German Jewish Escape and Internment in the UK
Meet Lora and Ernst Drechsler
I assume they were brother and sister but could have also been a married couple. Both were born in Vienna in 1906 resp. 1908 and both of their German passports were issued in Vienna with the infamous Red J-stamp for Jew. A marker was introduced in October 1938. Since July 1937, Jews were granted passports only under special circumstances, and it became increasingly difficult for Jews to escape Nazi-Germany and annexed Austria (March 1938). The property of emigrating Jews was confiscated, and they were only allowed to travel with minimal luggage and “pocket money.” This was especially the case after begin of World War II on 1 Sep 1939. Escape became most difficult. By 1933 about 500.000 Jews lived in the Reich; by the end of 1944 – only 15.000. German Jewish Escape Internment
Ernst Robert Drechsler 103423 Red J-stamp 14.3.1939 Issued in Vienna, 14.3.1939 Occupation: Sales agent POB: Vienna DOB: 18.2.1906 Page 6 has an entry that his name was corrected Page 7 has a currency control stamp from 28.4.1939 saying luggage is approved. On the same page is a Fleetwood immigration officer stamps from 4 July 1941 (this stamp must have been applied at a later control) Page 8 show a currency exchange stamp and a Kent County Constabulary (Wingham Division) stamp from 15.5.1939 Page 9 is a UK visa granted in Vienna on 5.5.1939 and Immigration stamp Dover/UK from 12.5.1939 | Lora Drechsler 63899 Red J-stamp 23.12.38 Issued in Vienna, 23.12.1938 Occupation: Household POB: Vienna DOB: 24.7.1908 Page 7 shows several money exchange stamps Page 9 UK visa issued in Vienna on 27.7.1939 Immigration stamp UK/Dover on 22.8.1939 (10 days before the outbreak of WWII) Page 10 shows a Belgian transit visa issued in Vienna 29.7.39 & UK stamp |
Two historically significant German passports with the infamous Red J-stamp. Luckily they could escape Nazi-Germany just before the outbreak of WWII. Only two of very few Jews surviving the horrors of the Holocaust. By 1944 The Reich was “Judenfrei or Judenrein” by 97%, meaning “cleansed” of Jews. German Jewish Escape Internment
British Civilian Internment 1939-1945 German Jewish Escape Internment
Internment of civilian nationals belonging to opposing sides was carried out in varying degrees by all belligerent powers in World War Two. It was also the fate of those servicemen who found themselves in a neutral country. German Jewish Escape Internment
At the outbreak of war, there were around 80,000 potential enemy aliens in Britain who, it was feared, could be spies or willing to assist Britain’s enemies in the event of an invasion. All Germans and Austrians over the age of 16 were called before special tribunals and were divided into one of three groups: German Jewish Escape Internment
- ‘A’ – high-security risks, numbering just under 600, who were immediately interned;
- ‘B’ – ‘doubtful cases,’ numbering around 6,500, who were supervised and subject to restrictions;
- ‘C’ – ‘no security risk,’ numbering around 64,000, who were left at liberty. German Jewish Escape Internment
More than 55,000 of category ‘C’ were recognized as refugees from Nazi oppression. The vast majority of these were Jewish.
The situation began to change in the spring of 1940. The failure of the Norwegian campaign led to an outbreak of spy fever and agitation against enemy aliens. More and more Germans and Austrians were rounded up. Italians were also included, even though Britain was not at war with Italy until June. When Italy and Britain went to war, at least 19,000 Italians in Britain and Churchill ordered them to be rounded up. This was even though most of them had lived in Britain for decades.
Thousands of Germans, Austrians, and Italians
were sent to camps set up at racecourses and incomplete housing estates, such as Huyton outside Liverpool. The majority were interned on the Isle of Man, where internment camps had also been set up in World War One. Facilities were basic, but it was boredom that was the greatest enemy. Internees organized educational and artistic projects, including lectures, concerts, and camp newspapers. At first, married women were not allowed into the camps to see their husbands, but by August 1940, visits were permitted, and a family camp was established in late 1941. German Jewish Escape Internment
That many of the ‘enemy aliens’ were Jewish refugees and therefore hardly likely to be sympathetic to the Nazis was a complication no one bothered to try and unravel – they were still treated as German and Austrian nationals. In one Isle of Man camp, over 80 percent of the internees were Jewish refugees.
More than 7,000 internees were deported, the majority to Canada, some to Australia. The liner Arandora Star left for Canada on 1 July 1940, carrying German and Italian internees. It was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 714 lives; most of them were internees. Others being taken to Australia on the Dunera, which sailed a week later, were subjected to humiliating treatment and terrible conditions on the two-month voyage. Many had their possessions stolen or thrown overboard by the British military guards.
An outcry in Parliament led to the first releases of internees in August 1940. By February 1941, more than 10,000 had been freed, and by the following summer, only 5,000 were left in internment camps. Many of those released from internment subsequently contributed to the war effort on the Home Front or served in the armed forces.
