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Marie Jahoda über die schrecklichste Entscheidung ihres Lebens Wien, 15. Juli 1937 One day, a warden opened the door, yelled my name to be taken to the State Police Headquarters, where I hadn’t been for months. The cell erupted in hysterics, for a few days before one of the criminals who claimed second sight had predicted that my release was imminent; I had been teased about it ever since. I had to take a grip on myself, remain rational, not engage in false hope. And sure enough, as I got out of the Black Maria, a man whom I knew well as a member of the underground, obviously just arrested, greeted me with my underground name. This was against all rules of illegality and could therefore mean only that he had admitted working with me and wanted to give me a warning to that effect. I despaired; so it was to begin all over again. In this mood I entered the room of the Chief of the State Police who was flanked by my five interrogators. He said: Will you sign that you will leave the country immediately if we let you go?I was thunderstruck. It seemed to me the most terrible decision anybody could be asked to make. Where could I go, what about Lotte [Lazarsfeld, married Bailyn], my family, my work, my friends, my life? For minutes I just stood there. Then I signed. […] That terrible decision I had to make turned out to be the best in my whole life, demonstrating once again that all decisions are made in inevitable ignorance of their consequences. It saved not only my life; had I opted for remaining in Austrian prison the Nazis would have had their way with a Jewish socialist. Marie Jahoda Albu: Reconstructions. [Keymer, Sussex: Published by the author] 1996, S. 59–61. © Reinhard Müller -- Graz, im Oktober 2006 |
VERFOLGUNG & VERTREIBUNG Verhaftung Pressereaktionen Beschlagnahmungen Vernehmungen unheimliche Heiterkeit schreckliche Bilder 5. Jänner 1937 Polizeibericht 1 Polizeibericht 2 Haftbedingungen Gedichte aus der Haft Erfahrungen aus der Haft Brief an Horkheimer internat. Fürsprache abgelehntes Gnadengesuch Anklage Hauptverhandlung Urteil politische Intervention Vertreibung |