Austrian Jew Repatriation? Anyone done it?
Posted by Status-Effort-9380@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 72 comments
I recently learned that Austria is repatriating dependents of Holocaust victims. This provides EU citizenship. I’m interested in trying it. I’ve found a few articles, including one with a list of the paperwork needed. Although it might be a challenge to get it all, I have some thoughts on how I could provide paperwork that would fill the requirements.
I’d love to talk to anyone who has done this or tried to do it.
marascotia@reddit
Clarification needed: If your grandparents were in a DP camp in Austria for a few years would that grant you declaration, even if they were "originally" from Poland? They had Polish citizenship before they went to camps obviously. Mother was born in Austria, has DP card from there, but on DP card says citizenship is Poland. I am curious what "stateless" means for them, considering grandmother was in Aushwitz and Stuuthoff, then Death March.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
I found a Facebook group that has information, Austrian Citizenship Holocaust Decendents. They have good info. I’m also part of a group for US women moving abroad that has information on how to obtain citizenship. They also have access to lawyers. https://www.refresherslounge.com/
marascotia@reddit
Ah thanks for this, I am looking to do this for free!
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
I’d look into that Facebook group. I will say that doing it by yourself takes longer so consider the trade off in cost of your time.
worldisbraindead@reddit
New legislation in Austria was passed several years ago that allows the decedents of Holocaust victims who were either displaced, murdered, or left "stateless" to apply for, and be granted citizenship.
I was surprised to discover that a fair amount of records are still in existence...and somewhat accessible with a little determination and sleuthing. My great grandparents were displaced from a part of Austria that is now Poland. I hired someone to track down their birth records and I found documentation of my great grandfather being detained and sent to Czechoslovakia and train records that detailed his transport to the Treblinka death camp where he was subsequently murdered.
I brought my preliminary findings to the Austrian Consulate in Spain, where I live, and because I can show birth records of my great grandparents, my grand parents, and my father, as well as records of deportation, they said it is very likely that I qualify. I'm now simply waiting for a couple of the documents to be certified by the proper authorities in Poland.
So...yes, this is a legitimate thing that does not seem to be incredibly difficult. A few sources I used:
https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl
https://www.geshergalicia.org/ - This site can provide excellent clues to all Jews from the Galician Austro-Hungrian empire...which it fairly extensive
https://www.jewishgen.org/
https://collections.yadvashem.org/en/names
https://www.ancestry.com/ (subscription based)
https://www.familysearch.org/en/
Complete_Owl_984@reddit
Can I message you about this? Trying to help my husband do the same
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Oh this is so helpful!!! I was planning to qualify under my grandmother’s side because they were “Hungarian” which I have since learned is “Austrian-Hungarian” but my great grandfather came from Poland so that opens up the opportunity through his side as well.
I’m grateful you responded. Perhaps we can message? I’d love to learn what steps you have taken to get these records.
worldisbraindead@reddit
You are welcome. I'm working with someone in Poland who...I hope...will be able to provide me with certified copies of my Great Grandparent's birth records. I am expecting these any day now and the last indicated that it is in process. I have not paid anything yet, but it looks like it will end up costing about 300 €. Because there is a fee, I don't want to recommend him publicly until I receive the documents and feel confident that no scam is involved. In the meantime, please feel free to message me and we can exchange contact information. I will pass his information along to you when I feel like everything is totally legit.
By the way, some of the records that you may be looking for from that region may be located in Ukraine, which, as you would guess, has its share of obstacles to overcome. Fortunately, the person that I'm dealing with told me that he has contacts with a couple of the Ukrainian records offices. If so, you'll probably want to contact him. Again...just to be on the side of caution, I don't want to recommend anyone who charges a fee until I feel confident in his ability to deliver the goods.
sminnymouse@reddit
Hi - did the Polish connection come through for you? I know this is an old thread, but I am hoping to do a similar thing, but I am finding the birth certificate search quite difficult!
worldisbraindead@reddit
Hey there...Yes. Someone recommended me to a guy in Poland who was super helpful in getting me all kinds of useful information. Generally speaking, you won't get 'Birth Certificates" like we have now, they are more like birth records from old ledgers. But, for a small fee, you can have them 'certified' from the various archives. I think I spend right around €300 and was able to get records for about eight family members on my father's side of the family from the late 1800's. I thought it was well worth it.
