Prewar Jewish life in Alsace-Lorraine; tourist views

Identifier
irn1004742
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • RG-60.1468
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • Silent
Source
EHRI Partner

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Carl Henry Levy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 7, 1913 to a wealthy German Reform Jewish family. He attended a secular private college-preparatory school. During those years, he printed a magazine in his attic, was chief editor of his school newspaper, and was involved in a Jewish youth group. He was finishing undergraduate philosophy studies at Harvard just as Hitler rose to power in Germany. With his peers, he organized a demonstration against the rise of fascism and the arrival of German ships to the United States. He also led the North American Committee in Cincinnati to Aid Spanish Democracy during the years of the Spanish Civil War. He graduated from Harvard in 1934, Magna cum Laude. In 1941 he met and married Edith Entratter shortly before enlisting in the US Army. He served in Europe from July 1944 to September 1945, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Ohrdruf concentration camp. Carl used the office typewriter from his desk job as Warrant Officer to write to Edith every day. After his return, he founded Lucky Stride Shoes and retired in 1960. Carl Henry died in New York City on August 24, 2001.

Levy family relatives lost in the massacre by the French fascists and the Gestapo between July 24 and August 8 1944 at Guerry are: Salomon Levy, born September 6, 1871 in Ingwiller; Mina Meis Levy, born June 10, 1884, in Ingwiller; Gedeon Weil, born June 11, 1893 in Ingwiller; and Adolphe Klein born April 26 1891 in Ingwiller. Thirty six members of the Resistance were thrown alive into a well by the Nazis in Guerry.

Scope and Content

June 8-15, 1927 in Ingwiller (the family stayed at the Hotel de la Gare in Alsace-Lorraine). Stone house in Ingwiller, France where August Levy grew up. Emilie and Robert play. Street life in the village - cow pulling a wagon with passengers moves along the town's main road passing "Epicerie et Mercerie" shop. 01:03:07 CUs of Levy relatives: Lucy Levy; Rachel Meis, half-sister of Henry Meis (who brought August Levy to Cincinnati in 1892), and August; Henry Meis (1857-) with Lucy Levy; another relative (woman) with Clara Levy; Henry Meis with Lucy Levy again, followed by Rachel Meis; Clara Levy with Henry Meis, Emilie Jane, and Robert; 01:04:09 Henry's companion, Howard Landon (1874-) with Emilie Jane, Robert, and a dog. 01:04:23 The store of Salomon Levy, with Salomon and his wife Mina in the doorway (both were killed by the Nazis in July 1944). Street scene. 01:04:48 Synagogue in Ingwiller (Henry Meis was a big contributor and supporter of the synagogue. Carl revisited the synagogue during the war in 1944.). The visiting Americans pose on the steps of the synagogue. Children play in the doorway of a shop. Man walks on a cobbled street in Ingwiller(?). Lucy Levy and others in the street before the "Emile Bronner Printre" shop. Street scenes in Alsace region (maybe Ettendorf or Hochfelden). Farmer. Changing a tire on the way from Hochfelden back to Ingwiller. Robert Levy on the dirt road. 01:06:09 Street scenes in an Alsatian town (maybe Ettendorf or Hochfelden). MS, the home in Hochfelden, Germany where August Levy was born in 1875; family poses near the doorway. Cow. Levy family on a narrow street in an Alsatian town (probably Hochfelden). 01:07:16 June 15- 18, 1927. Laundry hanging along a canal/river in Strasbourg(?). Several tourist shots of Strasbourg where August Levy went to school ("Dad wanted to show us all the places of his youth"). Illegible sign. Children in gardens. 01:08:22 The Palace of the Rhine (formerly the Palace of the Kaiser) in Strasbourg. Children at play at the base of a monument. "Litteris et Patriae" on the University Palace building of the University of Strasbourg. 01:09:22 LS, Boat on the Rhine River. 01:09:44 Glimpse of Ingwiller with Clara, Rachel Meis, and Emilie Jane, and a brief street scene of women and children in the town. 01:09:55 Back in Strasbourg, tram, street scenes. LS, Levy women across the street in front of a statue, pan of large domed building. Family with bearded tour-guide. "H. Tietz & Co" shop behind a fountain. 01:11:30 Emilie in the doorway of the school where August Levy went. 01:11:36 Clara Levy and the canals of Strasbourg. CU, tour-guide. More sights and streets in Strasbourg. 01:13:31 Strasbourg Cathedral. Canals. 01:14:18 Outdoor restaurant, café tables with umbrellas. Overview shot of café and pedestrians. 01:15:09 LS, family members before an arched-marble statue ending with August with Emilie walking towards the camera. More tourist shots of unidentified buildings and other sights (unknown location).

Note(s)

  • Refer to files for a copy of the travel journal Carl Henry wrote as well as a DVD with the 1988 recording of Carl narrating his films of Europe.

  • Levy family relatives lost in the massacre by the French fascists and the Gestapo between July 24 and August 8 1944 at Guerry are: Salomon Levy, born Spetember 6, 1871 in Ingwiller; Mina Meis Levy, born June 10, 1884, in Ingwiller; Gedeon Weil, born June 11, 1893 in Ingwiller; and Adolphe Klein born April 26 1891 in Ingwiller. Thirty six members of the Resistance were thrown alive into a well by the Nazis in Guerry.

Subjects

Places

Genre

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.