welsh refugees

Question 1

who was the koppel family?

Answer 1

• Joachim- developed new machines for manufacturing zips all over europe
• heinz- son- fine artist, no interest in school. moved to wales
• Heinrich- stepson of Joachim, worked for aero zip as an engineer. interned on the isle of man and was treated as an enemy alien
• Gabby Koppel- daughter of Heinrich- felt a clash of cultured and grew up in a refugee community

Question 2

how did the koppels come to the UK?

Answer 2

• Under the special areas programme- incentive for economically beneficial refugees
• by april 1939, 78 companies has established factories in the Treforest estate, 49 were refugee owned

Question 3

Koppels contribution to the UK/ Wales

Answer 3

• Aero zip brought innovation to wales and employment to local people