AHC interview Erich L. Lilian.

Abstract

May 8, 20180:00:16-0:08:32 Childhood and anti-Semitism in Klagenfurt, moving to Vienna in 19380:08:35-0:13:34 Vienna 1938-1939, Uncle Max Glaser0:13:43-0:16:30 Arrest of father Sigmund Lilian and uncles Max and Joseph Glaser; decision to emigrate0:16:32-0:18:58 Help from the wife of his uncle Heinrich Glaser0:19:07-0:25:09 Klagenfurt0:25:13-0:30:30 Situation for Jews before the “Anschluss”, rise of Nazism and politics after the “Anschluss”0:30:21-0:35:12 Escaping to Cologne and further to Antwerp0:35:12-0:40:48 Going to England with his mother, living with the Oster-family in London; “Blitz”0:41:15-0:44:36 Staying in contact with the Oster-family after WW II0:44:36-0:59:50 Isle of Man, Internment in London during the “Blitz”0:59:50-1:02:18 Story of father Sigmund Lilian1:02:18-1:11:47 Preparing for the emigration to the United States1:13:23-1:20:10 First impressions of New York and Philadelphia, school in Philadelphia1:20:14-1:24:27 Reunion with father Sigmund Lilian, moving to Washington DC1:24:24-1:29:45 Teacher’s college at Temple University, start of his professional career1:29:45-1:36:02, 1:46:05-1:49:55 First wife Judy, children Michael and Randy1:36:02-1:37:57 Maternal grandparents; Theresienstadt1:39:47-1:45:56 Deportation of family members; the Holocaust in the family’s memory1:50:04-1:59:49 Law School, becoming a judge at the municipal court in Philadelphia2:02:39-2:07:21 Daughter Randy’s and wife Marlene’s perspective on his life2:10:51-2:16:46 Paternal grandparents; paternal family in Israel2:16:48-2:17:47 Maternal family2:17:47-2:22:30 Memories of his parents and Klagenfurt2:22:30-2:25:03 Jewish community in Klagenfurt, religion2:28:22-2:35:30 Family’s attitude on politics and Zionism, anti-Semitism and political event before the “Anschluss”2:40:04-2:43:05 Contact with his father during the time of their separation2:43:56-2:46:56, 2:49:22-2:54:31 News coverage in the United States on events during WW II2:47:02-2:49:17 Father’s career in the United States2:54:33-2:56:33 Dealing with Nazi-past in Austria, restitution payments2:56:34-3:05:10 Political situation in Austria today, visiting Austria in 19853:05:12-3:08:30 Speaking German, Austrian citizenship3:08:46-3:10:43 Israel3:10:46-3:13:18 Religion3:13:19-3:16:56, 3:17:54-3:20:15 Current political situation in the United States, liberalismErich L. Lilian was born on June 20, 1930 in Klagenfurt, Austria, where he grew up as the only child of Gisela (née Glaser) and Sigmund Lilian, who owned a dry good store. Due to rising anti-Semitism, the family left for Vienna after the “Anschluss”, where they stayed with his maternal grandparents. At the end of 1938 they escaped to Antwerp in Belgium. In 1939 he went to England with his mother, who was able to get a job as a housekeeper for a middle-class family in London. During the “Blitz” they were evacuated to Bognor Regis and shortly after that, Erich and his mother were interned at the Isle of Man. After their release, the “Blitz” was still going on, and they were interned again in London. In 1940 they emigrated to the United States on the ship ‘Coronia’ that was part of a convoy from Liverpool to New York, where his mother was trained to work in a textile factory. Afterwards they moved to Philadelphia, where she started working and Erich went to school. His father reunited with them after the war, and the family moved to Washington DC. Back in Philadelphia Erich started to study in 1948 at the teacher’s college at Temple University. He founded a family and worked as a teacher for a several years. In 1959 he started to study law at the same university and eventually became a judge at the municipal court in Philadelphia. He has two children - Michael and Randy – and settled in Rydal, Pa. with his second wife Marlene.Austrian Heritage Collectio