Private Papers of Mr and Mrs M Meyer

Collection

Scope and content:: Substantial collection of papers relating to a German-Jewish couple who left Germany to settle in Britain shortly before the Second World War, comprising: transcripts (27pp ts) of the indictment and sentences in the trial of Martin Meyer and others before a German court in 1934 on charges relating to their activities on behalf of the proscribed Social Democratic Party; series of testimonials from his employers, 1926 - 1936 (11pp ts), notification of dismissal from local government employment, May 1933 (1p ts), and papers relating to his application for an emigration permit, 1938 - 1939 (6pp ts); miscellaneous papers from his service in the Pioneer Corps during the Second World War, including five photographs; official correspondence (9pp ts) dated 1947 concerning the Meyers' naturalisation as British subjects; letters (circa 50pp ts/ms) received by Martin Meyer between 1942 and 1950 in response to enquiries about members of his family (some of whom perished in Nazi camps); a substantial accumulation of correspondence dated 1957 - 1970, mainly in German, concerning his claim for compensation as a victim of Nazi persecution; two accounts (9pp ts) written by his wife concerning their shared experiences; and other miscellaneous papers, including their German passports.

Subject terms:: Correspondence; Holocaust; Migration; Migration--Emigration; Restitution and compensation; World War II

Access, restrictions:: Visit IWM website for Research Room access provisions see https://www.iwm.org.uk/research/research-facilities

Links to finding aids:: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030006423