03:20

Ruth Deutschmann

Benjamin Epp

Kufstein

1938

We in Kufstein, we only had something that I myself have also seen and experienced. We had a very strong group in Kufstein of former Sudeten Germans. They were with us based in Kufstein, were mainly in the field of languages employed there in the Pirlo-metal goods factory and were very well represented functionally in the Social Democratic Party. There were, with very few exceptions, all officials Sudeten Germans. Even the district secretary of the Socialist Party was the political district of Kufstein, a Sudeten German. We have found that have rendered not only settled, but that they have understood it to tie in the Social Democratic Party, the most important functions in itself. And there were very few as my father - he is a native of Innsbruck, then a Pustertaler, then from Salzburg - the officials - but the rest were Sudeten Germans. That's what struck me as a young man, because I've also seen that this group was always close together. They always kept together. Although you have the other not forced out, the Sudeten Germans were not, but they are there, as I said, not only conquered a permanent residence, but also a solid social position in the border town of Kufstein. That's what I did as a young man of his time already established. And I have discussed with my father, but that has a low priority and not at all important dismissed. Later, however, it has been noted, what this means, the Sudeten Germans in Austria. What this means, the later? What one does arrive? They were all Nazis. Even the party secretary has taken the .38-year during the invasion of the Legion and the German Wehrmacht, the illegal Nazi Party badge. Yes, they were Sudeten Germans. They were not Sudetenhabsburger or Sudetenösterreicher. They have returned to their German Reich. So it was in Austria