Sabine Falch, Moshe Zimmermann, eds.. Israel--Öƒ–sterreich: Von den AnfÖƒ¤ngen bis zum Eichmann-Prozess 1961. Innsbruck: Studien Verlag, 2005. 241 pp. EUR 26.00, paper, ISBN 978-3-7065-1954-0.

Yves Pallade. and Israel in the 1990s and Beyond: Still a 'Special Relationship'?. am Main: Peter Lang, 2005. 598 pp. EUR 86.00, paper, ISBN 978-3-631-54203-3.

Reviewed by Tracey J. Kinney

Published on H-German (October, 2006)

In October 1943, the governments of the Unit‐ ship between the two nations would likely be a ed States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, difcult one. and China issued a joint declaration renewing This relationship, and the underlying theme their commitment to the creation of a cooperative of as both victim and aggressor, is the top‐ international association, pledging their determi‐ ic of a new collection of essays edited by Sabine nation to root out all vestiges of fascism in , Falch and Moshe Zimmerman. This volume is the and promising to judge and punish any German third in a series of works published by Studien‐ ofcers and men and women of the Nazi Party Verlag that probe the complex relationship be‐ who had perpetrated atrocities during the course tween Israel and Austria, and and Is‐ of the war. The declaration also noted that Aus‐ raelis. The frst volume in this series, edited by tria, "the frst free country to fall a victim to Hit‐ Thomas Albrich (1998), analyzed the fight of east‐ lerite aggression,"[1] would be returned to inde‐ ern European Jews through Austria to Palestine pendent, democratic rule. This recognition of Aus‐ between 1945 and 1948. The second, by Evelyn tria as the frst victim of Nazi aggression served to Adunka (2002), examined the experiences of Aus‐ complicate profoundly the relationship between trian Jewish exiles, most of whom fed to Palestine Austria and Israel. If Austria was a victim, rela‐ in the 1930s, focusing on questions of identity, ac‐ tions between the two nations should have devel‐ culturation, and assimilation. Volume 3 returns to oped quickly and relatively easily; if, on the other these questions, as well as analyzing the evolution hand, as many believed, Austria was complicit in the crimes of the Nazi era, the postwar relation‐ H-Net Reviews of the diplomatic relationship between the two Hecht, Embacher notes that the decision to leave countries. Austria was a difcult one, undertaken with mini‐ Efectively encompassing the era from the An‐ mal preparation, and, at best, a passing familiari‐ schluß to the Eichmann trial, the essays in this ty with Zionism. Thus life on a kibbutz, with its monograph provide a valuable addition to the ideology of equality, communal living, and build‐ burgeoning literature on the formation of identity, ing a new nation from the soil could be tremen‐ the experience of exile and the evolution of diplo‐ dously difcult. Embacher's research, drawn from matic relations between Israel and other states. As interviews and autobiographies, reveals that, far the editors note in the preface, the relationship from its egalitarian ideal, kibbutz society was pro‐ between Germany and Israel has attracted consid‐ foundly hierarchical, with Palestine-born "pio‐ erable scholarly attention; yet the relationship be‐ neers" dominating. Below them Austrian and Ger‐ tween Austria and Israel has been little re‐ man exiles clashed with each other, yet both dis‐ searched.[2] The essays in this collection aim to criminated against Eastern European exiles. Em‐ fll a gap in the existing scholarship, while raising bacher argues that nonetheless it was this genera‐ new questions for further research. The essays tion of young exiles that, drawing on their experi‐ are loosely organized into two sections: the frst ences in the kibbutzim and in the British army, part examines questions of identity and accultur‐ would forge the identity of the 1948 Israeli state. ation, with particular emphasis on the relation‐ The essay concludes on a cautionary note, howev‐ ship between Jews born in Palestine and newly er. The ideology of the "generation of 1948" grew arrived Austrian exiles; the second section looks increasingly irrelevant as years passed and Is‐ at the evolution of the diplomatic relationship be‐ rael's identity was remade by capitalism and by tween Israel and Austria in light of the events of the ongoing confict with Palestinians. the recent past. All of the essays are impeccably Maria Ecker contributes an essay based on documented. the fndings of an oral history project. Ecker inter‐ The monograph opens with Dieter Hecht's ex‐ viewed ten women (both Austrian and Czech ex‐ amination of the Austrian-Jewish exodus after iles), each of whom had been imprisoned in a con‐ 1938 and the process of integration into Israeli so‐ centration camp prior to arriving in Palestine/Is‐ ciety by the 1960s. Hecht pays particular attention rael between 1945 and 1949. Ecker's article is to the role of various agencies, in particular the most valuable in its inclusion of lengthy excerpts Hitachdut Olej Austria (Vereinigung österreichis‐ from her interviews with these ten women. Their cher Einwanderer), in facilitating the integration accounts reveal a range of motives in leaving of the largely middle-class Austrians forced into their homes, but few held Zionist convictions, and exile by the Anschluß, for whom, according to some had no choice whatsoever, as their hus‐ Hecht, Palestine held little initial appeal. Hecht bands had determined that their destination concludes that, although many exiles did over‐ would be Palestine. For each woman the process come barriers of status, language, and culture to of assimilation and acculturation was a difcult integrate successfully, others simply could not and one. The remainder of Ecker's analysis draws opted instead to return to Austria--a return facili‐ upon the theory developed by Ronit Lentin, who tated by the notion that Austria had itself been a argues that "[t]he others arrived, broken, ill, in victim of Nazism. the uncomprehending Israel of the 1950s. Their new home. Where I and my generation refused to Helga Embacher next examines the reality of hear their stories.... Not only that in constructing life on a kibbutz for young Austrian-Jewish exiles itself as a 'new Jewish identity' did Israel con‐ (most of them aged thirteen to seventeen). Like struct itself as masculine thereby 'feminizing' Jew‐

