Rubenstein, Norman: my Army recollections (March 7, 1982)

Rank: Bombardier.

Interviewer: Cross, James L.

ABSTRACT: Bombardier Norman Rubenstein Royal Artillery Rubenstein_N_0126_01.mp3 Born on Jan. 10, 1919 in Swansea, Wales. Joined the Territorial Army after the Munich Crisis and was called up for active duty on Aug. 24, 1939. In a searchlight unit service was boring in the first few months of the war. In Jan. 1940 he volunteered for overseas service and on March 17, 1940 found himself in France. Stationed near Calais, but when the Germans invaded France they moved to Arras. Returned to the Calais area where they were captured by the German army. Escaped for a few days, but eventually recaptured by the S.S. (25:00) Train to Germany, then to Poland in crowded freight cars with little food or water. Describes living conditions and rations in prisoner of war camp. Moved to a camp where the guards were more professional and conditions were better. Began to learn that one got along better with Germans if one was firm and confident. Felt that he had to succeed to show that a Jewish soldier could cope with harsh conditions. Received Red Cross parcels every two weeks. In charge of a small group working on farms; not an unpleasant time. Through 1942 he was an interpreter at a medical camp. (45:00) Rubenstein_N_0126_02.mp3 Transferred to a camp in an unfinished school in Poland where conditions were bad, but after much effort they slowly improved. Next sent to a fortress camp which was so damp and cold, and the food so bad, that the Red Cross eventually forced its closure. Bought a crystal radio set and listened to the Allied radio broadcasts for ten hours a night; during the day he slept and wrote a newsletter which he read aloud in four areas of the camp. (15:00) After Italy capitulated Italian generals were brought to the camp and Rubenstein was ordered to teach them how to cook and look after themselves in prison. Moved again and joined an escape committee which was a particularly dangerous operation for a Jew. Conducted several successful escapes, but had to suffer through several thorough and lengthy searches of the camp by the Gestapo. Moved again to a large camp where there were "officially escaped" British who remained hidden in the camp awaiting a safe opportunity to get out. Due to informers the Germans were aware of these persons, but only very rarely able to capture one of them. Rubenstein and another escaped themselves, but were recaptured and sent to a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia where on May 5, 1945 they were released by partisans. The American army arrived shortly after that and some of the German guards were shot out of hand. Back in England on May 13, 1945 after five years a prisoner of war. (40:00)

Interviewee: Rubenstein, Norman, b. 1919

An interview/narrative of Norman Rubenstein's experiences during World War II. Bombardier Rubenstein served with the Royal Artillery. Interview took place on March 7, 1982.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Cross, James L.
• Rubenstein, Norman, b. 1919

Subject

• World War (1914-1918)
• Military history
• Personal narratives--Canadian
• World War (1939-1945)

Language

• eng

Date created

• March 7, 1982

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
• Special Collections holds an additional interview with Bdr. Rubenstein.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 2 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Germany
• England

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 51.5, 10.5

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)
• reminiscences
• sound recordings

Archival item identifier

• RN_126

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• July 20, 2007

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

Rights

• This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/yf57-mc98

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Visibility	Actions
	SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail		Public	Press to Select an action Download
	Rubenstein_N_0126_01.mp3		Public	Press to Select an action Download
	Rubenstein_N_0126_02.mp3		Public	Press to Select an action Download