The Holocaust and Wales: ‘Enemy Aliens’ and Human Rights

Description

After the outbreak of war in September 1939, all Germans and Austrians in Britain became ‘enemy aliens’ and had to register with the police. Although most remained at liberty, in the summer of 1940, restrictions tightened due to the risk of German invasion, and tens of thousands were interned.

The increase in numbers of those interned exhausted the capacity of existing sites and, although most refugees were interned in camps in Britain, some were deported to other countries, notably Canada and Australia.

This resource explores the internment of Jewish Refugees as ‘enemy aliens’ in the UK and their experience of having been sent to camps on the Isle of Man and in Canada.

Image above: Enemy Aliens and Internees card for Heinrich David Pinkus. The National Archives, Kew, London, England, HO 396 WW2 Internees (Aliens) Index Cards 1939-1947, Archive Reference: HO 396/135. Image: Findmypast. Original document: ©Crown Copyright. Image reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England.

The resource contains:

I. Guidelines for Teachers:

- What are the purpose, learning aims, and focus of the resource?
- What skills, knowledge and experience does the resource help develop?
- How does the resource support learning in local (cynefin), national and international contexts?
- Background information about the internment of ‘enemy aliens’.
- Ideas and questions.
- Links to research and further information.

II. Information Sheet and Activities for Learners:

- Information about ‘enemy aliens’ and their internment.
- Suggested activities.

This resource was initially produced in 2021/22 as part of the 'Côf a lithr, llythyrau a geidw: creating Holocaust resources for Welsh schools' partnership project between the Centre for the Movement of People (CMOP), Aberystwyth University, and the Jewish History Association of South Wales/Cymdeithas Hanes Iddewig De Cymru (JHASW/CHIDC). The work was kindly supported by the Association of Jewish Refugees, Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, Jewish Historical Society of England and Garfield Weston Foundation.

It was amended to suit the Curriculum for Wales requirements in 2024 by the Jewish History Association of South Wales/Cymdeithas Hanes Iddewig De Cymru (JHASW/CHIDC) thanks to a grant from the Association of Jewish Refugees and Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust.

Curriculum for Wales

Health and Well-being, Humanities, Languages, Literacy and Communication

Age: 9-14 / Progression Steps: 3 and 4

Learning Activity Pack

This is one of two resources on the topic of internment of ‘enemy aliens’ and one of 20 resources about the Holocaust and Wales. Here is a link to the other resource in this series: 

‘Enemy Aliens’ and Internment Camps

See the Quick Links below for content to accompany this resource.