my late mother and German middle-class, secular back- by the long-established Jewish commu- many other refugee children had to live ground only to discover, on her arrival nity, who professed to be Germans of with for the rest of their lives. in the UK as a political refugee in 1938, Jewish persuasion. The Ostjuden man- Sadly, it is no different today, with what that she was looked down on by the aged to make their own way in life by we are told is a war-fatigued USA under Anglo-Jewish community. She never felt working hard to create homes for their Obama’s leadership failing to stand up to part of their ‘elite club’, always feeling families and they made sure their chil- Iran’s nuclear machinations – never mind like an outsider until the day she died. dren received the education which had the countless more Syrian and Lebanese Her left-wing politics didn’t go down been denied to them. They became good citizens who will be killed in the next few too well either. citizens, paid their taxes, and obeyed the years as a result. Moreover, my best friend’s mother, laws of the land. Peter Simpson, Jerusalem who hailed from a similar background, When, after my father’s deportation felt equally ostracised and misunder- to Poland in October 1938, my elder Anthony Grenville: Hardly anyone could stood by the local Jewish community. In sister attempted to get us onto a Kinder- have predicted that war would break out fact, during both their lifetimes, neither transport, she was told in no uncertain as early as September 1939. The essential made any close Jewish friends from the terms ‘We have to look after our own precondition for Hitler’s invasion of Poland UK, feeling more at ease and accepted (German-Jewish) children first’ – some- in that month was the Nazi-Soviet Pact of within the society of other non-Jewish thing she has never forgotten. Inciden- 23 August 1939, a diplomatic thunderbolt continentals and fellow German-Jewish tally, my father too was drafted into the that took the whole world by surprise. refugees. As a consequence, both Austrian-Hungarian army during the my husband and my best friend have First World War – but, unlike Peter Phil- POWERFUL PLAY themselves never felt part of the Jewish lips’s father, he was not presented with Sir – The reason I was prompted to write community in this country either and so a silver beaker by his regiment. was Ruth Barnett’s review of the play the story goes on …. In this instance, Hitler made sure Kindertransport in your January issue. As Alison Prax, London, NW11 there was ‘no time to heal’. chair of Newcastle’s Standing Advisory Betty Bloom, London NW3 Council on Religious Education (SACRE), I Sir – So Peter Phillips agrees with me discovered through a colleague that Kenton about the prejudice of English Jews A TRULY MEMORABLE EVENT Academy, a local state school, has the play regarding refugees from Germany. But Sir – The service in Hope Square on 1 De- on the AS syllabus. he rather spoils it by ending his article cember to commemorate the Kindertrans- I offered to go in to talk to them as a stating that now, after many years, ‘we port, all the children who did not get this second-generation AJR member and as are all British Jews, living together in chance and perished, and all the parents I know the play quite well. I also shared comparative harmony. Time heals.’ who were murdered, was a truly memora- my mother’s story: she came from Ber- What rubbish! First of all his state- ble event. My heartfelt thanks to the AJR lin to Newcastle around the time of the ment that we all live ‘in comparative and World Jewish Relief for organising it. Kindertransport, though she was fortunate harmony’ – either we live in harmony or Some very moving and powerful words enough to have a sister here who could we don’t! And as for his view that ‘time were expressed, especially by the Chief vouch for her. heals’ – I assume he means the Kinder. Rabbi and the organisers themselves. The It delights me that such a powerful play, It’s fast becoming an academic matter speech by Communities and Local Gov- is on the AS English literature syllabus. The for the last of us and it won’t be long ernment Minister Eric Pickles, read out by questions were intelligent and incisive. It before we have disappeared through the Henry Grunwald as the Minister was ill, was also prompts me to ask how many other ravages of time – healed or not healed. also moving. schools in the country are studying the text Ernest G. Kolman, Greenford, Middx I feel strongly that unless we learn from and how we could find out.

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Incidentally, the school is hoping to take defence of his father. but we have participated in it, as has my its students to see a performance of the A member of the AJR whose staple partner, Dr Frank Beck. play. Typically, the nearest venue is Derby – newspaper diet is the Daily Mail read my Last April, my son and daughter attend- the North East is so often forgotten. letter on the subject of press bias in the last ed a communal commemoration service Deanna Van der Velde, AJR Journal and announced that she had no outside the apartment block in Vienna’s Newcastle upon Tyne idea what that letter was about. No wonder 3rd District from which my late husband’s the press can get away with murder! family were deported. There was an ad- NO WISH TO RETURN TO VIENNA Marc Schatzberger, York dress (in three languages) by the Israeli Sir – I arrived in England on a Kinder- ambassador as well as by local non-Jewish transport in 1939 aged 13. My father was A QUESTION OF BIAS dignitaries. Similar ceremonies have taken deported to Auschwitz in 1942. I didn’t Sir – Does Marc Schatzberger (December, place all over Vienna and are continuing, return to Vienna until 1953. In 1954 I took Letters) really believe that The Guardian is as Kay Sharpe is now aware. I should also my two daughters there to visit my mater- still the most objective newspaper in this mention that much of the funding for this nal grandmother. Subsequently we went country? The fact that he has read it since work has come from non-Jewish sources, to Austria on skiing/summer holidays but it was called The Manchester Guardian is as we found out from talks at the Austrian not back to Vienna until last year. When hardly evidence! Together with its sister Cultural Centre in London, where we met the Austrians elected Waldheim as their paper, The Observer, it is the most anti- some of these dedicated fundraisers. president I decided never to set foot in the Israel newspaper of all and its views are Furthermore, ever since June 2009 Frank country again. very biased to the left. There is no doubt has been involved in the translation into I am a great admirer of Rachel White- that whistleblower Edward Snowden is a English of the leaflets which are periodically read’s sculptures and followed her long traitor and it is typical of the Guardian to produced about the Stolpersteine project. battle with the Austrian government over take up his nasty cause. This was after he had arranged for a plaque the acceptance of her Holocaust memorial. As for Mr Schatzberger’s attack on to be laid in the 9th District for his father, In 2000, after five years, the government fi- the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, who was murdered in Auschwitz. nally agreed to its erection on Judenplatz in whom he calls ‘inept’, has he looked at Mary Brainin Huttrer, London the Inner City! This was one of the reasons the worldwide ‘education’ league tables, why I went to Vienna: I was very moved by printed recently, that show Britain near THE PAINTINGS OF ISIDOR the thoughtful simplicity and appropriate- the bottom? Mr Gove is trying to restore KAUFMANN ness of the design. our curriculum to what it was when we Sir – An avid reader of your excellent maga- My youngest daughter, a historian, had O-Levels – when children weren’t zine, I was delighted to see in the ‘Art Notes’ wanted to see where I came from, so I given a triple choice of answers and didn’t in your December issue an article about agreed to return to Vienna with her for a have modules which parents could do for the National Gallery exhibition ‘Facing the five-day visit last July. We were unanimous them. He wants to concentrate on the 3 Modern: The Portrait in Vienna 1960’. The that we had no wish ever to go back there Rs and return our standards to what they exhibition included a painting – Young again. were when we had grammar schools and Rabbi from N. – by Isidor Kaufmann, which Elinor Adler, London W7 an educational system of which we were was reproduced in your magazine. proud. Is Mr Gove ‘inept’ because the Isidor Kaufmann was my grandfather. A FIVE-MINUTE SLOT Guardian said so? He was a very well-known painter of Jew- Sir – A German friend (non-Jewish) in Professor Leslie Baruch Brent too con- ish subjects, very much recognised in the Munich sent me the following from siders the Guardian the ‘leading paper of art world. A retrospective exhibition of his Deutschland Funk: ‘Montag 2 Dezember the world for its investigative journalism’. works was held by the city of Vienna in 9.05, Kalenderblatt Vor 75 Jahren: Der As a scientist, surely he needs proof for April 1995 to which I and my nearest family erste Kindertransport zur Rettung jüdischer a statement such as this? Or perhaps his were invited. Five of his paintings are also Kinder trifft in Großbritannien ein’ (Monday, evidence is that the Guardian printed part of a current exhibition at the Israel 2 December, 9.05, Calendar Page 75 Years Snowden’s secrets irrespective of the fact Museum, and the Jewish Museum in New Ago: The First Kindertransport for the Res- that it jeopardised our country? This is not York too has some of his paintings. I possess cue of Jewish Children Arrives in Great Brit- investigative journalism – it is irresponsible a portfolio in which the afore-mentioned ain). Admittedly it’s only a five-minute slot, journalism. Perhaps if someone as irrespon- painting in London is included. nevertheless …. Ruth David, Leicester sible as Edward Snowden had given the Kitty Schafer (née Kaufmann), Guardian information about Bletchley Park Hans Schafer (husband), Sue Walsh MILIBAND AND THE MAIL during the Second World War it would have (great-granddaughter), Toronto, Canada Sir – Anthony Grenville’s historical per- printed that too! spective on the workings of the British If the Professor abhors the Murdoch LONG LIVE AMÉLIE HOUSE! press (December 2013) surpasses even his press and hates the Daily Mail – which I Sir – We all knew it was only a matter of customary excellence and has acquainted do too – may I suggest he tries the Daily time. The attendance figures dropped, me – no babe-in-arms! – with skulduggery Telegraph. It may have a right-wing bias but the expenses remained, the cost of con- of which I had barely an inkling. I sup- it does not lean to the right as far as the tinuing on that basis made the project too pose trying to get this marvellous piece of Guardian leans to the left. And most impor- expensive to run – the Day Centre had to journalism published in the national press tant, the Telegraph is unbiased about Israel. close. Now, it is more important than ever might be too naive? Peter Phillips, Loudwater, Herts to remain optimistic and think positively. The brief history of the Miliband family As I write, we are entering the New Year as refugees from the Nazis reminded me STOLPERSTEINE PROJECT full of hope. of the Guardian’s reaction to the Daily Sir – I am writing in response to Kay The Day Centre is closed – long live Mail’s attack in September 2013 on Ralph Sharpe’s letter (January) to say how sur- Amélie House! Miliband. Within a couple of days the big, prised I was that she believes ‘probably few I would like to take this opportunity to bad Guardian published a long, closely others in the UK know about the [Stolper- thank everyone at the AJR for having done reasoned accord with Ed Miliband’s anger, steine] project.’ Not only have my children an excellent job of running the Centre for followed a few days later by similarly sym- and I, as well as numerous friends of ours, many years and for now working with pathetic comments on David Miliband’s known about the above for several years continued on page 16 

