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Ernst Flesch

EF: 2006

EF: Back of a photo sent by his parents in 1939 "Unserem lieben Ernstl von Papa und Mutti" - For our dear little Ernst from Dad and Mum"

EF: 2006

Arrived in Britain:

Place of Birth:

Born:

January 1939

Vienna

Interview number:

Experiences:

137

Kindertransport

Interview Summary:

Ernst Flesch was born in 1928 in Vienna. He came to the UK with the Kindertransport in January 1939. He was sent to Scotland and stayed at Hostel Birkenward. He became a lecturer in further education and a keen photographer. He is an active member of Club 43.

I would say that I think it is very important that people should take careful notice of what is going on around them. If you don’t keep a very sharp watch, people can get away with things which they shouldn’t.

They told me ‘You’re going to England to get away, thank goodness.’ But they stayed. My mother didn’t want to leave my father. She could have gone, as a maid. But she had nursing training at the end, under the Nazis in a children’s hospital or something like that. That stood her in good stead in Auschwitz, I believe. Because as far as…I could never quite gather – she didn’t say very much. But I think she must have worked in the hospital or something which meant she could steal more or something you know. That’s how she survived. She was never backward in coming forward my mother

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