Nazi survivors who documented life in Britain


Nazi survivors’ refuge in Britain: How women who emigrated to the UK after escaping persecution in Germany and Austria documented their new lives

  • Stunning images, taken by women who had escaped Nazi persecution, celebrate life in Britain 
  • They came from Germany and Austria, where photography was seen as a more ‘serious’ art form 
  • Photos are being shown at Four Corners gallery, London, until 2 May, to mark Women’s History Month 

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From a woman shopping in an east London market to a family curled up on a single bed at home, these stunning images capture British life through the eyes of women who sought refuge on our shores during the war.  

The snapshots were all captured by female photographers who emigrated to the UK in the 1930s to escape Nazi persecution. 

They came from Germany and Austria, where photography was seen as a more ‘serious’ art form and students were better versed in modernist ideas and methods. 

This allowed them to bring a fresh perspective and approach to capturing the workaday struggles of ‘ordinary’ men and women, as well as the indulgent lives of the rich and famous.

The photographs are being shown at Four Corners gallery, in Bethnal Green, London, until 2 May, to mark Women’s History Month.  Here, the gallery shares a selection of photos with FEMAIL readers…    

Photo of a family, in Stepney, east London, 1932. Taken by Edith Tudor-Hart who fled Austria in 1933 to escape Nazi repression for her communist sympathies and Jewish background

Edith Tudor-Hart's photo of a girl shopping in a market that was used for a pamphlet for the National Unemployed Workers Movement. Date unknown

Edith Tudor-Hart’s photo of a girl shopping in a market that was used for a pamphlet for the National Unemployed Workers Movement. Date unknown

An image of a woman shopping in Chapel Market, Islington, in the 1960s

They were taken by Dorothy Bohm, who was sent to school in England from Lithuania in 1939

Images of women shopping in Chapel Market, Islington, in the 1960s, left and right. They were taken by Dorothy Bohm, who was sent to school in England from Lithuania in 1939

Fathers and children attending a class organised by the Mothercraft Training Society, at their centre in Kingston-on-Thames. The photograph was taken by Gerti Deutsch and published in an edition of Picture Post published in 1939

Fathers and children attending a class organised by the Mothercraft Training Society, at their centre in Kingston-on-Thames. The photograph was taken by Gerti Deutsch and published in an edition of Picture Post published in 1939

Elisabeth Chat took this photo of two miners' wives, published in an issue of Picture Post in 1948

A man plays the piano at Caledonian Market, London in 1932

Elisabeth Chat took this photo of two miners’ wives, left, published in an issue of Picture Post in 1948. Right, a man plays the piano at Caledonian Market, London in 1932

One of the young girls from the Canning Town Women's Settlement, looking at some of the work produced by local children concerning their views of the war, including this drawing by Michael Butterworth. Taken by Gerti Deutsch in May 1940

One of the young girls from the Canning Town Women’s Settlement, looking at some of the work produced by local children concerning their views of the war, including this drawing by Michael Butterworth. Taken by Gerti Deutsch in May 1940

Portrait of the American actor Danny Kaye by Lotte Meitner-Graf, date unknown. Meitner-Graf moved to England with her family in 1937, and opened her own studio at 23 Old Bond Street in London in 1953

Portrait of the American actor Danny Kaye by Lotte Meitner-Graf, date unknown. Meitner-Graf moved to England with her family in 1937, and opened her own studio at 23 Old Bond Street in London in 1953

Portrait of Jean Seberg, c. 1960s

The photographer's portrait of Bertrand Russell, date unknown

Portrait of Jean Seberg, c. 1960s, by Lotte Meitner-Graf. Right, the photographer’s portrait of Bertrand Russell, date unknown

This model was photographed at the Bunyard Ader Studio, date unknown. The image appeared in Vogue magazine

This model was photographed at the Bunyard Ader Studio, date unknown. The image appeared in Vogue magazine

Portrait of Jennie Lee, first Arts Minister

American singer Marian Anderson, photographed by Lotte Meitner-Graf, date unknown

Portrait of Jennie Lee, first Arts Minister, left, taken in 1930s by Gerty Simon, who photographed Einstein in Germany before fleeing Nazi persecution. Right, American singer Marian Anderson, photographed by Lotte Meitner-Graf, date unknown