Otto Ludwig Zwieback

Born: Breslau, Upper Silesia, 25 January 1912

Profession in country of origin: Unknown

Arrived in Britain as a refugee from Germany in 1939

Documents

Male enemy alien - Exemption from internment - Refugee  
                                          
Surname: Zwieback
Forename: Otto
Alias: -
Date and place of birth: 25/01/1912 in Breslau
Nationality: German
Police Regn. Cert. No.: 664 906
Home Office ref: Z2818
Address: Hill Farm, Boxford,Suffolk
Normal occupation: Textile worker
Present occupation: Trainee in fruit farming
Name and address of employer: Mr Loshak, Hill Farm, Boxford, Suffolk
Decision of tribunal: To be exempt from internment
Date 15.12.1939
Whether exempted from Article 6(A): Yes
Whether desires to be repatriated: No

Jewish refugee from Nazi oppression
Strongly anti-Nazi
Can be safely regarded as a friend alien

Tribunal for Norfolk and Suffolk District

Source: National Archives, Home Office: Aliens Department: Internees Index, 1939-1947.

Otto Ludwig Zwieback – began military service on 6 February 1940 at Richborough camp.

Enlisted in British Royal Auxilary Pioneer Corps, 87 Company, 65 Group, S/N 13046380

Considered for service in the British Military Special Operations Executive (SOE) during WWII but found not suitable.

Source: National Archives records

Editor’s note: We are not allowed to reproduce National Archives (UK) images, but we are permitted to reproduce the material from them, as shown above.

Memories

Otto Zwieback was a prisoner in Dachau in 1938.

In 1939 he immigrated to Britain; he was noted as being “strongly anti-Nazi” and given the status ‘Enemy Alien-Exempt from Internment’.

In December 1939 Otto was employed on Hill Farm – a fruit farm – at Boseford, Suffolk.

Otto was a Private in the Pioneer Corps, Pte. 13801252, based out of Velindre, Llandysul, Cardiganshire, with a civilian address in Newton, Suffolk.

From around 1940, Otto Ludwig Zwieback was known as Roger Louis Stanley.

He began military service on 6 February 1940 at Kitchener camp in Kent. He enlisted in the Royal Auxilary Pioneer Corps. 87 Company , 65 Group. S/N 13046380.

The 87 Company saw military action against the German army around Le Havre and Rennes, France, and was later evacuated from St Malo (the Dunkirk evacuation/Operation Dynamo).

The 87 company, Pioneer Corps, was stationed at various locations around London in the Blitz target areas of the Luftwaffe.

Otto was then transferred to the British Royal Armoured Corps (the tank corps), 253 Coy, PC, w.e.f., on 14.07.1943

Otto was awarded: 1. British 1939-45 Star; 2. France and Germany Star; 3. Defence Medal; 4. War Medal. Considered for service in the British Military Special Operations Executive (SOE) in 1941, but found not suitable.

In 1946 Otto was released from active army service, but remained in the Reserves. He was removed from the Reserves list in 1954.

Photographs