7 journal FEBRuary 2014

portrait of Lord Mansfield stares down in disapproval at the muddy feet on the Persian carpet. The sculptures include a Socratic bust REVIEWS with a carefully sculpted curly beard. Plenty of material to think ART Some are original marble and some, like about the statue of Mercury, are plaster copies. DIFFERENT HORRORS, SAME HELL: NOTES A cast of Flora and a Muse is taken from GENDER AND THE HOLOCAUST Syon House in west London. GLORIA TESSLER (Stephen S. Weinstein Series in Post- The Orangery is now peopled by Holocaust Studies) children with ipads sitting on the floor. edited and introduced by Myrna fter a closure of ten months, it Each room has a linen-bound guide. Some Goldenberg and Amy H. Shapiro is worth paying a visit to the renewed pieces have been added to reflect Seattle and London: University of refurbished Kenwood House, the wishes of Kenwood’s last owner, the Washington Press, 2013, 300 pp. homeA to great paintings by Gainsborough, 1st Earl of Iveagh, who donated the house paperback Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Dyck, to the nation in the 1920s. his volume, edited by two American among 63 from the Earl of Iveagh’s The paintings always surprise, even academics, contains 12 contributions Collection. though bad lighting can make viewing Ton the subject of gender and the The change is imperceptible. The a struggle. Some early Turners beneath a Holocaust. The first part focuses on the elegant Georgian house has been repainted high atrium were almost invisible because history of feminist theory and gender the frame lights were off and others are analysis of the Holocaust; the second part and its flagship Great Library, established contains case studies on the theme. by its first owner, William Murray, 1st Earl hung too high. In a room full of pallid, Any contribution that moves away from of Mansfield, has a repainted ceiling in limpid beauties, you can find Sir Joshua generalisations towards the particularities pastels of pink, green and blue, inset with Reynolds’s cloudy skies and prayerful of the Shoah and its victims and survivors ladies, Gainsborough’s Lady Briscoe and is to be welcomed and this is no exception. Her Dog, and even a small Constable. In the introduction, the editors outline the A must-see is Rembrandt’s marvellous history of the small number of influential studies on this subject but argue that self-portrait as an older man: his calm and the area is still under-researched. In the wise eyes, his bulky body, simple white initial chapter in the first part of the book, cap, and the sense of just having wiped Doris L. Bergen seems to reiterate the his palette clean to surprise us with his introductory remarks and this may be seen fresh candour. Also Van Dyck’s Princess as one introductory contribution too many. Henrietta with her little black page boy However, Bergen focuses on the male and Vermeer’s Guitar Player, showing a and female perpetrators as embedded in their families – an interesting area for rosy-cheeked woman seen off-centre and investigation – goes on to discuss the glancing sharply over her right shoulder. enmeshed relationship between Jewish Franz Hals’s arresting portrait of Pieter victims and gentile perpetrators and van den Broecke, in a lace collar, almost as bystanders, and ends with a discussion of familiar as the Laughing Cavalier, grins the portrayal of the mother-daughter bond beneath his untidy brown hair. in Claude Lanzmann’s film Shoah, subjects Ferdinand Bol, a pupil of Rembrandt, that are taken up later in the volume. Further contributions in the first part painted his Portrait of a Lady with a of the volume focus on ‘Philosophy in Johannes Vermeer (1632-75) The Guitar detailed white ruff setting off her pellucid the Feminine and the Holocaust Witness’ Player Kenwood House, The Iveagh Bequest, skin. Reynold’s Miss Cox and Her Niece (Dorota Glowacka), with special attention London seems a charming indulgence in a house given to Hannah Arendt and Sarah full of formal, wistful ladies. And then Kofman. Glowacka concludes that their miniatures by Antonio Zucchi, the gold comes Landseer’s Hawking in Olden works may be considered ‘acts of the leaf detail hidden by removable paint. It philosophical witnessing of the Holocaust Times, in which a hawk is flung at a heron, in the feminine’ and wonders whether has been refurbished for the first time in whose death throes in a flurry of wings over two centuries in accordance with its there is a connection between philosophy’s fill the sky. inability to confront the Holocaust and the original design. Angelica Kauffman’s cameo self- neglect of women’s voices. Next there is The exterior details, created by the portrait shows her as the Muse of Design a chapter on the anti-Judaism of Simone 18th-century Scottish architect John with Poetry. Other famous works include Weil (Rochelle L. Millen), an interesting Adam, look cleaner now, but in a strange George Romney’s Spinstress, featuring the and well-written exposé which possibly way more synthetic than before the lacks focus on the theme of the volume, beautiful Lady Hamilton, his lover, in a largely due to the fact that Weil herself died Heritage Lottery Fund, ArtFund and long white shawl. Wolfson Foundation poured £5.95 in 1943. Amy H. Shapiro follows with a chapter on the representation of women in million into it. the films Schindler’s List and Black Harvest, This essentially pretty – almost investigating the objectification of the chocolate-box – house with its pediment Annely Juda Fine Art female body in both films. This chapter, sand-painted to look like stone and 23 Dering Street clearly a study of specific cases, makes the its Doric and Corinthian pillars, is set (off New Bond Street) reader doubt the usefulness of dividing the Tel: 020 7629 7578 book into two parts. Myrna Goldenberg in the rolling grounds of Hampstead’s Fax: 020 7491 2139 Kenwood, beautiful in all weathers, even concludes the first part of the book with CONTEMPORARY PAINTING a historical study of ‘Rassenschande’: only on the muddy, windswept day I saw it. A AND SCULPTURE continued opposite 

