Solidarity and Treason: Resistance and Exile, 1933-1940

Lisa Fittko

1992

As I was crossing Alexanderplatz on the first of April, I noticed a crowd of people gathering near the U-Bahn station at the other end of the square. The loudspeakers blared across the open space, “Don’t buy from Jews!” They must have been barking out other slogans, too, but I couldn’t understand them.

I went closer. Brown uniforms formed two long…

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Creator Bio

Lisa Fittko

1909–2005

Lisa Fittko was born in Uzgohrod, now part of Ukraine. She grew up in Vienna and was exiled to France during the Nazi years. Her writing describes life under the Vichy regime, a time in which she escorted Jews across the border to Spain, including philosopher Walter Benjamin. Fittko ultimately moved to Cuba and Chicago.

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