The guy's name is Dom (Dominick) his website is:
https://mypolishancestors.com/
RealFire7@reddit
Thanks for the info. Ultimately were you successful in gaining Austrian citizenship?
sminnymouse@reddit
Amazing - thank you 🙌
Elegant_Tale_3929@reddit
So does military service with another government other than Austria affect the passing down of citizenship for persecuted families?
worldisbraindead@reddit
Here is a brief explanation of amendment to the Austrian Citizenship Act which was signed into law in 2019:
https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/consular-section-of-the-austrian-embassy-in-washington/service-for-citizens/citizenship-for-persecuted-persons-and-their-direct-descendants/
It does not mention 'foreign' military service as a disqualifying factor.
Elegant_Tale_3929@reddit
Good to know, thanks!
Jscrillaz@reddit
I completed the process, happy to answer any questions about it.
eeggttll@reddit
Did you have to provide originals of your ancestors documents or were just scans / photos enough?
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
How were you able to document your family's history?
Jscrillaz@reddit
My aunt had conpleted the process first. I just had to establish being related to my grandmother. It still took many months of apostilling documents and ordering copies.
Responsible_Tooth871@reddit
Isn’t Israel better for Jews overall?
Hutcho12@reddit
If you don’t mind living in a country built on the stolen land of people they are continuing to persecute, I guess it’s fine.
Buildingcontroversy@reddit
Hutcho12@reddit
The number is still very small. There are such people everywhere you go.
Such-Sun7453@reddit
Why are you minimizing this?
Hutcho12@reddit
Because someone who is Jewish is not going to have any more issues moving to Europe and living here than anyone else who comes from abroad (probably less, because they most likely look European). I’m not minimizing it. Anyone else going on about antisemitism is maximizing it.
Buildingcontroversy@reddit
So as long as they don't show anything from there culture, celebrate their holiday, religion or tell anyone they are Jewish they'll be fine. And hope they are white mixed so they can pass for white and then they'll be fine. Worked in 1940s, right? Fuck on you slimy hateful little shit.
Hutcho12@reddit
I’m not hateful and have no issue with anyone from anywhere. There are racists all over the world, you’ll find less of them in average in Europe.
Such-Sun7453@reddit
Interesting assumption that “they most likely look European”. What do you base this on?
Hutcho12@reddit
On the fact that most Jews are Ashkenazi, who are ethnically European.
Such-Sun7453@reddit
And to you that means Ashkenazim specifically “look european”?
Hutcho12@reddit
Them and others. The vast majority of Jews in recent times (1900+) were Europeans (more than 85% were either in Europe, or America but most emigrated there from Europe).
Such-Sun7453@reddit
You are suggesting because you think ashkenazi are white passing, they somehow can emigrate easier?
Hutcho12@reddit
That they can somehow assimilate and fit in better, for sure. If you don’t look different, you’ll experience less pain from racists. People from the Middle East or Africa certainly have it harder. In any case, Europe is one of the most tolerant and accepting places in the world for foreigners.
Responsible_Tooth871@reddit
Stolen land? Can you elaborate please?
KerkPerk@reddit
Not condoning what happened, but most lands were stolen at one point, just a bit earlier in time
Hutcho12@reddit
That makes a pretty big difference, especially considering the people that it was stolen from are still living without a homeland under the persecution of the people that stole it.
Look_Specific@reddit
Nonsense, the people called "Palestinians" are largely not decendants of people that lived in Palestinian AND 20% of Israeli citizens are non-Jewish, including Muslims, who also serve in the IDF. Many "Palestinians" are just a result of political Arab politics, refugees etc.
Your comment os by default anti-semetic based on ignorance of the complex situation.
Hutcho12@reddit
Two thirds of Palestinians living in Gaza are descendants of those who had their land and possessions stolen by Israel. That’s pretty “largely” in my opinion. And the 20% of Muslim Israeli citizens are at best tolerated and don’t need to serve in the IDF. It’s a two class system all the way.
You can yell antisemite all you want, and I imagine you do it a lot because you’ve got nothing else to fall back on, but it doesn’t make it true.
spankmyasianlesbian@reddit
anyone who doesn’t give jewish people whatever they ask for is anti semite. And they will always be asking
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
We made Aliyah but 6 weeks before the war. Back in US now and considering other options to get out of US. EU citizenship opens up a lot of options.
portlanders@reddit
I am not sure how it works for Jewish repatriation, but Austria has one of the strictest dual citizenship rules I have ever heard of.
Germany is much more lenient as long as you had both citizenships at birth. I mostly have heard of people getting German citizenship through the Jewish repatriation route.
Austria is great though!
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
The articles I found online say that in this case they do allow dual citizenship.
Elegant_Tale_3929@reddit
Austria allows dual citizenship by descent, which is what this would be if they qualify.