8 FEBRuary 2014 journal men could be convicted of race defilement  'Yes, I remember Vienna' continued from page 5 but adjudication during the Third Reich was irregular and Goldenberg cites some he would have been very pleased with for the here and now but, as we interesting cases. today’s events. look toward the future, we have The second part of this volume contains Leon Zelman, whose family was the responsibility of dealing with two chapters which may be of particular eradicated and who himself survived the Orchestra’s past. With this in interest to AJR readers. Mary J. Gallant several concentration camps, always mind we see ourselves as an as- writes on gender and the Kindertransport, endeavoured to present the Vienna of sociation that has existed for 171 a long overdue subject. It is difficult to today to exiles and survivors of the Na- years and of which every musician tease out gender differences as defining tional Socialist dictatorship. In his spirit, holds permanent membership. This factors between male and female ladies and gentleman, we introduce to is especially true of our exiled and Kindertransportees rather than see them you the Vienna Philharmonic of today. murdered colleagues. Twenty-five enmeshed with other factors such as age We are well aware that we live not only years ago we paid tribute to them and background. Gallant does not present in our concert programmes, the any original research; for example she same as we have done this year on does not discuss the fact that many foster our website. This Saturday we will parents wanted to look after girls rather of people (she claims that there are no ‘races’ and that we are all members of unveil a commemorative plaque in than boys. the Vienna Philharmonic Museum. Gaby R. Glassman writes about ‘Survivor the ‘human race’) for all negative aspects But the most important fact is Mothers and Their Daughters’, using of life. Although both Jews and Roma material from the ‘second generation’ were persecuted and many were eventu- that the memory of the victims groups she has been running since 1989. ally murdered by the Nazi regime, it is from among our ranks is of special Outlining the various difficulties with often forgotten to include the Roma in concern to us – that their memory relationships between survivor or refugee memorial occasions and there are few remains vivid. That is why we wish mothers and their daughters, Glassman is monuments to commemorate them. The to welcome you here, on the stage able to provide analysis from larger studies author points out that the percentage of of the world’s most beautiful and her personal practice. It is clear that Roma murdered by the Nazis is consider- concert hall, where your fathers some of the difficulties stem from the ably higher than that of Jews as it was and grandfathers performed and fact that in the overwhelming majority of easier for the latter to emigrate from where they made their contribu- cases the mother was the primary caregiver Nazi-dominated areas. tions to the Vienna Philharmonic. The book explains why it is wrong to and was often unsupported, mentally and We do this neither out of a sense consider the Roma ‘dirty and unhygienic’. physically alike. of duty nor as Vergangenheitsbe- Themes of further chapters in the Obviously there are some among them, as there are in all groups, to whom this wältigung – coming to terms with second part of the reviewed volume the past. I regard this expression include representations of women in art might apply but they have very strict rules about cleanliness which are gener- as problematical as it implies the (Björn Krondorfer and Karen Baldner), concept of making amends. But the murder of the Jewish mother (David ally followed. Attempts to settle Roma in social housing have often failed as many there is no way to make amends Patterson), an investigation of the gender for a murder and there is no way relations in two particular families (Suzanne of them do not wish to abandon their travelling lifestyle. to make amends for the damage to Brown-Fleming), and an interview with a soul caused by persecution and Ruth Klüger (Britta Frede-Wenger). The book includes a number of stories expulsion. There is nothing which Although there are weaknesses, the told by Roma themselves which are quite book provides plenty of material to think interesting. But explanations of what can repair one’s own mistakes about and develop further and I would happened to Jews in Nazi Germany are, and omissions: what happened certainly invite the interested reader to of course, unnecessary for us as we have or didn’t happen is now a part of make up his or her own mind. experienced all that ourselves. The author history. Andrea Hammel provides a list of books and films by and But in the awareness of our own about the Roma and Travellers which the history and our own responsibility reader might find useful in order to gain we can establish new parameters. further insight into the subjects covered as Combatting prejudice against We hope that through our invita- well as a list of organisations which offer tion and your time spent with the the Roma learning material. Vienna Philharmonic, you will be The book is self-published (i.e. with- JEWS AND GYPSIES: MYTHS AND assured that the sufferings and REALITY out the services of a professional editor) and it is therefore not surprising that a sacrifices of your fathers, grandfa- by Ruth Barnett few printing errors and repetitions have thers and relatives have sharpened CreateSpace Independent Publishing slipped through. The quality of the photo- our senses to the ethical and moral Platform, 2013, 146 pp. paperback, graphic reproductions could be improved responsibilities which our orches- available from amazon.co.uk but would probably increase the selling tra must exercise. Your ancestors uth Barnett, a member of the AJR, price unduly. have the unique place which they has made it her mission to combat Taking everything into consideration, deserve, in our consciousness and Rthe widespread prejudice against I feel this book is not really meant for us in our hearts. Gypsies – or, as they prefer to be called, AJR members – anybody looking for in- The conductor rose to his feet Roma. This book seems intended primarily formation about the Roma and Travellers and the musicians silently exchanged for school students and its style is there- would probably do better to read one of places again with the descendants. fore fairly simple and straightforward. The the books listed such as Gypsies under The emotional rehearsal of stirring author frequently addresses the reader the Swastika by Donald Kenrick and Grat- music composed by a devout Chris- with direct questions or statements and tan Puxon, or From ‘Race Science’ to the tian seemed fitting. It finally gave us the book reads at times like a political Camps: The Gypsies during the Second permission to weep. pamphlet. World War by the Gypsy Research Centre. Ms Barnett finds that anti-Jewish and Having said that, the book may be of *Translated from the German by the anti-Roma views have much in common: particular interest now as so many media Vienna Philharmonic’s retired trom- they are both the result of dissatisfac- organs and politicians have expressed bone player, William McElheney, and tion with the current state of affairs and fears of a sudden influx of Roma. reproduced here by kind permission the perceived need to blame a group Fritz Lustig of Dr Hellsberg.

