AHC interview with Walter Fischer.

Abstract

May 2, 20180:00:16-0:04:31, 0:36:28-0:43:03 Escape from Vienna, emigration to Montréal0:04:37-0:05:30, 0:58:36-1:03:28 First years in Montréal, founding a family in Montréal0:05:38-0:12:17 Parents Baruch Fischer and Johanna Lorenz0:12:18-0:15:01 Parental home0:16:47-0:18:42, 1:03:34-1:06:05 Languages, adjustments and integration in Canada0:18:42-0:21:45, 0:43:07-0:45:24 Education and work in Vienna, Switzerland and Canada0:21:45-0:25:15 Family life and his relationship to his mother Johanna Lorenz0:25:17-0:30:43 Religious life0:31:18-0:35:57 “Anschluss” and its impact0:48:24-0:53:13 Arrival in Canada and going from Halifax to Montréal0:53:15-0:58:31 Nazi-sympathizers on the ship from Southampton to Halifax1:06:05-1:09:03 Political opinions, anti-Semitism1:11:29-1:13:54 Awareness of the “Final Solution”1:13:57-1:17:31 Mixed and segregated neighborhoods, differences between Israel and Montréal1:17:22-1:19:55, 1:25:24-1:28:17 Judaism, education and anti-Semitism1:19:56-1:25:07 Israel1:28:18-1:37:39 Visiting Austria1:37:43-1:40:34 Austrian news1:42:19-1:47:09 Holocaust memorials and commemoration1:48:16-1:51:30 Vienna and Viennese cuisine1:51:31-1:54:44 Discussing family documents and pictures1:54:44-2:10:22 Anita Fischer’s family history and her thoughts on religionWalter Fischer was born on June 29, 1930 in Vienna, Austria, where he grew up in the city’s first district. His parents, Baruch Brum, recte Fischer, a tailor, and Johanna née Lorenz, a seamstress divorced in 1932. Walter stayed with his mother, who was not Jewish. Immediately after the “Anschluss”, he and his Jewish father left for France, accompanied by an apprentice at his father’s tailor shop. On the way to Marseille, Walter’s father got sick, and the apprentice took Walter to the internment camp in Gurs. Baruch (Brum) Fischer died on his way to Marseille. When the Germans occupied southern France in 1942, Walter left Gurs and made his way to Switzerland. There, he worked on farms during the summer months and went to school in winter for several years. In 1947 he left for Southampton in England and further emigrated to Canada in 1948. Walter settled in Montréal and became an accountant. He met his wife Anita at the Combined Jewish Appeal in Montréal; they had three children.Austrian Heritage Collectio