2 H-Net Reviews ry and the Shoa" (p. 78). According to Ecker, life in was to dominate the early responses. Nonetheless, Israel thus became an "us" (the new Jews who ac‐ a strong belief persisted in Israel that the estab‐ cepted their new identity) versus "them" (the Jews lishment of 'normal' relations with other coun‐ of the old world) struggle. Only those women who tries would be a key element of Israeli state-build‐ fully accepted the new identity stood a good ing. Viewing Austria as a victim of National Social‐ chance of complete integration. Ecker appends a ist aggression could potentially facilitate the cre‐ case study of one such "new" woman, Chava Ko‐ ation of a normal relationship. Hotam concludes havi, in order to bolster her claims. In many ways, that further study will be required in order to de‐ Ecker's is the most ambitious of the essays in this termine whether Israel's hesitation represented a collection, and no doubt the most contentious. It Machiavellian ploy or truly refected the difculty does, however, highlight the strengths and weak‐ of reconciling the political and moral dimensions nesses of oral history, as well as revealing numer‐ of the decision facing the state. ous avenues for further study. Eyal Gertmann examines the contribution of The fnal essay in the frst section of the book, sport to the development of diplomatic relations by Falch, looks at the question of identity through between Israel and Austria. Gertmann argues that the issue of citizenship, specifcally the new Is‐ the study of sporting relationships (a form of Allt‐ raeli citizenship law of 1952. The citizenship law, agsgeschichte) can reinforce and supplement which granted that "every Jew living in the land more conventional historical studies. In this case, on this day automatically become a citizen of the Austrian Jewish sporting associations--most no‐ land" (p. 103), also required the renunciation of tably the Hakoah Wien soccer club--facilitated prior nationality (unless the person was deemed both the development of new sporting associa‐ stateless), thus bringing questions of identity into tions in Israel (Verein Hakoah in Israel) and the sharp relief. Falch notes that the response of Aus‐ re-establishment of sporting exchanges between trian Jews refected a mixture of pragmatism and the Israeli and Austrian states. Many of the 5,000 idealism; citizenship was ofered even as the Is‐ members of Hakoah Wien had immigrated to raeli state's economic crisis worsened. Thus mate‐ Palestine and were active in the new state. Old rial concerns also had to be factored in to the ties thus contributed to the relatively speedy re- broader political and ideological considerations. establishment of sporting relationships. Gert‐ In the end, 551 persons returned to Austria at this mann argues that these relationships also contrib‐ time. uted to the normalization of diplomatic relation‐ As noted, the second half of the collection ex‐ ships, too. amines the development of a formal diplomatic In the penultimate essay in this collection, relationship between Israel and Austria, begin‐ Winifried Garscha examines the overall impact of ning with Austria's de facto recognition of Israel the Eichmann trial in Austria, concluding that it in March and April 1949. De facto recognition was "an irritation, not an earthquake" (p. 186). De‐ and, in particular Israel's reaction to this decision, spite tremendous Austrian media interest in the is the topic the essay by Yotam Hotam. Hotam re‐ trial and the renewed attention placed on Eich‐ veals that the initial Israeli reaction was one of mann's Austrian connections and accomplices, ambivalence, most likely due to the realization Garscha argues that few profound changes result‐ that it was not simply a political question. Rather, ed from the process. Education changed little, the moral dimension of establishing diplomatic though many new research institutes opened in relations with Austria, a nation that many saw as Austria, including the center in a willing partner in the crimes of the Third Reich, Linz. Ofcial policy continued to emphasize Aus‐

