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

Born 09/14/1914, Berlin. Moved to Frankfurt/Oder in 1924. After graduation from high school he went into horticulture. Emigration to Palestine in 1936, Kibbutz Hasorea. Biography: various agricultural activities, later work on tractors and in a garage for agricultural machines. Lately: in charge of the stock room for spare parts. Interview: divides his life into three periods: a) childhood, b) puberty, c) after the emigration Berlin: his father was a leather manufacturer and partner in a leather factory . School until sixth grade, then move to Frankfurt. Frankfurt: his father became Director of a factory and later owned it. 1923 Chaim joined the youth section of a German hiking club. High school for humanities until graduation. (Greek, Latin, French and English) Was not allowed to study at the University because he was a Jew and went into horticulture. Worked for the Hachaluz Movement and got a certificate for Palestine. Married in Germany and emigrated in 1936 to Hasorea. Parents: Catholic mother, Jewish father, they got married in London. His mother converted to Judaism. C. did not have a Jewish education in his parental home. Sees a connection between his Judaism and National Socialism. Talks about Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and its effect on him. 1932 the youth movement made the decision to go to Palestine and to found a Kibbutz. About his free will decision to do so. About his socialist touch and the youth movement. Sticking together within the movement and the wish to ; stay together. C. wanted to become a veterinary surgeon. Other attractive professions to him were Lawyer, Philosopher or Doctor. A story about his high school graduation. About his wife whom he knew from the youth movement in Frankfurt. She spent a year of training in Denmark, but then learned babycare in Berlin. Kibbutz Hasorea: the entire youth group came. About the naming of the Kibbutz. He began to study Hebrew at the age of 17, at the beginning everybody spoke German. In 1937 a group of 40 people left the Kibbutz to found a new one, called "Hasorea Beit Chaim". After the beginning of WWII no people from Germany came and they tried to work together with Rumanians but failed and returned to Hasorea. About the problems with the Rumanians and why they could not live together. First impressions of Palestine and the beginning in the new country. Birth of first child in December 1936. Arab revolt between 1936 and 1939. They were attacked by Iraqis. Relationship to Arabs and living next to each other. Building up a cultural life in Hasorea. Late emigrants. C. managed to get his parents out of Germany in 1939 shortly before the war began. His wife's parents died, they were probably deported in 1942. Their last notice was a Red Cross letter. His younger siblings emigrated toEngland. C's. father was born in 1884 and emigrated in 1939 at the age of 55. The emigration of his parents was accompanied with big difficulties in the Kibbutz. The situation of his parents in Palestine. ; Economic development of the Kibbutz. About the loss of Idealism among the younger generation in regard of the Kibbutz idea. About the dream and the end of the Kibbutz. The present economic situation of the Kibbutz. About agriculture. Typical features of the older generation (still working). His career within the Kibbutz. He is not disappointed with his life, whatever he did, he enjoyed doing it. He doesn't regret his life, but he regrets the fact that the Kibbutz system is going down. About the important function of the Kibbutzim in the development of Israel. About utopia. Cultural life inside of the Jekken-Kibbutz. Contacts with Germany. His relationship to the state of Israel. Judaism. Collectivism. Causes for the dying of the Kibbutz idea.. About contacts with other Jewish groups. Influences and specific features of the Jekke-Kibbutz.