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Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, left Austria in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution. This was after the German annexation of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, which saw the launch of mass arrests and violent antisemitism in Vienna. Freud, who was Jewish, was in danger, and his books were among those burned by the Nazis in Berlin in 1933. Despite the urging of his friends and colleagues, Freud was initially determined to stay in Vienna, even after the arrest and interrogation of his daughter, Anna Freud, by the Gestapo. It was only after this incident that Freud finally agreed to leave, choosing England as his place of exile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of leaving Austria | 4 June 1938 |
| Reason for leaving Austria | To escape Nazi persecution |
| Place of exile | England |
| Assistance in leaving Austria | Ernest Jones, Marie Bonaparte, and Bullitt |
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What You'll Learn
Freud's reluctance to leave Vienna
Sigmund Freud was reluctant to leave Vienna, the city he called home, even as the Nazi threat grew more prominent and dangerous. Freud, who was born in the Austrian Empire, had deep ties to the city, both personally and professionally. He had established himself in Vienna, setting up his clinical practice there in 1886 and was determined to remain there even as political turmoil engulfed Austria in the 1930s.
Freud's reluctance to leave can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, he may have underestimated the Nazi threat and believed that Austrian politicians could keep the Nazis at bay. He seemed to think that while antisemitism existed in Vienna, it would remain on a modest scale. This proved to be a miscalculation, as the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938 led to violent outbreaks of antisemitism.
Secondly, Freud had a strong emotional attachment to Vienna. He had transformed himself from an outsider scorned by the medical establishment into a widely acclaimed practitioner in the city. He was enamored with Vienna and stubbornly refused to leave, even as others in his circle, like his sons, Oliver and Ernst, and his colleague, Stefan Zweig, left the country. Freud's determination to stay put is evident in a letter he wrote to his nephew Sam in July 1933: "The only thing I can say is that we are determined to stick it out here to the last."
Additionally, Freud may have felt insulted and disrespected by the actions of the Nazis, who burned his books and denounced his work. His reluctance to leave, therefore, could have been a way of showing his defiance and refusing to give in to their demands.
Freud's initial refusal to leave Vienna put his life and the lives of those closest to him at risk. It was only after the arrest and interrogation of his daughter, Anna Freud, by the Gestapo, and the persistent efforts of his followers, including Ernest Jones, that Freud finally agreed to leave for exile in Britain in June 1938.
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The arrest of his daughter, Anna Freud
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, finally left Austria in June 1938, following the German annexation of Austria in March of that year. The arrest of his daughter, Anna Freud, was a key factor in his decision to leave.
Anna Freud, born on 3 December 1895, was the youngest of Sigmund Freud's six children. She followed in her father's footsteps and made significant contributions to the field of psychoanalysis, particularly in the area of child psychoanalysis. She had a close relationship with her father and even underwent analysis with him between 1918 and 1921 and again from 1924 to 1929. She also acted as his secretary and spokesperson at various conferences.
In the lead-up to the German annexation of Austria, Anna was actively involved in her father's work and shared his determination to remain in Vienna. However, the political situation took a turn for the worse when the Nazis gained control of Germany in January 1933 and began implementing antisemitic policies and propaganda. Despite growing concerns for their safety, the Freuds remained in Vienna.
On 13 March 1938, Austria was annexed by Germany, marking the beginning of Nazi rule in the country. The following day, 14 March, Adolf Hitler arrived in Vienna, and the Nazis launched mass arrests and violent antisemitic campaigns. On 15 March, Freud's home and publishing house were searched, and his passport was confiscated. This was a clear indication that the Freud family was in imminent danger.
The arrest of Anna Freud by the Gestapo was the final straw that convinced Sigmund Freud to leave Austria. Anna was taken to Gestapo headquarters and interrogated. Fortunately, she was released the same day. It is believed that she carried a lethal dose of Veronal, secretly given to her by her father's physician, Max Schur, as a way out if she faced torture.
The arrest of Anna Freud highlighted the urgency of the situation and the very real threat posed by the Nazis to the Freud family. Sigmund Freud, recognizing the danger they were in, agreed to leave Austria and chose England as their place of exile. With the help of Ernest Jones, who pulled strings in London, the Freuds were able to secure entry permits and safely depart from Vienna on 4 June 1938.
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The help of Ernest Jones
Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, left Austria in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution. This came after the German annexation of Austria, which saw the Nazis seize control of the country and unleash a wave of violent antisemitism.
Freud, who was Jewish, was in danger due to his status as a prominent figure. Despite this, he initially refused to leave Vienna, even as friends and colleagues begged him to go. It was only after the arrest and interrogation of his daughter, Anna Freud, by the Gestapo that Freud finally decided to leave.
