Flight, Emigration and Death
Slovakia
Slovakia was declared an autonomous region of Czechoslovakia on October 6, 1938, and on March 14, 1939, a formally independent state, however with a totalitarian regime. At the same time it lost its southern border area which became part of Hungary. Slovakia was considered a "model state" of Europe under German domination. Although dependent on National Socialist Germany, Slovakia was able to keep extensive autonomy - especially in her anti-Jewish policies - until German military occupation in the summer of 1944. There is only very imprecise information about the number of Austrian Jewish refugees who came to Slovakia after the "Anschluss". A conservative estimate would put the number at about 1,500 people.
From 1941 on, the totalitarian regime which was supported by the Slovak People's Party installed ghettos or assembly camps for Jews in Bratislava, Nitra, Topolcany, and Zilina. The labor camps of Novaky, Sered, and Vyhne were constantly filled by about 4,000 inmates. Some inmates managed to escape after the outbreak of the Slovak revolt in August 1944, and joined the partisans, the others were taken to the extermination camps in the "Generalgouvernment" after a short interim. About 13,000 prisoners passed through the camp Sered which existed until March 1945.
The deportations took place in two relatively short but massive waves in the years 1942 and 1944. We learn from the existing files of the Slovak railway administration that 19 transports went to Auschwitz and 38 to Lublin in 1942. In immediate consequence of the German occupation in the summer of 1944 the mass deportations were taken up again. 11 transports went to Auschwitz, Sachsenhausen and Theresienstadt.
Among the approx. 65,000 Jews deported from Slovakia there were at least 1,300 Jews from Austria.
Transport departs from Sered camp.
Prisoners from the camp at Sered, Austrian Jews among them, were deported to the concentration and extermination camps Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek, Sachsenhausen and Theresienstadt.
Roughly 3,200 people were imprisoned in Nitra camp, Austrian Jews among them. They were all deported to Treblinka extermination camp.
Among the approximately 27,000 prisoners in the camp at Zilina were also Austrian Jews. They were deported to the concentration and extermination camps Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek and Sobibor.
Prisoners from the camp at Sered, Austrian Jews among them, were deported to the concentration and extermination camps Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek, Sachsenhausen and Theresienstadt.
Roughly 3,200 people were imprisoned in Nitra camp, Austrian Jews among them. They were all deported to Treblinka extermination camp.
Among the approximately 27,000 prisoners in the camp at Zilina were also Austrian Jews. They were deported to the concentration and extermination camps Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek and Sobibor.
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