Creative-Road-5293@reddit
Yeah Europeans are pretty antisemitic.
sabreuse@reddit
I've done this process successfully, as did my dad. The first step of the process is to fill out the questionnaire you'll find in the consulate links others have posted here, and they'll be able to help you figure out whether you qualify and what kind of paperwork you need. They were very helpful with all my many questions, but the process will take a while.
I feel you on the frustration of trying to reconstruct history with ancestors who just. never. talked. about it -- many in that generation never did, and I can't really blame them for one of history's biggest trauma responses. But a surprising amount of documentation actually does exist. Start with what you do have (sounds like at least one immigration record? figure out where specifically that ancestor came from and when, and start looking in that place) and keep going. Even if you can't recover their stories, you'll find that there's more than you may expect of things like birth, immigration, and death records, which is what you need for trying to get another citizenship. Jewishgen.org is an amazing resource for Jewish communities across Europe, and more general genealogy sources like ancestry.com and familysearch.org will be better for the US side.
A few things you should note -- unlike some other European countries that have broad citizenship by descent programs, Austria's is very specifically defined as being for descendants of Nazi persecutees (only grandchildren or great-grandchildren, not neices/nephews, cousins etc), and only if they were directly driven out as a result of the regime (so, not applicable families that emigrated before the Nazis came into power). Also, since all the relevant history is a generation after the breakup of Austria-Hungary, Austria and Hungary are considered separate entities, although there are some provisions for citizens of former Austrian-Hungarian territory who were living in Austria at the time of the Anschluss. Based on some of what you've said in the thread, this program may or may not apply to you based on your direct ancestors being here before the war, but both Poland and Hungary also have some kind of citizenship by descent programs which may also apply -- although you may need to learn some Hungarian, if that's the one you fall under.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much! This is very helpful. I was starting to get discouraged.
Easy-F@reddit
My family tried to get proof our grandfather was displaced because of the war, but basically there’s no record of it. We tried looking into the records at Yad Vashem (I might be spelling that wrong) but.. nothing. just stories now.
Elegant_Tale_3929@reddit
Just curious, did you fill out the online questionnaire that the Austrian Consulates have and see if they can dig out the paperwork?
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Our family doesn’t have paperwork. Here are some ideas I have: Ellis Island records are online. My great grandparents came through there. It should record the country of origin and date. We have a photo of my great grandfather in an army uniform. Someone may be able to figure out or date his service based on the uniform. Mormons. They are great at genealogy and I think it’s free. Ancestry.com. If you get on there and some relative has done any work, it’s all available to you. My great grandparents had 5 children so there’s tons of descendants. Hoping someone did some research.
Bobzeub@reddit
So wait ? Where were they born and when ? Where were they deported to ? And why ? What military uniform ?
Your story sounds a bit dodgy . If you’re Hungarian they probably won’t help you . And those genealogy sites are illegal in some European countries.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Yep! We don’t know!!! The people that came to the US wanted to forget and didn’t tell us and didn’t have the documents.
Bobzeub@reddit
But from where ? What language did the speak ? It would be pretty obvious if they came between 1939 and 1945 which is a pretty small window . You’re going to at least need a country to find a birth cert … and even if you got European papers , where would you go and what would you do ?
In your place I’d roll the dice on Israel again and hope for peace . The criteria is very different.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Welcome to being an American Jew. The people came over and they didn’t talk about their pasts. We just found out that my great great uncle existed and died at Auschwitz. My great grandmother never spoke of him.
My great grandparents were from Hungary, but I’m not sure how where they were from compares to modern day Hungary. My great grandfather served in the Hungarian army. He had an amazing uniform - he was the tailor! (That’s the family story).
They came through Ellis Island and I know those records exist. A cousin found the record and sent it around to the family.
Other than these little clues, we don’t have a lot of information. This is why I’m seeking to know what I will need to prove the connection to Austria-Hungary because it’s going to take some sleuthing.
Bobzeub@reddit
Yeah that’s why I asked. I don’t think there is one . Especially for a great uncle. A great grandparent maybe , but no one will take you seriously for an uncle.
Austria and Hungary also split in 1918, so I have no idea why you’re talking about Austria ?? You seem to not be Austrian but Hungarian, and the current government there is very right wing anti immigration, overall weirdos. So good luck dealing with them.
If you uncle is Hungarian . Also if he was in the Hungarian military in WW2 , that’s a bit suss since they joined the axis powers ? But I believe that did happen to have people to fight on the Eastern front against the Red Army .
And I know that generation aren’t sentimental and don’t share like younger generations. I never met a great grandparents. Especially because there are 8 of them. That’s a lot of people to keep track of , without even talking about uncles and whatnot.