3 H-Net Reviews tria's role as victim, rather than perpetrator. Even members of Israeli society--"the generation of the trials which took place in Austria produced 1948"--the authors remind us that many others generally unsatisfactory results. Eichmann's could not fnd a home in Israel and opted to re‐ transportation coordinator, Franz Novak, for ex‐ turn instead to an uncertain future in the land of ample, was eventually sentenced to only seven their birth. years in prison, while Fritz Ertl and Walter Deja‐ Despite the volume's many strengths, howev‐ co, designers of the Auschwitz-Birkenau cremato‐ er, a few caveats need to be mentioned. Some the‐ ria, were acquitted. matic inconsistency can be found in the essays. The volume concludes with a brief article by Not all focus directly on the Israel-Austria or Is‐ Edwin Schmidl, who evaluates the military rela‐ raeli-Austrian relationship. Ecker's article, for ex‐ tionship between the two nations. Schmidl once ample, draws heavily on the experiences of Czech more draws attention to the notion of Austria as exiles, though her concluding case study does in‐ victim and the degree to which this notion facili‐ deed focus on the experience of an Austrian exile. tated military cooperation between the two na‐ The very brief concluding essay on the Israeli- tions, including the stationing of Austrian 'blue Austrian military relationship seems somewhat helmets' in the Golan Heights as part of the 1974 out of place in comparison to the far more de‐ U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). tailed studies contributed by the other authors. Fi‐ The strengths of this collection are many. The nally there is some inconsistency in dates portraits are nuanced and built on solid evi‐ throughout the work. The Moscow Declaration on dence--in most cases interviews with survivors "Austrian victimhood," for example, is referred to and their families--rather than theoretical hy‐ as having been drafted in November 1943 (p. 7), potheses regarding identity formation. The au‐ when it was actually signed on October 30, 1943. thors demonstrate that the experience of exile Likewise, on occasion, the individual authors pro‐ could be both positive and negative, as old identi‐ vide difering dates for key events such as the ties were reshaped, lost and sometimes reclaimed 1949 de facto recognition of Israel by Austria. over time. At the same time, common themes do These remain, however, minor criticisms of an emerge from among the very disparate approach‐ important collection of essays that, taken togeth‐ es of the authors. Austrian exiles tended to be er, reveal the tremendous variety of experiences quite diferent from their German counterparts in among Austrian Jewish exiles to Israel and the that their exile was motivated for the most part by complex process of building a formal diplomatic the trauma of the Anschluß, leaving them little relationship between the two countries. time to prepare for or even to contemplate the na‐ Zimmermann and Falch note at the outset of ture of a life in exile. Language became perhaps their work that, unlike their subject matter, a the most important obstacle facing the newly ar‐ great deal of research exists on the relationship rived exiles--it divided them from the Palestinian- between Germany and Israel. Nonetheless, this born Jewish population and on occasion from complex relationship continues to fascinate social younger generations of their own families, who scientists and lay readers alike. The essence of tended to learn Hebrew more quickly and more this relationship forms the subject matter of Yves thoroughly than their parents had. Exile was fur‐ Pallade's monograph. ther complicated by an alien climate and culture, On July 1, 2006, Reuters reported that the Ger‐ the loss of status and occupations and the shock of man government had removed the fnal barriers agricultural life. While many Austrian Jews over‐ to the sale of Dingo 2 armored transport vehicles came their culture shock and became leading to Israel. It also announced that the sale of two

