Autobiographical interviews of Jews born in German speaking countries ("Yekkes") - 50/60 years after their immigration to Israel

Born 03/18/1916 in Simotzel (Koelberg-Korlin), commercial apprenticeship, retraining to agricultural work in Simotzel. Emigration to Palestine in 1936. Worked in agriculture, in a Kibbutz, and in the Moshav Sde Warburg . Walter, Hanna (maiden name: Lange), Born 1917 in Schoenrode (Gleiwitz). Emigration to Palestine in 1939 Interview with Michael Walter 04/28/1991: about his name. Differences in regard to his brother's life: he came to a Kibbutz in Ra'anana while his brother came with the youthalija. Decent education in Hebrew. Immigration in 1936: M. and his cousin managed his brother's emigration. About Simotzel: youths were trained in agriculture. Father: was a real German (in the fire brigade and on various boards), died in 1932 and would have never emigrated. No Anti-Semitism in his village, the villagers ignored Anti-Jewish propaganda by the Nazis. Grammar school in Kohlberg, lived with a Christian family. After graduation he was supposed to do an apprenticeship and moved to Stettin. One Year of apprenticeship before the Nazi era. Zionist circles and contacts with Jews. During the Nazi era other Jews advised him to go into agriculture. Turn of the "Jewish Pyramid": people with an academic education should go "down". Hard working conditions. Stettin, Bet-Chaluz, work in a market garden. Sde Warburg and work there. Chicken breeding, Difficulties with soil and harvest. Life in Sde Warburg. Incident in the market of Tel Aviv with the English Police: his car was ; confiscated. Financial problems and bankruptcy in 1952. After the 6-day war he quit work; heart attack. About his wedding in 1939: his wife came on the last ship in April of 1939. She imigrated with a certificate, but her money did never arrive. Her mother had been deported and gassed on the train to Auschwitz. Mrs. W found out about her mother's death after the war. 2 brothers in Argentina had wanted to get the mother out, but did not succeed. Birth of first son in 1940, second son in 1944. How they got to know each other. Chicken breeding in Sde Warburg. Children and grandchildren live in Sde Warburg as well and want to stay. Living situation before the wedding. About foolish activities that took place in Sde Warburg. About living situation and children in the Kibbutz. Language situation : they spoke German with their children because their Hebrew wasn't good. The children learned Hebrew in kindergarten and school. How W got to know the country: round trips with a friend, visiting different Kibbutzim: Jerusalem, Bet-Olim. Arrival of his mother. Knowledge of Hebrew: still doesn't know how to read properly, in Sde Warburg people spoke German, too much work made it impossible to study Hebrew on the side. Erna learned by listening to the radio. Connections with Pommern (Poland) do not exist anymore. First visit to Germany: after a son's wedding, he married a German woman, who had converted to Judaism. How they got to know each other. Self- definition as a Jew: he was never ; very religious and had many non-Jewish friends; he became a Zionist but never forgot his German friends who had behaved in a proper way. No hatred for Germans, he wants to keep his friends, but is not interested in other Germans. Says that for East Jews Germany was the greatest before things changed. The couple still has many contacts with Germans through their children who bring along friends.