Miss Minna Specht
Title: Miss
Epithet: Rushen Camp internee, Isle of Man (1940 - 1941)
Record type: Second World War Internees
Biography: Internee number 3270.
18 July 1940 arrived at Rushen Camp c/o Bradda Glen, Port Erin. - Date of Birth 22.12.1879 in Reinbek, Prussia. - Profession Teacher. - Address of last residence outside U.K. "Hounesluall", Hillinge, Denmark. - Single. - German Passport 38326 Copenhagen, 12 July 34. - 3.11.38 Conditional landing at Harwich. - 3.11.39 Monmouthshire Tribunal Exempted internment & special restrictions. - 3.6.40 Regional Advisory Committee No. 7 To be interned until further order. UK address, Wrington, Somerset.
Letter dated 2.10.40 refers to Margaret Heinz, 33B, Chalcot Square, London NW1, applying to visit Minna Specht. - Leader of a group of ladies who taught in the camp school. -
13.6.41 Leaving Isle of Man deleted. - 1.8.41 Leaving Isle of Man for 24, Mandeville Rise, Welwyn Garden City, Herts.
Wrote a play (for the internees) to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukah. Erna Simion remembered "two rather tall girls as prophets, with long beards, standing at the side and reading the tale of Chanukah - it is a miracle tale - and then Saint Mary and the Jesus baby. We drew crowds, even the people of the village came. We had singers, very, very gifted people. Everything we made ourselves". There were dissenters "The orthodox (Jewish) people didn't like it very much. But it was well received, so enthusiastically applauded, that everybody (else) was quite happy". - From We Built up our Lives B115/59
Rushen Camp, Port Erin. - A girl who shared a bed with Renate Scholem at the camp and warned her about lesbianism. - From "Collar the Lot" ref. B115/9
Registration number 649019 issued 16.11.38 at Pontyfral. XOHA-287-16.
Occupation / profession: teacher
Nationality: German
Gender: Female
Date of birth: 22 December 1879
Place of birth: Reinbek, Prussia