Jones's resourcefulness and connections in high places were key to the success of Freud's escape. He pulled strings in London to ensure that the Freuds obtained entry permits to England. Even with Jones's help, it was uncertain until the last moment if Freud and his family would be able to leave Austria safely. They boarded a train in Vienna on June 4, 1938, bound for Paris, and eventually made their way to England.
In addition to Jones's assistance, organizations of psychoanalysts in the United States, France, England, and elsewhere contributed funds to help facilitate Freud's escape. This included ready money from Marie Bonaparte, who was working to get other Jews out of Austria and Germany. Freud's departure from Austria was marked by a flurry of last-minute scrambles to hide books, export assets, and secure the necessary funds and paperwork.
The Anschluss: Nazi Germany's Annexation of Austria in 1938
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The Nazi annexation of Austria
Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, was born in 1856 in the Austrian Empire. In 1873, he joined the University of Vienna, where he faced antisemitism from his peers. Despite this, he remained in Vienna, setting up his clinical practice there in 1886.
In 1933, as the Nazi threat began to grow, Freud's books were burned in Berlin. However, he remained determined to stay in Vienna, even after the German annexation of Austria in March 1938. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, marked the political union of Austria with Nazi Germany and sparked mass arrests, violent antisemitism, and the looting of Jewish-owned stores. Freud's home and publishing house were searched, and his passport was confiscated.
The arrest and interrogation of his daughter Anna by the Gestapo finally convinced Freud it was time to leave. With the help of Ernest Jones, then president of the International Psychoanalytical Association, Freud and his family fled Vienna on June 4, 1938, bound for Paris en route to exile in England. They had to pay a "flight tax" or "Reichsfluchtsteuer", a tax levied on Jews seeking to leave the Reich, and it was a complicated process to secure the necessary visas for the whole family and their staff.
Freud died in London, England, in 1939, just a little over a year after leaving Austria.
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in March 1938. This event, known as the Anschluss, marked the political union of the two countries and was met with widespread support from Austrians, with approximately 250,000 people greeting Adolf Hitler upon his arrival in Vienna. The annexation was enabled by the assassination of Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss and resulted in the loss of Austria's sovereignty and its incorporation into "Greater Germany".
The Anschluss had significant consequences for Austria and its Jewish population. It triggered mass arrests, violent antisemitism, and the looting of Jewish-owned stores. Jews were beaten and killed, and dozens committed suicide. The Nazis also began confiscating Jewish property and assessing the wealth of rich Jews, imposing a so-called "flight tax" on those seeking to leave. This period saw an increase in emigration among Jews, with many fleeing Austria to escape Nazi persecution.
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His exile in England
Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, left Austria in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution. He chose England as his place of exile, and he died in London in 1939.
Freud's exile in England was short-lived, as he died within a year of his arrival. He spent his final months in seclusion in his apartment, "dreading insults" due to his Jewish identity. Freud's last days in Vienna were marked by increasing danger and urgency as the Nazis confiscated his passport, searched his home, and arrested his daughter, Anna Freud. She was interrogated and barely avoided being sent to a concentration camp.
Freud's departure from Austria was facilitated by Ernest Jones, the then president of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). Jones flew to Vienna and convinced Freud to seek exile in Britain. Jones's social connections and networking skills were instrumental in securing the necessary visas and immigration permits for Freud, his family, and their entourage. Freud's wealth and professional connections also played a role in his escape, as he was able to pay a "flight tax" levied on wealthy Jews by the Nazis.
Freud's time in England was marked by illness, as he suffered from oral cancer, which ultimately led to his death. Despite his declining health, he continued his work, publishing "Moses and Monotheism," which applied his psychological methods to the origins of Judaism. Freud's influence extended beyond his lifetime, and his theories and ideas on the unconscious, sex, repression, transference, and religion had a profound impact on 20th-century Western thought.
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Frequently asked questions
Sigmund Freud finally decided to leave Austria in March 1938, after his daughter Anna was arrested and interrogated by the Gestapo.
The German annexation of Austria in March 1938, also known as the Anschluss, triggered a wave of anti-Semitic violence and mass arrests in Vienna. As a prominent Jewish figure, Freud was in danger, and his daughter's arrest added urgency to his decision to leave.
Freud faced significant challenges in leaving Austria. He required multiple foreign visas for himself, his family, and their associates. Additionally, the Nazis imposed a ""flight tax" on wealthy Jews seeking to leave, and Freud had to pay a substantial ransom to obtain permission to depart.
After leaving Austria, Freud went into exile in England, specifically London, where he spent his remaining days.
