Ústav manažmentu kultúry a turizmu kulturológie a etnológie

The publication Documents of Injustice. The Case of Freud, published by the Sigmund Freud Museum, Berggasse 19 in Vienna, is an exceptionally valuable and methodologically precise contribution to research into the history of Nazi persecution of the Jewish population, as well as to research into the last period of Sigmund Freud‘s life and that of his family after the Anschluss of Austria in 1938. It is an exceptionally complex work which, in the context of the museum‘s research and exhibition activities, significantly exceeds the standard function of a museum catalogue and can legitimately be regarded as an independent scientific contribution to 20th-century history. The publication is particularly valuable for its thorough integration of archival research, biographical reconstruction, and cultural-historical reflection on the oppression of Jewish families in Austria after the Anschluss, with special attention to the experiences of Sigmund Freud and his immediate family. Documents of Injustice. The Case of Freud is also a compelling example of how a museum institution – in this case, the Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna – can produce research at the highest professional level. The central figure of the study is the Austrian doctor and founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), who was of Jewish origin. The publication traces not only his personal story, but also the fate of his extended family during the period of increasing repressive policies of the Nazi regime. The team of authors demonstrates an exceptionally high level of historical methodology, working primarily with primary archival sources – administrative documents, correspondence and financial records. These materials allow for a detailed examination of the specific procedures and practices of the violent repressive apparatus, which, after the Anschluss of Austria in 1938, systematically targeted the Jewish population of Vienna, including Sigmund Freud and his family. The value of the catalogue lies in the fact that the individual documents are not presented in isolation or merely as illustrative material, but are systematically placed in a precisely reconstructed chronological and socio-political framework. The publication thus allows the reader to follow the gradual escalation of anti-Jewish policy. Initially, this manifested itself through administrative measures such as property registration, professional restrictions and economic sanctions. Gradually, however, this repressive system was transformed into a complex network of measures leading to complete social isolation and legal degradation. This process ultimately culminated in open dehumanisation and deportations. Previously unpublished documents show that Sigmund Freud was able to ship the furnishings of his Berggasse 19 apartment, including his collection of antiquities, to London, while the Nazis simultaneously seized most of his financial assets and put pressure on his son Martin, the managing director of the International Psychoanalytical Publishing House. The records also clarify the fate of Freud’s brother Alexander, an internationally recognized freight expert and owner of the Allgemeiner Tarif-Anzeiger, who had been wealthier than Sigmund. Alexander was forced to surrender all his possessions to save his and his wife’s lives, fleeing Vienna via Zurich to London and then Canada. Likewise, the documents detail the tragic fate of Freud’s sisters, who remained in Vienna in 1938, were evicted from their homes, confined to a “forcibly shared apartment”, and ultimately deported and murdered: Adolfine Freud died in Theresienstadt, while Rosa Graf, Pauline Winternitz, and Maria Freud were murdered in Treblinka. Previously unpublished documents that capture the process of so-called „Aryanisation“ of property and forced financial levies, through which the Nazi authorities systematically deprived Jewish families of their economic base, are also of particular significance. In the case of Freud‘s family, these documents also reveal the complicated process of obtaining permission to emigrate, which was subject to extensive financial requirements and bureaucratic procedures. The publication thus documents in detail not only the individual fate of one of the most important intellectual figures of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud, but also the broader persecution procedures and practices of the Nazi regime. At the same time, it sensitively reveals the emotional and ethical dimensions of the events under investigation. Another important element is the presentation of personal correspondence and photographic material, which provide an authentic and vivid view in contrast to the official language of the Nazi administration. The interdisciplinary nature of the publication is another of its fundamental contributions. The catalogue naturally combines historical research with cultural memory, documenting archival facts and personal experiences, thus opening up space for deeper reflection on the relationship between modernity, power and violence. Although the publication is not conceived as a theoretical monograph, its content provides rich material that can stimulate academic discussion in various fields – from Holocaust history and memory studies, through cultural and social history, to psychoanalytically oriented humanities disciplines. At the same time, it allows us to reflect on how historical events shape collective memory and individual experiences, and how important their documentation is for our current understanding of ethical and social issues. The ethical dimension of the publication deserves special mention. The catalogue consistently avoids sensationalising tragic events and instead approaches the presentation of the historical reality of Sigmund Freud‘s family analytically and with due dignity, respecting the seriousness of the topics under investigation. This approach strengthens the scientific integrity of the work while preserving respect for the memory of the victims of persecution, allowing for a sensitive understanding of history without simplification or dramatisation. The documents are presented with an appropriate degree of interpretation, which also leaves room for the reader‘s own reflection and encourages critical thinking. This ethical framework also allows for an understanding of the complexity of historical events, interpersonal relationships, and moral dilemmas faced by individuals and families during the period of Nazi oppression. From a culturological point of view, the reflection of the language of administrative power is also extremely important. The catalogue shows how repressive political systems legitimise themselves through technocratic and seemingly neutral discourse. The bureaucratic language of the documents stands in stark contrast to the personal tragedies they record, and thus the publication reveals the ways in which violence in modern societies hides behind seemingly neutral administrative procedures. This aspect represents a particularly valuable contribution to the study of cultural forms of evil that manifest themselves not as overt brutality but as normalised administrative practice. Another strength of the work is its ability to convey the cultural experience of exile and loss. The fate of Freud‘s family is presented as part of a broader civilisational movement in which traditional cultural elites are disrupted and the European intellectual space is transformed as a result of political and social changes. The graphic and editorial quality of the publication is exceptionally high. The structure of the text, the visual arrangement of the documents and the logical sequence of the individual chapters create a harmonious whole that supports both academic study and popularisation. The publication is an example of how a museum exhibition can be transformed into a scientifically relevant book format. In conclusion, Documents of Injustice. The Case of Freud represents an exceptional contribution to 20th-century historical research, combining precise historical methodology with a sensitive and ethically responsible presentation of archival materials. The publication not only provides a deeper understanding of the fate of Sigmund Freud and his family, but also offers a broader view of the state-organised persecution of Jewish families and its consequences for everyday life, cultural memory and social processes. Thanks to its interdisciplinary nature and consistent linking of the microhistorical perspective with broader historical contexts, the catalogue is a valuable resource for historians, cultural theorists and psychoanalytic researchers. Its high graphic and editorial quality also makes it accessible to a wider audience. Readers interested in the life and experiences of Sigmund Freud and his close family during the Nazi persecution, as well as the broader historical, ethical and cultural dimensions of this era, will find a comprehensive and well-founded overview of the subject matter. The exhibition, accompanied by the catalogue Documents of Injustice. The Case of Freud, runs from 24 October 2025 to September 2027 at the Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna. The publication not only serves as accompanying material to the exhibition, but also represents an independent scientific contribution in its own right. This means that it provides a deeper understanding of the fate of Sigmund Freud and his family, while also providing a broader context for the persecution of the Jewish population during the Nazi era. It thus serves as a model example of high-quality historical documentation that is accessible to both experts and the general public.

Ingrid Baniatová