Detailed report by Caecilie Friedman on the life of Richard Friedmann

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Title:: Detailed report by Caecilie Friedman on the life of Richard Friedmann

Scope/content:: Record taken down by the “Dokumentationsaktion” in Prague.

Curriculum vitae of Richard Friedmann, a particularly gifted and universally interested young man who became a fanatic fighter and indefatigable worker for the Jewish case from the day the German army entered Austria in 1938 (p.2-3). He had been, then, an official to the Judische Kultusgemeinde in Vienna for 8 years.

The report includes details of the historical development of the Nazi proceedings against the Jews and the corresponding phases of the rescue-work in Austria (p.3-11). 120,000 Jews could emigrate from Austria in the first year; persecution and relief-work in Vienna (p.4-5). Emigration Office (p.6-8), rescue-work including internees and children.

Friedmann collaborated with the Gestapo, fighting against their brutalities and evil tricks with his courage and cunning. He was interned about twenty times (p.8). Psychological explanation for the collaboration of Gestapo and leading personalities among anti-Nazi; comparison with Steinbeck's Norwegian novel (p.9-11).

Prague (p.11-46). Here the atmosphere was completely different, as the entire population was anti-Nazi and most optimistic regarding the duration of their régime; the Jews were shocked by Friedmann's propaganda for emigration (p.11-15). Building baracks at Nisko on the San; Gestapo Lublin (p.15-17). Zentralstelle für Jüdische Auswanderung - the Gestapo-office organised to induce the Jews to ‘voluntary’ surrender of their belongings at a time, when emigration was already impossible (p.18-21). Social welfare; Jewish schools; health service. Prof. Maximilian Adler (p.22-23).

The Criminal Court of the Gestapo (p.25-32); Friedmann was known as an absolutely uncorruptible, selfless solicitor who enjoyed everybody's confidence.

Delegation to Holland (p.33). Organising Olmütz (p.33-34). Bankl, ill-famed SS-man (p.34). Heydrich's arrival changed the situation (p.34). Deportations to Lodz (p.35-39). Mandler (p.37); administrative help through Community (p.38-39).

Department Theresienstadt in Prague (p.39-42) was officially entitled to supply the Ghetto with the absolute necessities and did this most lavishly; active assistance of SS-man

Interned in Theresienstadt (p.46-53). The moral dangers of self-government (p.48). Friedmann wanted to retire from administration, but was finally compelled to enter the Labour Centre. Festival for the reception of a foreign commission. (p.52).

In May 1944, three transport of 2,500 each left the Ghetto. The last, including Friedmann, was said to leave for Dresden. Friedmann had to spend the last night in a bunker and was kept most of the way to Auschwitz under special arrest (p.53). On 22 May 1944, he was shot from behind. An extensive protocoll explained how he was shot when attempting to escape (p.54).

Reference number:: 1656/2/5/1068

Collection:: Audiovisual Collections

Date:: 1945-12-5

Physical description:: 56 pieces

Language:: English; German

Subject keyword:: Austrian; Children; Kindertransport; Deportations; Migration; Gestapo; Communists; Rescue; Death marches; Terezin (ghetto); Auschwitz main camp (concentration camp); Łódź (ghetto); Auschwitz-Birkenau (concentration and extermination camp); Anti-Nazis; Ghettos; Health

Geographical keyword:: Austria; Prague; Vienna; Netherlands; Lublin; Olomouc

Type of material:: Eyewitness account

Image copyright:: The Wiener Holocaust Library

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