Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1937-1943 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 file
Context area
Name of creator
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.
Repository
Archival history
GB 1556 WL 1514 1937-1943 collection 1 file Israel , Wilfred , 1899-1943
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.
Deposited by Diana Hopkinson.
Papers of Wilfrid Israel, 1937-1943, comprise correspondence from Wilfrid Israel to Diana Hopkinson. The last letter in this collection makes reference to the immanent ill-fated trip to Lisbon, where the Jewish Agency had asked him to assist with refugee work.
Arranged in chronological order.
Open
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
English
Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
WL 548
Entry compiled by Howard Falksohn.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
March 2008 Wars (events) Antisemitism Europe International conflicts Israel , Wilfred , 1899-1943 Lisbon Migrants Portugal Racial discrimination Refugees War Western Europe World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945)
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Diana Hopkinson.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Wilfrid Israel, 1937-1943, comprise correspondence from Wilfrid Israel to Diana Hopkinson. The last letter in this collection makes reference to the immanent ill-fated trip to Lisbon, where the Jewish Agency had asked him to assist with refugee work.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged in chronological order.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
WL 548
Finding aids
Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English