9 journal FEBRuary 2014 After 75 Years can now retire in peace: at last I have but also for Austria’s younger generation achieved what I have wanted to see It was at that point back as a whole. Ihappen ever since I and all the other in 1938 that I decided Prior to the event, I was instructed Jewish students were expelled from one that if ever I got out of how to pull the string to unveil the of Vienna’s high schools in March 1938. Nazi Austria and were to plaque and asked to speak for about We were sent with pupils from other marry and have children, I 10 minutes. As I had by then related my schools in Vienna to a catchment school would do all in my power refugee experience at numerous schools where we were punished by committed both in the UK and Austria, my brain was Nazis. I promised myself at the time that, to give my children a programmed to tell my story. I didn’t if I survived the persecution, I would do Jewish identity so that they therefore prepare a speech. However, my best to persuade the school that had wouldn’t feel as devastated when I pulled the string and saw the 120 expelled me and all the other Jewish as I were they to encounter names, almost all of which I remembered students to formally admit the injustice the persecution I was – and knew that very few of those done to us. suffering. I compiled a students had survived the Holocaust - I The expulsion from school was for us ‘job specification’ for my was so moved that what I said came from Jewish students the first step towards a husband and was later the heart and not the brain. difficult future. Hitler stole our youth; we fortunate enough to find All of a sudden, I felt the entire were catapulted into adulthood. Many of Holocaust with its unforgivable atrocities us had to make important decisions for ‘Mr Right’. drowning me, though I was of course our elders which would decide whether pleased that the school that had expelled our family would live or die. me some time to recover before I could me and all the other Jewish students had It is often overlooked that those of begin speaking to the waiting students. at last formally condemned what had us who survived did so only because Afterwards, when I chatted with Mag. been done to us. Our adolescence had individuals, organisations and/or Guenter Maresch, the present school been stolen from us. I also felt resentful countries helped us. Unfortunately, director, I pointed out that I thought it and couldn’t help but think what had there were not enough helping hands. important that there should be a plaque been done to me. My emotions worked To ensure the world will be a better place near the school entrance formally con- overtime and reminded me how much in the future the young must realise that demning the inhuman treatment meted my colleagues and I had identified with it is everyone’s moral duty to help those out to the Jewish students; such a plaque this high school and the plans each of us who are being persecuted for no reason would also help ensure that the students had had for our future. All these plans other than that they are of a different who had suffered the unjust expulsion had collapsed when we were expelled. religion, race, gender, etc. would never be forgotten. It was especially difficult for those of us Sixty-five years after the Holocaust The present director of the school from assimilated families. numerous schools in Vienna still showed clearly realised the importance of my It was at that point back in 1938 that no awareness of the part they had played request when I mentioned it to him in I decided that if ever I got out of Nazi in those years. This obliviousness towards November 2012. Soon after he made Austria and were to marry and have crimes that had been committed made a group of the school’s older students children, I would do all in my power to me feel very angry in 2003, when I was responsible for compiling the names of give my children a Jewish identity so that invited to visit the Austrian capital. The all Jewish students expelled from the they wouldn’t feel as devastated as I were school that had expelled me had adopted school following Hitler’s annexation of they to encounter the persecution I was the name Erich Fried Realgymnasium Austria as well as for producing a plaque suffering. I compiled a ‘job specification’ but nowhere was there any indication containing all their names. Earlier last for my husband and was later fortunate of how many Jewish students had been year he informed me that my wish had enough to find ‘Mr Right’. This brought expelled in 1938 or any condemnation been fulfilled. Moreover, he told me, he me back to the event and, looking at of that deed. I wrote to the then school was preparing an event for the unveiling the plaque, I began to feel proud of my director suggesting it was high time of the plaque and he invited me not only school and thanked the director and for the school to condemn what had to unveil it but also to speak as part of all present for having made my dream happened to the Jewish students in the programme. I couldn’t believe this come true. Though I’m not fully aware March 1938 and display their names so would really happen, but it did! of everything I said in my speech, it must that they would never be forgotten. I The event was organised extremely have been very moving judging by the received no reply. impressively. Many of the school’s staff tears shed by many of those present and In the last few years the Austrian participated; representatives of the the beautiful flowers the school’s director Gedenkdienst (Austrian Holocaust Me- authorities and other important people presented to me. morial Service) and the London Jewish were invited and turned up, all praising T. Scarlett Epstein Cultural Centre have arranged for us the school for having organised the Jewish refugees settled in the UK to event. Mrs Brandsteidl, the head of the relate our refugee experiences at British Vienna Education Authority, for instance, www.fishburnbooks.com and Austrian schools, including the one praised my perseverance as well as the Jonathan Fishburn which expelled me. The talks we have school’s director for organising such a buys and sells Jewish and given have added reality to the com- great occasion. Many schoolchildren Hebrew books, ephemera and pulsory Holocaust studies. Each time I items of Jewish interest. participated in the event, playing music He is a member of the Antiquarian entered the school from which I had been and reciting poems composed for the Booksellers Association. expelled I couldn’t help but relive the occasion while their parents watched. Contact Jonathan on frightful experience we Jewish young- Events such as this are clearly not only an 020 8455 9139 or 07813 803 889 sters had suffered in 1938. It always took inspiration for the students of the school for more information