4 H-Net Reviews

Dolphin submarines (for one billion euros) should frequently fulfll mutual needs and expectations, be approved within the month. These announce‐ provide preferential treatment, provide compen‐ ments seem to reinforce the thesis developed in sation when expectations are disappointed, devel‐ Pallade's monograph: that the two countries enjoy op secret cooperative ventures, build substantial a "staunchly 'special'" relationship (p. 489) charac‐ social networks, and rapidly overcome events terized, among other factors, by close cooperation which threaten to destabilize the relationship (p. in a multitude of areas, reciprocal openness and 477). strong mutual needs and expectations. The analytical portion of the monograph next Eschewing what he refers to as a "purist his‐ provides a wealth of evidence demonstrating each torical approach" (p. 77)--that is, a purely primary of the factors above at work in the German-Israeli source approach--Pallade bolsters his argument relationship. For example, Pallade provides de‐ by drawing upon interviews, press reports, gov‐ tailed evidence of the security relationship be‐ ernment briefngs, and secondary literature in or‐ tween Germany and Israel, demonstrating con‐ der to examine every aspect of the relationship vincingly that the relationship is one of unusual between Germany and Israel in the 1990s and ear‐ transparency (here he cites the ability of the ly 2000s, including security relations, political, Mossad to work freely in Germany), comparable economic, fnancial, scientifc, social, cultural, and aims and sustained, ongoing cooperation, espe‐ professional connections. Insofar as it is possible, cially in research and development. This coopera‐ the author examines the relationship from both tion has been sustained through political and ide‐ sides, thereby providing additional insight into its ological shifts in Germany and over the opposi‐ complexities. As beftting a published dissertation, tion of Israelis who argue that the events of the the book contains both a discussion of the existing Shoah should necessarily limit cooperation be‐ theories regarding the concept of a "special rela‐ tween the two nations. tionship" and a longer, analytical section in which Turning to political relations, Pallade notes the essential elements of the relationship between that Israel has always placed greater expectations the two nations is examined. The book also in‐ on Germany due to memories of the Shoah. Ger‐ cludes a lengthy bibliography (some 107 pages), a many was expected never to interfere with the se‐ detailed table of contents, and is carefully anno‐ curity of Israel and was seen to have a historical tated throughout. It does, however, lack an index, responsibility to provide moral and material sup‐ which would be very useful for navigating a text port. In turn, by the 1990s Germany expected Is‐ of this size. rael to reduce its opposition to reunifcation (de‐ Pallade's conclusion in reviewing existing the‐ spite Ariel Sharon's injunction that a united Ger‐ ories is that no academic consensus whatsoever many could not be trusted) and to German rela‐ has been reached on the question of which na‐ tions with Iran. Here again, Pallade demonstrates tions enjoy a "special relationship" or even what that even in the face of crises caused by Sharon's constitutes a "special relationship." However, by condemnation of a united Germany, or the per‐ combining the two dominant interpretations, ceived increase in in German news‐ those of Alex Danchev and Lily Gardner Feldman, papers, the relationship survived and grew Pallade establishes his own defnition. According stronger throughout the decade. Current Prime to Pallade, in order to enjoy a special relationship, Minister and then Minister of Industry and Trade two nations must enjoy mutual openness in their Ehud Olmert noted in 2002 that Germany was the dealings (Danchev's notion of transparency); they "least hostile" of the European nations and com‐ must also recognize their relationship as special,

