Weiner , Joyce , fl 1933-1980

In April 1933, Joyce Weiner was a young free-lance journalist who had recently spent two semesters as Hilfslektorin at the University of Leipzig. She had many friends in Leipzig and was, therefore, aware of the situation in which the Jewish population found itself. In view of this, she agreed to become the Honorary Secretary of the Hospitality Committee organised by the ladies of the B'nai Brith (in association with the main German Refugees Committee). At the committee she met many talented and distinguished refugees from Germany, the vanguard being professional people such as artists, writers, doctors and scientists. Amongst them was Frau Irma Sernau, a well-known fashion editor from Berlin. Because Joyce Weiner was able to render some service to friends of Frau Sernau, that lady desired to make some return. Her sister, Lola Sernau, was, at that time, private secretary to Leon Feuchtwanger, who was, in Sanary with other famous writers. Lola Sernau arranged for interviews with four of these writers, it being understood that these would be published in John O'London's Weekly, then a reputable and highly regarded literary paper of a popular nature. This was in the summer of 1933. Accordingly, Joyce Weiner had four fascinating conversations with, in turn, Feuchtwanger, Thomas and Heinrich Mann and Arnold Zweig. On her return to England, however, she received a letter from Lola Sernau asking her to stay her hand for the reasons stated in the letter and so the interviews were not published. In fact, for safety's sake they were not written. Irma Sernau went to and from Germany during this period, helping friends to emigrate. She managed to get to France just before the outbreak of war. There she took an active part in the resistance, escaping death many times but surviving and having an unexpected reunion with Joyce Weiner in the late 1950s. Lola Sernau had an honoured place among the exiled writers in Ascona, where eventually Irma died and is buried.