REPORTAGE. In Austria, a hike to remember the exodus of the Jews after the Second World War

It is 7 a.m.: hikers set off on the Austrian road that thousands of Jewish survivors took 75 years ago to reach Italy, then Palestine. Regularly, the group stops to listen to the explanations of the historian Robert Obermair: “For political reasons, this route seemed, at the time, the most convenient but it was also one of the most difficult because of the topographical conditions.”

A trying journey that Yehuda wanted to do in homage to his own parents. Persecuted during the war because of their Jewishness, they made this long journey themselves in the summer of 1947. Between 5,000 and 8,000 Holocaust survivors left Austria illegally and had to walk more than eight hours and cross the 2,600 m high Krimmler Tauern pass. “They had no equipment, no proper footwear, no food either.says Yehuda. They were physically and emotionally tired.”

“For us today is of course different but it gives me an idea of ​​what they went through and it’s very emotional.”

This emotional moment, Yehuda shares it with his grandson Matan: “It’s very important for me to understand what my ancestors felt 75 years ago. It’s vital to pass that on to the next generations, so for me too it’s very emotional.”

About 250 people take part in this hike organized by the Alpine Peace Crossing association. The procession also includes many Austrians including Sabine. Although she lives in this area, she had rarely heard of this story. “I recently realized that the story of this leak had remained unknown in Austria for a very long time.explains Sabine. Some must obviously have known about it but they did not speak about it for various reasons. So I wanted to understand for myself, to have an idea of ​​what these people had to endure, they who had already suffered so much. Getrude, a retired Austrian, is participating like Sabine in this march for the first time. “Walking this path touches us more deeply than simply going online to learn this story”develops Getrude.

“It is important so that this history will never be forgotten and that the wars and the discord will finally end.”

Getrude, Austrian

at franceinfo

After 6 hours of walking, hikers reach the Italian border at an altitude of more than 2,500 m, time to descend to return, thinking of these survivors who continued their journey to Palestine.