"It is not by the principles of humanity that man lives or is able to preserve himself above the animal world, but solely by means of the most brutal struggle… If you do not fight for life, then life will never be won…”

These foreboding words from a speech by Adolf Hitler, were to cast a long shadow on the lives of many Germans and non-Germans. Few could imagine the abyss into which the world was going to be plunged.

One who could was Kurt Graupner. Raised as a German Social Democrat, he later joined the party and made the decision to oppose Nazi ideology.

By the end of September 1932 it became imperative for Kurt, who was 21, to leave Germany, which he did by landing in England on October 3.

Many Esperanto contacts he had made before the rise of Nazism had been useful in directing him to West Bridgeford, England, where he was offered hospitality and accommodation by Mr A E Pestell, formerly the chairman of the Rushcliffe Divisional Labour Party.

With Pestell’s fatherly assistance, Kurt was able to make his way to Leicester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and other towns before settling finally in Bradford at the end of April,1933.

In the early part of the year, he received news that his parents had been placed under surveillance and their movements were being controlled.

Kurt was classed as an ‘alien’ in England. This classification also carried a caveat which prevented him from seeking paid or unpaid employment.

To remain in England would, therefore, require a permit from the Home Office underpinned by sufficient personal funds. Consequently, Kurt became wholly dependent on the hospitality of friends and had limited funds.

Just as things were beginning to look dire, a saviour appeared in the guise of Alderman and past Lord Mayor of Bradford (1930-31), Alfred Pickles JP.

At the time, Kurt was living at the Pickles’ family home near Lister & Co Ltd in Heaton, Bradford. Alderman Pickles insisted that Kurt could stay in the family home indefinitely. This laudable and magnanimous offer was taken up immediately by Kurt.

While residing with the Pickles family, Kurt was encouraged to contribute to the Bradford Pioneer newspaper (1913-36) which he did writing several articles under the name of P Frank.

Although Kurt’s writing was directed towards the growing evils of Nazism, he also found time to review German socio-political books and journals. He was also invited to deliver talks to any interested groups willing to learn about what was happening on the European continent.

The years 1933-36 proved to be a difficult time. This news was made worse by the fact that Kurt’s residency was always coming up for renewal.

Residence permits were only granted for three monthly periods and occasionally for six months. In order to obtain them, Alderman Pickles had to get in touch with the Member of Parliament for Bradford North, Sir Eugene Ramsden OBE, MP, who always succeeded in obtaining a permit.

In the midst of Kurt’s new found stability, Alderman Pickles died in 1936 following a minor stroke he had sustained while attending a Union Conference in Swansea.

Mrs Pickles and daughter insisted that Kurt continue living at the address. A sequence of fortunate occurrences now manifested themselves, beginning with permission being granted for Kurt to be appointed as a teacher of German at the Berlitz School in Bradford (one of only five schools in England).

Although this appointment seemed to be a stroke of good luck, Kurt was to remain with them until July 1936. On October 6, 1939, almost five weeks after the declaration of war against Germany, Kurt was required to present himself to the Aliens Tribunal held in Leeds.

The meeting was concluded with Kurt being exempted from internment. Everything now looked promising. Kurt could continue with his political and professional work.

Unfortunately, the following day, Kurt was summoned again to attend the Aliens Tribunal. On this occasion, Kurt, accompanied by Councillor Flanagan of Bradford and armed with a dossier of papers, presented himself at the Aliens Tribunal held in Leeds.

On this occasion, he was questioned whether he was a Communist, an ILP member or a member of the Labour party. During the tribunal, the chairman went on to comment that in his view the Social Democrats in Germany appeared not to have been persecuted.

He continued by asking Kurt his current employment. Kurt told him he was a teacher of German. At that point the chairman remarked: “You certainly did not teach labourers or workmen. They were better class people, were they not? Did you teach members of HM Forces?...”

After ten to 15 minutes of questions directed at Kurt and Councillor Flanagan, the chairman announced the decision of the panel: “...I see no reason whatsoever why you should not be treated as an enemy alien – INTERNMENT...”

This decision resulted in Kurt being given a couple of days, at the most, to settle his affairs.

When he got back to Bradford, the police informed Kurt that he would be sent directly to an internment camp, even though they never told him where it was.

Having less than a day to react to this news, he sent letters to a number of influential persons who could apply some pressure to release him from internment. They included the International Solidarity Fund, William Leach MP, JP, and Mr A Creech-Jones MP.

Unfortunately, the decision of the Aliens Tribunal was final and Kurt was dispatched to Internment Camp No 23 situated in Aintree, Liverpool. This was the first of many camps Kurt was going to attend before he would return home as a political refugee and not as an enemy alien.

With this internment came the end of Kurt’s political agitation against Nazism. During this period, many of his colleagues, who were trapped abroad, were systematically rounded up, imprisoned or abducted, tried and beheaded as in the case of Dr Max Sievers on January 17, 1944, at Brandenburg-Görden prison.

In a letter written a few weeks after the declaration of war, Kurt prophetically wrote to his future wife that: “…the war will act as a whip. It will be responsible for many social changes... evacuation has mixed the population so thoroughly that the outlook of many people about their fellow men will be changed and some children will return home and act as leaders to their parents. You know what I mean...”