10 FEBRuary 2014 journal The right climate ARTS AND EVENTS JANUARY DIARY thought I was past the age for refugees and their descendants with or epiphanies but one cannot choose the without gentile partners, with not one Fri 7 Lunchtime Screening: Lieder ohne Itime for a revelation: the revelation bona fide Englishman – Jewish or other- Worte, Images of Memory At Wiener Library, 1.00-2.00 pm. Barbara Loftus participated decides when its It’s time to come clean: I am wise – in sight.) time has come. Mine It’s time to come in exhibitions and events in Berlin held to commemorate 80 years since the Nazi takeover came one evening, a a snob, and generalisations clean: I am a snob, and are the snob’s oxygen. I do of power. She exhibited at the Ephraim short while ago, after generalisations are the Palais Stadtmuseum with the exhibition watching a television not feel truly at home among snob’s oxygen. I do ‘Lieder ohne Worte, Images of Memory’, a programme on the the English, and ill at ease not feel truly at home cycle of paintings prompted by her mother American musical among the English, Hildegard Barsch’s unexpected disclosure of in the company of English memories concerning Loftus’s Jewish family theatre. The message Jews. I consider the typical and ill at ease in the in Berlin before and during the Holocaust. The was loud and clear: Germanophone refugee (i.e. company of English exhibition was accompanied by a 30-minute this particular art me) better educated, more Jews. I consider the film made by the artist, which will be screened form and, to an typical Germanophone at this event. Barbara Loftus will also be in refined, than his English peer. conversation with Julia Winckler, a specialist in almost equal extent, refugee (i.e. me) better archival and memory studies. Admission free the movie business, was created by educated, more refined, than his Eng- but booking essential, tel 020 7636 7247 Jews – a massive contribution to the lish peer, who did not make the detour Wed 19 B’nai B’rith Jerusalem Lodge. Brian cultural life of the nation and its hold via Germany, Austria, Switzerland (the Nathan, ‘The Jewish Contribution to Popular on the international imagination. Marx-Freud-Einstein triangle) but took Music in the 20th Century’ At home of Sue The lesson? When Jews act as the short cut from Poland, Russia, etc Raingold, 2.30 pm. Tel 020 8907 4553 messengers of the Muses or operate in to London’s East End and thence to the territory where art and commerce Stamford Hill and The Bishop’s Avenue, overlap, they leave their mark. Wherever bypassing the gas chambers and much lobby that can make Congress quake. they are allowed to do so, they season else besides. As for a Jewish lobby in this country, the native pie. Only in America are they There are inconsistencies in this analy- forget it. Years ago, I was part of an not just seasoning – they are pie. sis which I recognise. The majority of attempt to get one going and the This has explained – too late to creators of American popular entertain- fiercest resistance to our efforts, to the act upon it – a recurring experience ment are the very people with whom I point of downright hostility, came from that has puzzled and pleased me. don’t mix in England. I don’t know what certain sections of the Anglo-Jewish Whenever I arrived at JFK on my makes them more palatable in Holly- establishment. frequent trips to New York I had my wood; it could be the rough environment I understood none of this when I adrenaline rush, a sense of heightened against which they don’t stand out; it arrived in this country, lucky to be let in, anticipation that owed nothing to could be the leavening of refugees such lucky to be alive, thankful and anxious free champagne on Concorde. Elation as Lang, Lubitsch, Loewe, Lamarr, Lenya to show my gratitude. But I have never turned my head. Great things might (confining myself to one initial letter felt that I belonged here, that I was happen at any moment. Suddenly keeps the list within bounds). other than a guest, respectful of my sharper, cleverer, I felt twice the man I Why the relative paucity of the Jewish hosts and generously tolerated by most was in England. Others have reported contribution to English culture? Of of them. similar experiences. course, there have been, and are, The revelation was about the differ- England is where I live my double prominent Jews in every walk of life, ence that being part of the pie makes: life: publicly, at work among English as ever with a disproportionate share that in America you belonged from the colleagues whom I would call acquaint- coming from Hitler’s cast-offs, but no day you arrived, however outlandish ances rather than friends; privately, one can claim that they have significantly your name, however crude your accent. among family and an ever diminish- helped to shape the England we know You are, from your first day, what you ing circle of survivors, in an almost today. Without them the scene would be can never hope to become even after exclusively German-Jewish refugee much the same. They lack critical mass; the 80 years I have lived here. milieu, cosy and shrinking. (At a recent they are without a power base. There are Historians have put more grandly milestone birthday party, the carefully just enough of them to stir up routine what they have defined as American drawn-up guest list consisted of fellow anti-Semitism without the compensation exceptionalism – a fundamental egali- of political clout. tarianism that has nothing to do with Of course there is anti-Semitism in equality of outcome and everything to the United States – quite enough not do with equality of human dignity. Just spring grove to have to go looking for it – but who the right climate for a Jew. London’s Most Luxurious cares when there is a powerful political Victor Ross RETIREMENT HOME 214 Finchley Road London NW3  Entertainment Books Bought  Activities JACKMAN .  Stress Free Living Modern and Old  24 House Staffing Excellent Cuisine SILVERMAN Eric Levene  Full En-Suite Facilities COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Call for more information or a personal tour 020 8364 3554 / 07855 387 574 020 8446 2117 Telephone: 020 7209 5532 [email protected] or 020 7794 4455 [email protected] [email protected] I also purchase ephemera

11 journal FEBRuary 2014 Manchester A Successful Occasion and we left the cinema marvelling at the At our Chanukah social this year, we superb production. had a programme of Hebrew songs Wendy Bott performed by musicians from the Ezra Youth Movement. Sincere thanks to Welwyn GC Coffee and Lebkuchen Susanne Green and her group of helpers We had a social morning at Monica’s with for making the occasion a success. We coffee and lebkuchen. A very enjoyable INSIDE were also introduced to Fran Horwich, time was had by all with interesting the the newly appointed volunteer organiser, conversation and discussion. and we heard from the Second and Third Lee Koos Generation about their programme. AJR Werner Lachs Kent Chanukah with a Difference While all the eating and drinking was going on, members recounted memories of their From Here to Eternity childhood in Germany. All touched on the Edinburgh CF Good Reason to Have a A Spectacular Afternoon’s awful period of Kristallnacht, now known Party Performance in Germany as Pogromnacht. Although the In true Chanukah style, we had a wonderful large AJR party went to the lunch was a happy occasion, the anecdotes time at the home of Dorothea Brander, Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s were naturally tinged with the sadness of sitting round the Chanukah candles and A West End to see the new Tim Rice the past. But everyone applauded Esther discussing why we light them. We agreed production of From Here to Eternity. and Janet for having produced such a it was a good reason to have a party – This was a very adult adaptation of the memorable afternoon. followed by latkes and donuts, among classic 1950s film, set in the brooding John Izbicki other temptations, and a refresher course atmosphere of 1941 Hawaii just before in dreidel-twirling. Pearl Harbour. Everyone enjoyed a Brighton & Hove Sarid A Happy Get- Agnes Isaacs spectacular afternoon’s performance together by a very talented cast aided by brilliant We celebrated a belated Chanukah Party Ealing A Year of Enjoyable Events lighting and stage effects. with latkes, cake and a traditional quiz. A most enjoyable Chanukah quiz, well David Barnett Although a little late, it turned out to be prepared by Esther, followed by tea a happy get-together. and donuts. A nice ending to a year of Ceska Abrahams enjoyable events, blighted only by the Pinner 16th Anniversary Tea passing of Herman Scott, one of our most On our 16th anniversary, we welcomed Oxford A Deeply Moving Film loyal and much-loved members. back one-man-band Ronnie Goldberg, John Fieldsend introduced and showed Leslie Sommer singing beautifully as he strummed his us the wonderful documentary Nicky’s electric guitar to the accompanying Children, about Sir Nicholas Winton’s Café Imperial It’s Never Too Late! recorded music. Ronnie entertained rescue of children from Czechoslovakia to A new young veteran has joined our us with a Yiddish, Hebrew and English England. Deeply moving. group, just proving it’s never too late! programme and we found ourselves Kathryn Prevezer If there are any other Pioneer Corps or singing to our favourite tunes and dancing British Army veterans out there, please the Hora before tucking in to a scrumptious Wembley The Life of Alfred Nobel come and join us. Chanukah tea. We were fascinated by Professor Spiro’s Hazel Beiny Walter Weg talk on Alfred Nobel, the inventor of ni- Liverpool Chanukah Party HGS A Very Special Meeting troglycerin, and Nobel’s equally interesting Second and Third Generation Greg and A very special meeting at which members personal life, which led to many questions. Bobby entertained at the Chanukah spoke of their favourite music, film and Avram Schaufeld Party held in the home of Inge and Eric book. The highlight was a member’s Goldrein. Before the entertainment, Julia edition signed by Pam Ayres from which Book Club Charming Meeting Bryan, Education Officer at the Museum we were read two of her favourite poems. At a charming meeting at Joseph’s Book- of Liverpool, and Kay Jones, Curator of A most stimulating discussion followed store and Café in Temple Fortune, we dis- Community History, told members about each person’s Desert Island choices. cussed J. K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy. the Holocaust Memorial Day joint event Hazel Beiny We thought it very well written but dif- to be held at the Museum on 26 January. ficult to keep track of all the characters in Faye Healey (née Amschanowski) lit the Glasgow CF 90 Years Young the book. Next book: Jonas Jonasson, The Chanukah candles for the first time since We celebrated the New Year early. One-Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed school days in Danzig. Conversation flowed around the table Out of the Window and Disappeared. Susanne Green as we enjoyed cocktails, party food and Irene Goodman crackers and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Ilford A Convivial Morning Moniek, who had turned 90 years young. Cambridge A Very Special Morning Despite the chilly weather 20 members A great finale to Glasgow AJR 2013 events. At our last meeting of the year we enjoyed turned up for our Chanukah Party. Besides Anthea Berg a reading by Lotte Kramer of some of her the festive fare, we enjoyed the social favourite, widely published poems. Lotte atmosphere and caught up with the Essex (Westcliff) An Hour of Pure is herself a founder member, with her interesting events other members had Pleasure husband, of our group. A most tasty lunch been to. A convivial morning for all of us. A thoroughly enjoyable morning with our augmented this very special morning. Meta Roseneil own Otto Deutsch sharing some of his Keith Lawson favourite Austrian music with us. Difficult Wessex A Lovely, Festive Occasion to keep hands and feet still – an hour of Leeds CF Happiness or We met at the Synagogue for a Chanukah pure pleasure! Unhappiness? tea and listened to a wise and uplifting Susie Barnett Ruth Sterne led a most interesting discus- talk by the Rabbi linking the Chanukah sion on ‘Materialism … Does it Produce story to the strength and determination Leeds CF Trip Superb Production Happiness or Unhappiness?’ Tea and the of many AJR members. A lovely festive, Members enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker gorgeous baking, courtesy as ever of Bar- social occasion. at the Royal Opera House Live events. It bara Cammerman, followed. Kathryn Prevezer was almost like being in the theatre itself Wendy Bott

