100-year-old Jewish refugee who lived near Hitler features in Southampton University exhibition
ITV News Meridian's Siri Hampapur has been speaking to Edgar Feuchtwanger about his time in Germany and when he bumped into Hitler.
A 100-year-old Jewish refugee has shared his story as part of a new exhibition about refugees.
Edgar Feuchtwanger, lived near Hitler in Germany, and managed to flee the country with his family just before the war broke out.
Once he left Munich, he studied at Winchester College and later got his doctorate.
He went on to be a history professor at the University of Southampton for 30 years, which has now been given an award for its work supporting refugees.
Edgar Feuchtwanger spoke about how it felt to leave Germany after the Nazi party came to power.
Historian and Jewish refugee, Edgar Feuchtwanger said: "I don't think there are that many people alive who've actually seen Hitler face to face.
"The one time when I remember Hitler well, was when we went down to the place where Hitler's flat was and he came out of the front door.
"We stopped to let him pass to his car and it was only a very ordinary car, not those big long cars in which he later paraded himself around in.
"He saw that we had stopped to let him pass, and so he waved to us as if to say thank you."
Edgar's family knew they had to leave Munich after the Nazi party came to power. He travelled by train in February 1939, with his parents joining shortly after.
Edgar continued: "It seemed to be a very good thing that we could leave. My father was a very keen train traveller and he always went to the dining car so he did that with me.
"Then we got near the front and SS men came through the train. They asked why my father wasn't also travelling abroad, and we said that he was preparing to do so, they then let us through as it were.
"I mean, I felt I had left an evil empire, I think that's the phrase that stuck in my mind."
He told ITV News Meridian what is the biggest lesson that needs to be learned from his experience as a refugee
Edgar said: "I think the world should be more tolerant and shouldn't make so many people refugees.
"It's not a good thing to be a refugee. In my case it all worked out very well, but it can't be like that most of the time. It's a bad experience to have."
His story is one of seven being highlighted in an exhibition at the University of Southampton, which has been named a University of Sanctuary for its work supporting refugees.
Modern European History professor at University of Southampton, Neil Gregor, said: "We thought it would be interesting to delve into the history of refugee movements at the University of Southampton and see what we find.
"What unites the stories is the fact that they lived ordinary, mundane lives and suddenly had to flee their homes.
"So they came to Britain, they eventually came to the University of Southampton and they all made remarkable careers as scholars, teachers, and members of our community."
Vice president of civic engagement at University of Southampton, Jane Falkingham said: "We have conflicts all around the world. But we also have people who actually aren't safe in their own country, even if there isn't conflict going on.
"For example, if they have different sexual preferences and coming from an area of the world where that is not acceptable.
"People have to seek asylum for a whole range of different reasons, so we want the university to be a safe space for people, regardless of their background, so they can realise their full potential."
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