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

James Springer was born on 04/19/1907 in Berlin. He worked as copywriter. 1933 emigration to Switzerland, 1936 to Palestine. At the beginning casual labor, then work in a canteen. Later employee in the Israeli shipping company and in the hotel sector. Journalistic hobbies. ; Introductory remarks about James Springer's 84th birthday. Springer's life in Germany and his emigration to Switzerland: He divides his life into two periods: before and after the break of 1914. About his family: the father was a businessman, excellent relationship with his “stepmother”; His father had never been conscious of being Jewish, he died “in time” in 1924. James Springer's first confrontation with fanaticism in 1918. In 1930 he became aware of the coming danger when he heard Goebbels' speeches. About his career as copywriter. His brother was interned in the concentration camp Oranienburg because of a suggestive remark. James Springer's emigration to Switzerland and his marriage in 1933. - Flashback: He was a member of Jewish, but not Zionist youth associations. About his relationship to Judaism: he only kept the High Holidays. His Jewish friends were assimilated and mainly culturally interested. About his first love affairs and his reading matters. About his first name James (an English version of Jakob). ; Springer's life in Palestine/Israel: 1936 emigration to Palestine with a forged certificate. His first impressions: a poor, but open country. About his beginning and his jobs. His use of languages is specific: till today he does not know Hebrew (“less than a tourist”), but speaks English very well because of his long stays in the United States. (Details about his stays in New York for the Israeli shipping company). About his second wife and her languages: She came from Czernowitz and was raised bilingually in Romanian and German. - His activities in the hotel sector. His contacts and correspondences with Germans. His first stay in Germany and the reasons for making new contacts. Analysis of the hostility towards foreigners in Germany. Comments on the Gulf War and the reactions of the Germans. Reasons for his involvement as writer of letters to the editors of newspapers: his fight against stupidity. About his engagement for Israel and his efforts to build a bridge between Israel and Germany.