12 FEBRuary 2014 journal

FEBRUARY GROUP eventS On Growing Old Sheffield CF 2 Feb Social Henry Grant Café Imperial 4 Feb Social Get-together As age creeps on and year by year Ealing 4 Feb Andrea Hann, Psychotherapist: ‘Positive Change’ You see your face grow lined Leeds CF 4 Feb Social Do not grumble or complain Ilford 5 Feb Colin Davey: ‘From the West End to the City: But try to bear in mind A Lawyer’s Life’ Those who didn’t have the chance Bromley CF 6 Feb Lunch (12 noon) Of growing old like you Edinburgh CF 6 Feb Social Who never reached the prime of life Pinner 6 Feb Rosemary Green: ‘When I Was in Prison’ Or saw their dreams come true Newcastle 9 Feb Brenda and Martin Levinson: ‘Paperclips Where Don’t resent the aches and pains It Started’ That time leaves in its wake HGS 10 Feb David Glasser, Ben Uri Gallery: ‘Nazi Looted Art: That’s the penalty of age Don’t Confuse Us with the Facts – the Answer is The payment we must make Simple’ For having lived our span Bradford 11 Feb Nigel Grizzard: ‘The Jews of Bradford’ And if some extra there should be Essex (Westcliff) 11 Feb Teresa Clark: ‘Jewish Care’ Thank God for every passing day Kingston upon Thames 11 Feb Social Get-together And live it gratefully Oxford 11 Feb Professor Michael Spiro: ‘Tea and Coffee’ Glasgow CF 12 Feb Outing to Kelvingrove: ‘Jack Vettriano: A Retrospective’ CONTACTS St John’s Wood 12 Feb Martha Richler: ‘The Apprenticeship of Hazel Beiny Duddy Kravitz’ Southern Groups Co-ordinator 07966 887 434 Cambridge 13 Feb Dr V. Pia Spry-Marques: ‘Archaeology in Film, [email protected] TV and Literature’ Dundee 16 Feb ‘Shared Roots’ Wendy Bott Yorkshire Groups Co-ordinator Leeds HSFA 16 Feb David Goodall: ‘Arsenic – the People’s Poison’ 07908 156 365 [email protected] Brighton-Sarid (Sussex) 17 Feb Pam Amdurer: ‘World Jewish Relief’ Edgware 18 Feb Dr Susan Cohen: ‘Eleanor Rathbone’ Susanne Green North West Groups Co-ordinator Kent 18 Feb David Barnett: ‘All-England Champion 0151 291 5734 Daniel Mendoza’ [email protected] Norfolk 19 Feb Social Get-together; speaker Keiron Pim Susan Harrod Groups’ Administrator Radlett 19 Feb Winter Warmer Social Catch Up 020 8385 3070 North West London 24 Feb Martha Richler: ‘The Apprenticeship of [email protected] Duddy Kravitz’ Agnes Isaacs Welwyn GC 25 Feb Heinz Skyte: His Work for Holocaust Education Scotland and Newcastle Co-ordinator 07908 156 361 Wembley 26 Feb Howard Lanning: ’80 Years in the Film Industry’ [email protected] North London 27 Feb Chris Moncrieff, Former Parliamentary Journalist Kathryn Prevezer for the Press Association London South and Midlands Groups Co-ordinator 07966 969 951 LEO BAECK HOUSING ASSOCIATION [email protected] PillarCare CLARA NEHAB HOUSE Quality support and care at home Esther Rinkoff RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME Southern Region Co-ordinator 07966 631 778 Small caring residential home  Hourly Care from 4 hours – 24 hours [email protected] with large attractive gardens  Live-In/Night Duty/Sleepover Care close to local shops and public transport  Convalescent and Personal Health Care 25 single rooms with full en suite facilities. KT-AJR (Kindertransport)  Compassionate and Affordable Service Andrea Goodmaker 24 hour Permanent and Respite Care 020 8385 3070 Entertainment & Activities provided.  Professional, Qualified, Kind Care Staff [email protected] Ground Floor Lounge and Dining Room  Registered with the CQC and UKHCA • Lift access to all floors. Child Survivors Association–AJR For further information please contact: Call us on Freephone 0800 028 4645 Henri Obstfeld The Manager, Clara Nehab House, PILLARCARE 020 8954 5298 13-19 Leeside Crescent, London NW11 0DA THE BUSINESS CENTRE · 36 GLOUCESTER AVENUE · LONDON NW1 7BB [email protected] Telephone: 020 8455 2286 PHONE: 020 7482 2188 · FAX: 020 7900 2308 www.pillarcare.co.uk

13 journal FEBRuary 2014 The Jewish Museum of Westphalia – a place for history and human rights