5 H-Net Reviews mended Helmut Kohl's past support of Israel (p. of situations during which the relationship has 364). been challenged and determines the ways by With respect to economic and fnancial rela‐ which those challenges were overcome. Though tions Pallade again concludes, based on a wealth Pallade's topic is the 1990s and beyond, the book of evidence, that fnancial aid to Israel has been would perhaps have been accessible to a wider more favorable than that to any other country. audience if it had also included a brief overview Hidden payments and mutual cooperation have of the evolution of the German-Israeli relation‐ also provided tremendous benefts. Bilateral ship, in addition to (or even instead of) the trade, however, has not developed to the level lengthy theoretical section. Nonetheless, this is an that one might expect, due to regional instabilities excellent reference work, especially with respect and German fears of Arab boycotts. Nonetheless, to security cooperation and political relations be‐ Pallade argues that parts of the Israeli business tween the two nations. The sections on economic community were already familiar with German and fnancial relations and socio-cultural connec‐ goods due to in kind payments from Germany to tions are not as detailed as those on security and Israel (such as those made under the 1952 Luxem‐ politics, but nonetheless cover a substantial bourg Agreement). This acquaintance led fre‐ amount of material. quently to the purchase of German goods, rather Notes than those of other European nations. [1]. "Joint Four-Nation Declaration," available The book concludes with a relatively short at < http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/ section on scientifc, social, cultural, and profes‐ moscow.htm >, accessed May 28, 2006. sional connections between the two nations. Here [2]. The editors note that their impetus came Pallade sees a level of interaction bordering on from the publication of Otto Dov Kulka and Erika "mutual preoccupation" (p. 474). A wealth of pri‐ Wienzierl's collection of essays, Vertreibung und vate connections supplement those developed by Neubeginn. Israelische Bürger österreichischer ofcial governmental agencies such that the inter‐ Herkunft (: Böhlau, 1998). For further read‐ connections among Germans and Israelis are ing on this topic see also Mosche Fischl, Wiener-- stronger than ever before. Jude--Israeli. Jüdische Familiengeschichte in A fnal summary conclusion draws together Österreich und Israel 1928-1964 (Konstanz: Har‐ all of the evidence on security cooperation, politi‐ tung-Gorre, 2002); and Evelyn Adunka, Exil in der cal, economic, fnancial, and socio-cultural rela‐ Heimat (Innsbruck: StudienVerlag, 2002). tions. Pallade argues that this relationship demon‐ [3]. Peter Lang Publishing Group, < http:// strates all of the indicators of a "special relation‐ www.peterlang.de/index.cfm? ship" though current events, perhaps more than vID=54203&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=2&vUUR=1 >, ever before, will present a challenge to the contin‐ accessed May 3, 2006. uation of the relationship in its present form. Pallade's supervisor at the University of Düs‐ seldorf, Ulrich von Alemann, commends this work as "an extremely consistent, colourful, and de‐ tailed panorama of German-Israeli relations in the 1990s."[3] It is certainly highly detailed and consistent in its approach to the topic and its fo‐ cus on the criteria established for a "special rela‐ tionship." Moreover, Pallade analyzes a number

6 H-Net Reviews

If there is additional discussion of this review, you may access it through the network, at https://networks.h-net.org/h-german

Citation: Tracey J. Kinney. Review of Falch, Sabine; Zimmermann, Moshe, eds. Israel--Öƒ–sterreich: Von den AnfÖƒ¤ngen bis zum Eichmann-Prozess 1961. ; Pallade, Yves. Germany and Israel in the 1990s and Beyond: Still a 'Special Relationship'?. H-German, H-Net Reviews. October, 2006.

URL: https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=12389

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

7