Wilfrid Israel Papers

Identifier
WL548
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 70524
Dates
1 Jan 1940 - 31 Jan 1949
Level of Description
Collection
Languages
  • German
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Biographical History

Wilfrid Israel, born in London in 1899 to an English Jewess and a German Jew, enjoyed a very privileged existence growing up in Berlin, where he inherited the family business, the famous N. Israel department store, with its 2000 employees. Whilst conforming to family expectations, he entertained interests in socialist Zionism, pacifism and internationalism.

During the war years he became a secret intermediary, the confidant of such major figures as Chaim Weizmann and Albert Einstein, as well as hundreds of others, for whom he was able to arrange escapes, on account of his dual nationality and familiarity with Gestapo extortion techniques.

On a return flight from Portugal in 1943, where he was effecting the rescue of more Jewish refugees, he died when his plane was shot down by German fighters.

Archival History

Provenance of the collection is unknown.

Scope and Content

Readers need to reserve a reading room terminal to access a digital version of this archive.

This microfilm collection of Wilfrid Israel's papers consists of copies of original essays, memoranda, private papers etc covering such subjects as the Weimar Republic, the rise of national Socialism, German Communist and Socialist parties and trade unions, the Jewish refugee problem. Also a fairly comprehensive collection of the 'Political Group Papers' (1941-1943) from the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Committee on Reconstruction. The papers in this collection relate to his activities as a confidential adviser on Jewish affairs at the Chatham House war-time research unit in Oxford.

System of Arrangement

The order of filming follows the original, as reflected in the contents list at the beginning, for the first reel only (ie first 556 frames)

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Use R:\Document collections\MF54\Working Images\23\Wiener Docs frames 486-1044; R:\Document collections\MF54\Working Images\24\Wiener Docs frames 1-1187; R:\Document collections\MF54\Working Images\25\Wiener Docs frames 1-908

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Microfilm

People

Subjects

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.