n 2012 Elise Hallin (Ilse Reifeisen) northern edge of the Ruhr region, who saved the lives of a number of visited Dorsten, the town of her Dorsten was never a special centre of Jews. Ibirth, her first visit in 74 years. It Jewish life but the Museum developed The Museum focuses not only on was only shortly before her visit that because a dedicated group of volunteers the crimes committed by the Nazis, it the Dorsten-based Jewish Museum has been researching the history of also presents other aspects of Jewish of Westphalia had located her in Jews in Westphalia since the 1980s. A life and involvement in our region. Stockholm: she had emigrated to founding member of the group and its But it does have problems. Funding Sweden on a Kindertransport in has to be secured for the tiny team 1939. At the invitation of the Jewish Many people from Australia, of salaried staff: the financial support Museum, Elise came here with her son Belgium, Brazil, France, the the Museum receives from the town Eric seeking traces of her family who Netherlands, Sweden and, and state of North Rhine-Westphalia had been deported and murdered. above all, the USA have is far too small. Although sponsors are Though there is hardly anything visited the Museum. Intensive happy to finance individual projects, in Dorsten to remind her of her funding of the basic structure is a family, she was ‘happy to see the research has been carried huge concern. Stolpersteine in the town because I out in recent years and we But the work goes on. In spring have no grave for my parents. I was have usually been able to 2014 the Museum is to hold a large very moved because it means that trace the lives of those who exhibition on Jews as neighbours in something of my family is still here; the emigrated as well as of those Westphalia. Also, new publications are spirit is still here. It’s very important who were deported. planned – e.g. on the Jewish cemetery because the past and the future in Dorsten – as well as interesting belong together.’ A book on Elise’s first president is Johanna Eichmann, a cultural events. Visitors, guests with family in Dorsten, their deportation former teacher. In Du nix Jude, du blond, family roots in Germany – as well as to Poland in 1938, her emigration on du deutsch. Erinnerungen 1926-1952 any ideas they may have – are always the Kindertransport, and much more (Essen 2011), Johanna writes about her welcome. is shortly to be published. life in an extended Jewish family, her Norbert Reichling and Almost every year descendants ‘Schutztaufe’ and the post-war period. Elisabeth Cosanne Schulte-Huxel of Jews from Dorsten visit the town Since the Museum’s opening in June President and Vice-President of the where their parents, grandparents and 1992, an association of 500 (mainly Jewish Museum of Westphalia great-grandparents once lived. They non-Jewish) members has supported For further information (in German) come here to find out more about the project. As well as three salaried and a summary in English, visit their roots, or sometimes, when on members of staff, there are almost www-jmw-dorsten.de holiday, to see the place where their 40 volunteers. The Museum houses a ancestors used to live. They are looking permanent exhibition on Jewish culture for photos, documents and other and regional history, hosts special traces of their families. Many people exhibitions, talks and cultural events, from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, and carries out educational work and the Netherlands, Sweden and, above research. Last year, for example, there all, the USA have visited the Museum. were exhibitions on the Dutch artist Intensive research has been carried out Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, who was in recent years and we have usually murdered in Auschwitz, orthodox Jews been able to trace the lives of those in Germany today, and Berthold Beitz, who emigrated as well as of those who were deported. In 1945 Dorsten was almost family completely destroyed and so it has  anouncements no historic buildings. But there are still 27 gravestones in the Jewish Death cemetery. Thus the Eisendrath family, Charlotte Norton (née Meyer), born ten branches of which emigrated to Hamburg April 1927, died Manchester the USA between 1859 and 1890, January 2014. Widow of Dr Herbert were able to find the graves of their Norton, Lotte will be remembered with love and affection by her relatives ancestors. It was very moving to see The Balancing Game describes the strange in Israel, Australia and the US and by the approximately 60 people at their and unique world occupied by a Jewish her many friends all over the world. She ancestors’ graves on the occasion child, the daughter of refugees from loved life and lived it to the full. of a family reunion in 2010. The Hitler’s Germany, growing up in a run- down part of post-war London. The novel story of the family can be read in also tells the story of Felicity, a young From Dorsten to Chicago: Lectures woman who is pregnant with her first and Contributions of the Eisendrath child and is living in Jerusalem before Family Reunion 2010 in Dorsten/ switch on electrics and during the Six-Day War of June 1967. Germany (Books on Demand) and Rewires and all household The two tales intertwine, eventually there is also a great deal of interesting electrical work connecting in an unexpected way. information (in English) on the website Available at Amazon.com or www.eisendrath-stories.net PHONE PAUL: 020 8200 3518 BarnesAndNoble.com; or from: A medium-sized town on the Mobile: 0795 614 8566 [email protected]

14 FEBRuary 2014 journal ObituarIES Natalie Huss-Smickler (née Huss), born Vienna 20 March 1912, died London 11 December 2013 atalie was born in and Leslie. Natalie was blessed Vienna, where she grew when she became a grandmother. up in a loving family Leslie has four sons and Ramon Nenvironment under the care of has one daughter, whom she her father and mother, Herman loved very dearly. and Rosa Huss, and two older Interviewed by the BBC on brothers, Siegfried and Wilhelm. 7 March 2012, Natalie told of On 17 September 1938, her journey from Vienna to prior to the outbreak of the London (www.bbc.co.uk/news/ war, Natalie, like many other uk-16942741). Jews at that time, attempted In March-April 2013, in to leave Austria. The train she commemoration of the the 75th was on was stopped at the anniversary of the Anschluss, Austrian-Belgium border and the annexation of Austria by a loudspeaker announcement Nazi Germany, the London said ‘All Jews collect their luggage and leave a large number of Austrian and German Jews. Jewish Cultural Centre showed the AJR's the train.’ When she stood up to collect her They were placed on the Dunera, a PoW photographic exhibition ‘Double Exposure: suitcase a nun in the carriage said ‘Where are ship, together with German Nazis and Italian Jewish Refugees from Austria in Britain'. you going?’ Natalie replied ‘I am Jewish.’ The Fascists and deported to an internment camp The videoed interviews were recorded nun said ‘Sit down. You are not going out, in Australia. Whilst on the ship the internees from 2003 onwards for ‘Refugee Voices’, a you are one of us.’ An SS man in uniform were made to suffer inhumane conditions. Holocaust testimony archive commissioned who inspected the carriages stopped and Natalie went to the Houses of Parliament by the AJR. The exhibition included a filmed looked at Natalie. The nuns said ‘She is with and at a meeting with Josiah Wedgwood interview with Natalie and old family photos us.’ Natalie looked out of the window and MP successfully begged for their release. in Vienna. saw a long line of men, women and children Unfortunately the ship bringing Siegfried and Natalie enjoyed the last few years of on the platform lined up with their suitcases Wilhelm back to London was torpedoed by her life in Selig Court, a Jewish Care and marched off. Natalie arrived safely in a Japanese submarine boat and both brothers independent home where priority is given London. lost their lives. Natalie could never get over to Holocaust survivors and refugees. One of Natalie’s brothers was working this tragic event. Natalie’s recent dreams before she passed in London at the time and he arranged a In 1948 Natalie married Samuel Smickler. away were of joining her mother, father and domestic work permit for her. The second Out of respect for Natalie’s brothers who had two brothers. Her dreams are now fulfilled brother managed to escape via another route. lost their lives, Samuel added her maiden – may she rest in peace. She will be dearly At the outbreak of war, Natalie’s brothers name to his and the marital surname became remembered by those who knew her. were arrested as ‘enemy aliens’ together with Huss-Smickler. They had two sons: Ramon Ramon Huss

