Page - 167 - in Mobile Culture Studies - The Journal, Volume 1/2015

Abstract Between 1938 and 1945, approximately 2.200 Austrians could flee from national- socialist persecution to Argentina. This article presents and analyses testimonies acqui- red through an oral history research project in Buenos Aires, with a focus on role and meaning of the passage and the sea voyage in these life stories. After time-consuming preparations, economic and bureaucratic struggles, violent persecution and nearly complete deprivation, the departure from Vienna and the separation from their former “heimat” confirmed for these Austrian Jews a definite breach with their previous lives and the beginning of a stage of uncertainty and insecurity, in anxiety for the relatives they left behind. The transatlantic journey itself symbolizes a world in-between. On the one hand all emigrants had to pass through this transition under similar circumstances, but on the other hand the testimonies show a wide variety of experiences, depending on the individual situation, on the experiences made since the “Anschluss”, on the moment of escape and on the accommodation on board. The prospect of having to start from zero in a new country, without knowledge of the language, without housing and income, characterises the atmosphere of the testimonies, torn between the relief of escape from state repression and the uncertainty of the future. The “leisure time” during the journey which lasted three to four weeks offered an oppor- tunity to look ahead and make plans for the future, but also to look back to the past and to consider the memoirs of a former existence. At the same time, some felt the need to enjoy the voyage and to try and forget their sorrows in this short period between departure and arrival. The interviewed persons were children, teenagers, or young adults when they were expelled. In order to give an insight into the experiences of the elder generations as well, I will quote from a private correspondence between family members written on the ship between hamburg and Santa fé. This essay also considers the Argentinian policies regarding immigration during the 1930s and 1940s, the different routes and embarking ports of escape, and finally reports about the arrival and the first impressions of the city of Buenos Aires. Keywords sea voyage, travel bureaucracy, arrival, Austrian Jews, Argentina „Die Schiffsreise war für mich eine Mischung aus Nostalgie, Melancholie, Unsicherheit“ Die Überfahrt österreichischer Jüdinnen und Juden nach Südamerika Philipp Mettauer Mobile culture Studies. The Journal, Vol. 1 2015, 167-180 Editor reviewed article Open Access: content is licensed under cc BY 3.0