Between Aryanization and Deportation
Introduction
In 1939 there were about 180,000 Jews in the territory of the former Austria [1]. According to the plans of the National Socialists, the area of the entire German Reich was to become “Jew-free”. Many Jews therefore tried to flee, but there were huge hurdles before they could leave the country. In order to be able to emigrate, the Jews needed money. However, as a result of the "Aryanization" that was promoted by the "Wealth Transaction Office"[2], they lost their livelihood. Several ordinances [3] also prohibited them from practicing their profession or conducting their business[4], [5]. In addition, the "Central Office for Jewish Emigration" tried to take even the last savings from the Jews by means of a system of taxes and emigration fees [6]. The "Central Office for Jewish Emigration" and the Gestapo were also the organizations that subsequently organized the deportations of the Jews [7]. From the outbreak of war in 1939, leaving the German Reich became increasingly impossible. After the advance of German troops, France and the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) were no longer safe countries of refuge. To make matters worse, Great Britain also changed its migration policy at the same time and no longer took in refugees from German areas [8].
Transportation of the luggage of deportees, collection camp Kleine Sperlgasse 2a, Vienna 2nd district.
Sources:
[1] Cf. Documentation archive of the Austrian resistance (Dokumentationsarchiv des österreichischen Widerstandes). The Deportation of Austrian Jews, https://ausstellung.de.doew.at/b62.html, accessed: March 29, 2021.
[2] Cf. Botz, G. (2017). Nationalsozialismus in Wien: Machtübernahme, Herrschaftssicherung, Radikalisierung 1938/39. Historical Social Research, Supplement, 28 (2nd ed.), 312.
[3] Cf., for example, the Third Ordinance on Matters relating to Lawyers, Trainee Lawyers and Defense Counsel in Criminal Matters in Austria of September 27, 1938 (Dritte Verordnung über Angelegenheiten der Rechtsanwälte, Rechtsanwaltsanwärter und Verteidiger in Strafsachen in Österreich vom 27. September 1938), RGBl I p. 1406.
[4] Cf. Botz, G. (2017). Nationalsozialismus in Wien: Machtübernahme, Herrschaftssicherung, Radikalisierung 1938/39. Historical Social Research, Supplement, 28 (2nd ed.), 271.
[5] Cf. generally: Alexander Mejstrik et al.: Berufsschädigungen in der nationalsozialistischen Neuordnung der Arbeit. Vom österreichischen Berufsleben 1934 zum völkischen Schaffen 1938-1940 (Veröffentlichungen der Österreichischen Historikerkommission, Bd. 16), Wien 2004.
[6] Cf. Botz, Gerhard. (2017). Nationalsozialismus in Wien: Machtübernahme, Herrschaftssicherung, Radikalisierung 1938/39. Historical Social Research, Supplement, 28 (2nd ed.), 270.
[7] Cf. Documentation archive of the Austrian resistance. The Punishment of the Deportation Crimes (Dokumentationsarchiv des österreichischen Widerstandes. Die Ahndung der Deportationsverbrechen), https://ausstellung.de.doew.at/b140.html, accessed March 29, 2021.
[8] Cf. Wien History Wiki, Deportations (Wien Geschichte Wiki, Deportationen), https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Deportation, accessed March 29, 2021.
Transportation of the luggage of deportees, collection camp Kleine Sperlgasse 2a, Vienna 2nd district.