Kitchener Camp German Jewish Escape Internment
Was your relative a Jewish refugee to Britain from Germany, Austria, Poland, or Czechoslovakia in 1939? If so, they may well have found refuge in Kitchener camp near Sandwich, Kent.
Between February 1939 and the outbreak of World War Two on 3 September 1939, just under four thousand adult Jewish refugees, all of them men, were put on trains from Berlin and Vienna. They travelled via Ostende and Dover to Sandwich in East Kent, where the CBF had rented an old First World War base known as Kitchener camp. This camp was one of seven WWI camps close to Sandwich, known collectively as Richborough Port. The camp itself was sometimes referred to, particularly by the Jewish philanthropists who ran the CBF, as Richborough transit camp.
Kitchener was run by two Jewish brothers, Jonas and Phineas May. They had experience running summer camps for the Jewish Lads’ Brigade, but this must have been a much more demanding task – to run a camp for 4,000 traumatized men, most of whom had had to leave behind their families in the Third Reich. During summer 1939, a few of the men managed to get their wives and children out of German territory using the system of ‘domestic service visas’ for their wives and the Kindertransport for their children. However, most families were not able to get out of Germany in time, and they were killed during the Holocaust.
German Jewish Escape Internment
FAQ Passport History pasaporte passeport паспорт 护照 パスポート جواز سفر पासपोर्ट
1. What are the earliest known examples of passports, and how have they evolved?
The word "passport" came up only in the mid 15th Century. Before that, such documents were safe conducts, recommendations or protection letters. On a practical aspect, the earliest passport I have seen was from the mid 16th Century. Read more...
2. Are there any notable historical figures or personalities whose passports are highly sought after by collectors?
Every collector is doing well to define his collection focus, and yes, there are collectors looking for Celebrity passports and travel documents of historical figures like Winston Churchill, Brothers Grimm, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Read more...
3. How did passport designs and security features change throughout different periods in history, and what impact did these changes have on forgery prevention?
"Passports" before the 18th Century had a pure functional character. Security features were, in the best case, a watermark and a wax seal. Forgery, back then, was not an issue like it is nowadays. Only from the 1980s on, security features became a thing. A state-of-the-art passport nowadays has dozens of security features - visible and invisible. Some are known only by the security document printer itself. Read more...
4. What are some of the rarest and most valuable historical passports that have ever been sold or auctioned?
Lou Gehrig, Victor Tsoi, Marilyn Monroe, James Joyce, and Albert Einstein when it comes to the most expensive ones. Read more...
5. How do diplomatic passports differ from regular passports, and what makes them significant to collectors?
Such documents were often held by officials in high ranks, like ambassadors, consuls or special envoys. Furthermore, these travel documents are often frequently traveled. Hence, they hold a tapestry of stamps or visas. Partly from unusual places.
6. Can you provide insights into the stories behind specific historical passports that offer unique insights into past travel and migration trends?
A passport tells the story of its bearer and these stories can be everything - surprising, sad, vivid. Isabella Bird and her travels (1831-1904) or Mary Kingsley, a fearless Lady explorer.
7. What role did passports play during significant historical events, such as wartime travel restrictions or international treaties?
During war, a passport could have been a matter of life or death. Especially, when we are looking into WWII and the Holocaust. And yes, during that time, passports and similar documents were often forged to escape and save lives. Example...
8. How has the emergence of digital passports and biometric identification impacted the world of passport collecting?
Current modern passports having now often a sparkling, flashy design. This has mainly two reasons. 1. Improved security and 2. Displaying a countries' heritage, icons, and important figures or achievements. I can fully understand that those modern documents are wanted, especially by younger collectors.
9. Are there any specialized collections of passports, such as those from a specific country, era, or distinguished individuals?
Yes, the University of Western Sidney Library has e.g. a passport collection of the former prime minister Hon Edward Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret. They are all diplomatic passports and I had the pleasure to apprise them. I hold e.g. a collection of almost all types of the German Empire passports (only 2 types are still missing). Also, my East German passport collection is quite extensive with pretty rare passport types.
10. Where can passport collectors find reliable resources and reputable sellers to expand their collection and learn more about passport history?
A good start is eBay, Delcampe, flea markets, garage or estate sales. The more significant travel documents you probably find at the classic auction houses. Sometimes I also offer documents from my archive/collection. See offers... As you are already here, you surely found a great source on the topic 😉
Other great sources are: Scottish Passports, The Nansen passport, The secret lives of diplomatic couriers
11. Is vintage passport collecting legal? What are the regulations and considerations collectors should know when acquiring historical passports?
First, it's important to stress that each country has its own laws when it comes to passports. Collecting old vintage passports for historical or educational reasons is safe and legal, or at least tolerated. More details on the legal aspects are here...
Does this article spark your curiosity about passport collecting and the history of passports? With this valuable information, you have a good basis to start your own passport collection.
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