Franziska Kesten, born Vienna 13 December 1921, died Harrow 5 January 2014 y mother’s parents were Simon airliners. Through all this she brought up Glaser and Rosa (née Eckert). He my sister, Erika, and me, ensuring we (and, was a tailor, she a housewife. In eventually, our children) had plenty of home- 1934M Rosa was hospitalised with a mental knitted jumpers. From the mid-1940s we illness. When Simon couldn’t afford the lived in rooms in Kilburn. bills she was deported to her home town of In 1958 we moved into our first house Boryslaw in Poland (although, mysteriously, and it was there that Franziska died quietly we have a residence permit for her in Brussels with a smile on her lips. She had been a in 1942-43). keen gardener, especially interested in grow- This left my mother, at the age of 13, ing fuchsias, of which at one point she had to cook and clean for her father, younger around 100! brother and herself. She came home one had been apprenticed to a dress-maker in My mother developed stroke-induced day in 1938 from work at the Israelitische Vienna. This later secured her compensation dementia in her last years but, much of the Kultusgemeinde to find her father and and a pension from the Austrian government time, even when she didn’t recognise me, she brother had left. The Kultusgemeinde and spared her internment. Following a was happy, surrounded by her paintings of advised her to move into the Stadtkibbutz at short spell in domestic service, she and my places she had visited and photographed over Hassgasse 10, where she first met my father, father got together when he returned from the years (my children called her ‘Granny Salo Kesten, and arranged passage for her on internment and she was his tailoress for a Camera’!). My father, who had been an of- an agricultural transport to Britain. Here she while. ficial of the Tailor and Garment Workers’ worked at the David Eder Farm, where she Both of them were active members of Union, responsible for the bespoke trade in again met my father. She met Simon again Young Austria and its choir. She worked for central London, died in 2009. as the train passed through Brussels; her some years in the 1950s making belts for My mother is greatly missed by her brother was busy elsewhere. The two were a business near Oxford Street in London children, Tony and Ricky; Tony’s spouse Meg; subsequently deported on one of the last and started her main career as an electrical Ricky’s partner John; three grandchildren, trains to a concentration camp in Germany. technician. Her work, for Marconi and then Rachel, Jamie and Joanna; and two great- There is no trace of them beyond that. BAE, involved soldering connections for granddaughters, Libby and Jasmine. Always good with her hands, Franziska Instrument Landing Systems for Trident Anthony Kesten

15 journal FEBRuary 2014

blocks containing small, but well-planned studio apartments that were provided to needy tenants who paid a nominal rent. Originally, all the tenants were Holocaust survivors, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson though today they constitute only 40 per cent of the residents. These apartments are still functioning in their original capacity though Reuth - one of the best-kept secrets in Israel they are in need of constant renovation due to their age. ossibly one of the best-kept secrets in continued to play an important part in the lives Today, the Reuth Medical Center in Tel Israel is the existence of the formidable of many of those immigrants. Thus, a group of Aviv, which started out as a convalescent charitable association of Reuth. Reuth ladies organised themselves as ‘Women’s Social home, is a fully-fledged hospital with a Pis the Hebrew word for friendship and that Service’, setting themselves the aim of serving large number of employees. It has a special certainly sums up the philosophy of the the elderly, the needy and the chronically ill. department for treating eating disorders, organisation. They began by establishing a soup kitchen extensive physiotherapy and occupational I’ve been living in Israel for almost 50 years for impoverished refugees from Hitler’s therapy departments, rehabilitation and and didn’t know of the organisation’s existence, Germany and extended this to cater for all chronic care wards, and the only facility in though I was acquainted with Beit Bart, a home immigrants. The commemorative volume Israel that combines respiratory care with providing sheltered accommodation for the published in Hebrew to mark its seventieth dialysis. The hospital is about to build an elderly that Reuth has established in Jerusalem. anniversary in 2007 contains fascinating extensive addition, which will greatly increase But Beit Bart is just the tip of the iceberg, as photographs showing women dressed in its current 350-bed capacity. In addition, I found out recently when I visited Reuth’s the height of 1930s European fashion (hats Reuth’s Norma Center offers follow-up care impressive Medical Center in Tel Aviv. In mandatory, of course) meeting to discuss the on an out-patient basis. addition to this well-equipped hospital, which needs and aims of the organisation. Everything Reuth does is imbued with the provides a wide variety of medical services Other pictures show the same women, spirit of the organisation’s original mission and care using state-of-the-art equipment, the now wearing more practical garb, toiling – to provide services in a warm and caring organisation has sheltered accommodation in over enormous cooking pots, as well as those atmosphere, paying attention to getting every Tel Aviv (Beit Shalom) as well as providing enormous cooking pots being hauled by muscular last detail right, maintaining an aesthetic subsidised housing in the form of purpose-built men down to the beach where the ships unloaded environment and, above all, giving those studio apartments (Beit Bracha, Beit Achva), immigrants arriving in the Land of Israel. The who require their services a feeling of being also in Tel Aviv. objective was to feed the hungry as soon as they wanted, loved and understood. Care is not The origins of the organisation lie in the stepped off the boats. I have a sneaking suspicion limited to any one segment of the population early 1930s with the arrival in pre-State Israel that many of those early activities were conducted and, walking through the corridors of the of the first immigrants from Central Europe, in German as the notice above the first soup hospital, one comes across representatives of Germany in particular. Some of those who kitchen reads ‘Küche, Sozialer Frauendienst, every segment of contemporary Israeli society. came at that time were able to bring financial Kosher Rabbinatsaufssicht’ alongside the Reuth enjoys the support and fund-raising and material resources with them, enabling Hebrew lettering. activities of its friends all over the world, many of the women to give their time and Among the myriad other charitable especially in England, the Netherlands and the energy to charitable causes. This, after all, had activities in which they engaged, the ladies USA. Many of those who are active in these constituted an important aspect of community of Reuth raised funds to lease land in Tel associations have family or other connections life in Germany and the ethos of helping those Aviv, commissioned architects and building with the original founders, continuing the less fortunate and serving the community constructors, and erected several apartment tradition of aid for the less fortunate.

 letters to the editor cont. from p.7 Jewish Care to continue to provide a so- the Jewish Agency in Berlin’s Meinecke- with a tragic end, is described by the late cial setting where we can enjoy activities, strasse. These were intended for young Fanny Stang in her book Fräulein Doktor. entertainment and good food. people of 18 and upwards. Most, if not, Fanny relates how her parents, the Henry Grant, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middx all of these individuals were single but each Knesbachs, took a boat from Vienna down certificate included the wife if the individual the Danube when all other escape routes A GREAT SUCCESS concerned was married. Thus the Jewish were closed. They were eventually trapped Sir – I must compliment everyone respon- Agency insisted that each person receiving by winter ice somewhere in the Balkans and sible for the wonderful lunch and enter- its certificate should be married so that the Nazis finally caught up with them, with tainment at the All-London Chanukah in this way two people could enter (the the inevitable consequence. Party at Alyth Gardens on 17 December. then) Palestine instead of one, doubling During their long and miserable ordeal, Special thanks to Hazel Beiny, Esther the number of immigrants. they were able to send the occasional let- Rinkoff and all the team of volunteers. A I suppose that once in Palestine many ter to their daughter in England and she great success! of the couples divorced but the object was quotes these in her touching descriptions. Gerda Torrence, London N2 achieved. The Knesbachs mention that they chose Manfred Landau, London NW11 that particular boat because the alterna- DOWN THE DANUBE TO PALESTINE tive one, though cheaper, promised less Sir – I refer to the letter by Carmel Page Sir – Your correspondent George Klein (Jan- comfort. In the event, the other boat made and Sue Pearson in your December issue. uary) describes an escape from Budapest to it all the way to Israel. A number of certificates were issued to Haifa by river. A similar adventure, albeit Frank Beck, London NW3

Published by The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), a company limited by guarantee. Registered office: Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4RL Registered in England and Wales with charity number: 1149882 and company number: 8220991 Telephone 020 8385 3070 Fax 020 8385 3080 e-mail [email protected] For the latest AJR news, including details of forthcoming events and information about our services, visit www.ajr.org.uk Printed by FBprinters LLP, 26 St Albans Lane, London NW11 7QB Tel: 020 8458 3220 Email: [email protected] 16