A fugitive story

Sigmund Freud the famous Austrian neurologist, known as the father of psychoanalysis was indeed a fugitive of Nazi Germany.

Freud was born from a Jewish family from Moravia, at that time part of the Austrian Empire, nowadays part of Czech Republic. He lived in an Austria where the anti-Semitic feeling of the society was growing rapidly. At the 30’s the Nazis had an explicit anti-Semitic programme. He was recognized as a brilliant figure; he was able to speak eight languages and was a respectful doctor and a reputed pioneer.

Despite all this as a Jew and as the president of the psychoanalyst foundation he was considered an enemy of the Third Reich. His books were burned publicly. He said:

 "What progress we are making. In the Middle Ages they would have burned me. Now, they are content with burning my books."

The family suffered a constant abuse of the Gestapo. There were raids in his publishing house, also in his own house. His sons were arrested for days in several occasions.

After all the family decided to leave Vienna. Thankfully to one of the most prominent followers of Freud, Princess Marie Bonaparte. They were able to flee the country via the Orient Express. Afterwards they settled in London. When the war was over he realized the real danger of staying in Vienna, owing to all his siblings died in concentration camps.

“There are two ways to be happy

in this life: one is play the fool and the other be”

David Garcia Castro TY2