German-born Jew who was captured working for Britain remembered on VE Day
Stephen Dale - born Heinz Spanglet in Berlin, 1917 - is included on the Imperial War Museum's Voices Of War project to remember victory over the Nazis
The account of a Jewish man who spent six weeks in a concentration camp before being hired as a special operative for Britain, has been included in a project by the Imperial War Museum to mark VE Day.
Testimony from Stephen Dale, born Heinz Spanglet in Berlin, 1917, forms part of the Voices Of War project, to mark victory against the Nazis.
His account is featured alongside that of an army nurse who served in Egypt and a Jamaican aircraftsman, among others.
The museum is marking the 75th anniversary from unexpected perspectives – by bringing voices of the past into people’s homes across the country.
Spanglet, who spent six weeks in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, was interviewed by Imperial War Museum before he passed away.
He had been a seaman in the German Merchant Navy but was arrested as 16-year old in 1933 for anti-Nazi activities. On Kristallnacht he was again arrested and sent to Sachsenhausen for six weeks, where he was severely maltreated.
After release, he managed to emigrate to England in 1939 – where he volunteered for the army – but was interned and transported to Australia.
Returning to England in January 1942, and was accepted into the Alien Pioneer Corps (87th Coy) from which he volunteered to join Special Operations Executive. The unit engaged in espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe to aid local resistance movements.
He was captured while on operations, imprisoned in Austria, and eventually released on 12 April 1945.
Diane Lees, director general of IWM, said: “Originally we had planned to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in public spaces around the UK.
“Due to the current situation, this is no longer possible.
“However, the need to commemorate this national anniversary and to remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by past generations is as pressing as ever.”
Ms Lees said Voices Of War would bring the stories and memories of those who lived through the conflict directly to homes across the UK.
She continued: “We want the public to reflect on this important historical milestone as many others did 75 years ago – in the privacy of their own kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and gardens – and be part of this important national moment with IWM and with the rest of the country.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.