NT: If you look back now on your time here in Scotland what would you say were the high points of your life here? DB: That’s very difficult to say. INT: Your family I assume? DB: Yes I think…I don’t think I can really say. INT: Right. DB: I mean I suppose it was my time as a social worker I … Read more
Dorothea travelled with her husband who worked for the British Council. She lived for a time in Otto Hahn’s house (he received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944) INT: And he was still working with the British Council? DB: He was still with the British Council. He had a very good job, he was Director of … Read more
Dorothea arrived in Britain as a young bride. She moved in with her parents in law in Glasgow. INT: And were you excited to be going to Britain? DB: Well yes I was glad. INT: Or were you worried about it? DB: Well sure I was worried because I didn’t have a clue what was going on and Donald … Read more
Dorothea met her husband Donald who worked for the British Consul. They married on VE Day. Her parents were helped by Kissinger’s family to emigrate to America. Dorothea also explain what happened to her brother and her journey to Britain. INT: And did he [ Her father] remain there and your mother, for the rest of … Read more
Dorothea was born in Berlin in 1924. Her father was a Chemist and worked for a company that produced toothpaste and later poison gas. The family lived in a company owned flat. INT: Today is January the 22nd 2014 and I’m here to interview Dorothea Brander. Dorothea, can I begin by asking you where you … Read more
BM: This is the 18th of March 2014. Bob explains the origin of the Kindertransport Movement The British Parliament was approached by the ‘Movement for the Care of Children of Germany’ to hasten the travel permits. The movement promised to fund the whole of the operation and stated that they would not be a drain … Read more
Bob talks of his own family in Glasgow and the importance of the wider Jewish community there INT1: One last question really about your time in Scotland. What were the high and lows for you? Obviously you got married, you had children BK: Yes. Well, obviously getting married was a high INT1: Mm BK: Um, … Read more
Bob explains how he met his wife, what kind of jobs he did as a civilian during the war and the restrictions which Jews and foreigners experienced at that time. INT1: How did you meet Barbara? BK: Well, I was acquainted by then with a guy called Sidney Shear He plays the piano at the, … Read more
In this section Bob describes his first jobs in Britain when he left the army after the war. He also talks of his time before that as a soldier in the British army. INT1: Did you work when, when you arrived here? BK: Yes, I started out as a small time commercial traveler. Working for … Read more
In this section Bob explains how he came to Scotland and what his initial experiences of life in Britain were. INT1: When did you arrive in Scotland and how old were you then? BK: As I said, I estimate I arrived in Scotland about forty nine. 1949. And how old was I? Well you again … Read more