Fritz Lustig facts for kids
Fritz Lustig (born March 31, 1919 – died December 18, 2017) was a German-Jewish person who moved to England. He left Germany during the Nazi era, a time when the Nazi party ruled Germany and persecuted Jewish people.
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Early Life and Moving to England
Fritz Lustig was born in Germany on March 31, 1919. He moved to the United Kingdom in April 1939. This was just before World War II started. His parents also left Germany later, moving to Portugal. His brother, Ted, moved to the United States.
His Role in World War II
When World War II began in 1939, Fritz was briefly held in a camp. This was because he was from Germany, which was an "enemy alien" country at the time. He was held at Peveril Camp on the Isle of Man in 1940.
Joining the British Army
After this, Fritz Lustig joined the British Army. He became part of the Pioneer Corps. This group helped with important tasks like building and logistics. Fritz was a talented musician and played the cello in the corps' orchestra.
Secret War Work
In 1943, Fritz was moved to a special unit called the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre. Here, he had a very important and secret job. He would listen in on conversations of captured German officers. This was done at places like Latimer House and Wilton Park in Buckinghamshire. These places were known as "No 1 Distribution Centre" and "No 2 Distribution Centre." By listening, he helped the British gain valuable information about the enemy.
After the War
Fritz Lustig rose to a high rank in the army, becoming a Regimental Sergeant Major. He left the army in June 1946. After the war, he worked in finance, dealing with accounts and managing credit. He officially became a British citizen in May 1947.
Family Life
While working for the secret unit during the war, Fritz met Susan Cohn. She was also a refugee from Germany. They got married in 1945. Susan passed away in 2013. They had two sons. One of their sons is Robin Lustig, who became a well-known broadcaster. Their other son, Stephen, works as a music publisher.
Later Years
Fritz Lustig passed away on December 18, 2017. Many newspapers and radio shows shared stories about his life. These included The Times, The Guardian, and the BBC Radio 4 programme Last Word.
