German Jews and Migration to the United States, 19331945

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

German Jews and Migration to the United States, 19331945 is a collection of first-person accounts, many previously unpublished, that document the flight and exile of German Jews from Nazi Germany to the USA,. The authors of the letters and memoirs included in this collection share two important characteristics: They all had close ties to Munich, the Bavarian capital, and they all emigrated to the USA, though sometimes via detours and/or after stays of varying lengths in other places of refuge. Selected to represent a wide range of exile experiences, these testimonies are carefully edited, extensively annotated, and accompanied by biographical introductions to make them accessible to readers, especially those who are new to the subject. These autobiographical sources reveal the often-traumatic experiences and consequences of forced migration, displacement, resettlement, and new beginnings. In addition, this book demonstrates that migration is not only a process by which groups and individuals relocate from one place to another but also a dynamic of transmigration affected by migrant networks and the complex relationships between national policies and the agency of migrants.

Reviews

This expertly edited collection brings fresh insights to the remarkable story of German-Jewish displacement in the heart of the 20th century. Sinn and Heusler have assembled a first-rate collection of testimonies and woven them together to provide a portrait of an uprooted community. Highly recommended for classroom teachers, researchers, and anyone who wants to know more about Jewish migration to the United States.

Author Bio

Andrea A. Sinn is associate professor of history and O'Briant Developing Professor at Elon University.

Andreas Heusler is head of the contemporary history and Jewish history department at the Munich City Archives.