Maybe a trip to Hungary would do you some good. It’s a beautiful country, if not a bit weird politically at the moment. Maybe this will get some curiosity out of your system.
But for sure this yarn you’re spinning won’t get you a European passport, an Austrian one at that ? Which isn’t even the same country , and even if you had one , I don’t know what you’d do with it ?
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
If I had an EU passport I’d move to one of the EU countries. There are a lot of benefits if you can get EU citizenship.
I don’t know the timeline of when my great grandparents immigrated and suspect it was the pograms they were fleeing not WW2. My mom was born in 1948 so they were here before WW2 as her mother grew up in the US.
Bobzeub@reddit
I get the perks of living in the EU , I live here and have double nationality
But where would you go ? There are 27 different countries, what would you do for work/money ? How would you rent an apartment ? Do you even speak a language other than English and maybe Hebrew ?
If your Hungarian grandparents were already in the US pre WW2 , then Austria (?!?!) is not going to give you citizenship , as per their agreement for displaced citizens because of the Shoha .
Like do you understand you’re taking the piss ?
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
I speak French and my daughter speaks Spanish. I would like to live in France. Or Portugal.
The modern countries do not map to what they were in my great grandparents day. I understand they are repatriating citizens of the Austrian Hungarian empire. I don’t know if we would qualify so that is why I am learning about this program.
Good questions.
Bobzeub@reddit
You speak enough French to hold down a job in France ?
I live in France and to rent an apartment you need a full time permanent contract where you make three times the rent net per month , outside of the 3 month trial period . French people here are really struggling.
Portugal is lovely and their English is excellent, but the average wage is 1040€ (1107$) so times are very tough.
I’d be surprised if Austria is repatriating Hungarian citizens displaced from WW1 since it is over 100 years ago . Maybe ask r/askaustria
Like go for it if you want to , I just hope you have a trust fund , otherwise it won’t happen. And I wouldn’t count on Austria to give you European papers .
Maybe your daughter can apply for uni in Spain and get in that way, but it won’t easy and she’ll need to get her Spanish up to an academic level ASAP .
Elegant_Tale_3929@reddit
Trace your line back with birth certificates and wedding certificates and see how far back you can go. Hopefully, you can get a more specific area if you check the Census logs in the US.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
We’ve never know much of our background. I just learned that my great great uncle existed at all. My great grandmother never spoke of him. On my grandfathers side we were told that he picked a new name off the side of a building when he came to the US. We thought it was a story until my cousin found the sign.
emilywallacr@reddit
my US partner got his polish citizenship this way last year
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
So Poland is also doing this? That is useful to know.
WeedLatte@reddit
I’ve done it. At least a few years back the way it worked was you gave them whatever paperwork and information you can find and they’ll search their records in Austria for the rest of it. Of course, the more you can give them, the faster your citizenship processes. It takes a long time but it’s not difficult.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Thank you.
monbabie@reddit
It’s not about repatriation but about nationality. I have done it. My grandmother was born in Vienna 100 years ago, her family had been in Austria/Hungary for 500 years before that. We had all the documents necessary and were one of the first groups to be approved in early 2021. I have since moved to the EU, nearly two years ago, but not to Austria, because I do not speak German and professionally found a well suited position in Brussels. There is a very helpful Facebook group called Austrian Citizenship Holocaust Descendants, people there can definitely help you with questions of paperwork and potential eligibility.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Oh thank you so so much! I will join that group.
Yes, we are not necessarily interested in living in Austria but having EU citizenship would really open up a lot of possibilities for us.
monbabie@reddit
I would love to live in Vienna but not a possibility at this point, perhaps in the future !
Elegant_Tale_3929@reddit
Contact your local Austrian consulate, they will probably have a bunch of questions for you but they can let you know if you qualify and what the steps might be for this.
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
Buildingcontroversy@reddit
20% of young people don’t believe in the holocaust. And the figure will increase the more TikTok they watch. I’d apply now. You being up the holocaust in 20 years people will scream at you for being a Nazi and an Israeli spy
https://x.com/elikowaz/status/1733265260101210507?s=20
Status-Effort-9380@reddit (OP)
I don’t have to live in Austria. I can live anywhere in the EU.
KerkPerk@reddit
Such strange comments in this threat, very politicized or irrelevant. I don't know of anyone who has done this but it sounds like a solid option, many people repatriate based on their bloodline. Europeans are generally not antisemitic at all anymore in my experience. You will likely have trouble living in a muslim-dense area. If you want to wear a 'thing' on your head, unfortunately, be careful in Muslim dense areas. It's the same for gays showing public affection.