Figure 1.--The Popper family were Austria Jews who were able to escape to Bolivia through Switzerland. They were among the very few Jews to which the Bolivian Government granted entrance visas. Here we see Dr. Popper and his family in Bolivia during 1943. They worked with the Bolivian Army bin the Chaco. Their Bolivian servant is with him. At the time the last Austrian Jews were being deported to NAZI death camps.

Ludwig Popper (1904-84) was born in Vienna and grew up in Paris and Zurich. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Vienna as a physician (1927). Popper worked in Vienna General Hospital (until 1936). He married Friederike Bednarsky (1934). Their first child, Peter, was born (1936). In the same year Dr. Ludwig was dismissed from Vienna General Hospital because of his Jewish origin. This of course was before the NAZIs seized control of Austria. We are not sure if this was done legally under Austrian law or was a private act of bias. Thrir second son Lutz Elija was born (1938). A few days later, NAZI Germany staged the Anschluss and widespread violence against Jews began. The Popper family was able to esape by entering Switzerland. This probably saved their lives. We are not sure how this was possible. Austrian Jews were desperated and beseiged foreign embassies for visas. The Swiss did take in refugees, but with the Anschluss anf Kristallnacht were overwealmed and restricted entry. During the War turned many foreign (non-Swiss) Jews over to the NAZIs. Perhaps the Popper family already had a visa because Ludwig had previously lived in Zurich. Dr. Popper obtained a visa to enter Bolivia before the War (1939). Bolivia also did not grant many visas to Jews, requiring proof of legal emigration from the country of origin. We suapect that Dr. Popper was able to get a Bolivian visa because he agreed to work with the Bolivian Army. Their daughter Susanne was born in Bolivia (1941). Dr. Popper worked 8 years in the Bolivian military medical service. He following the troops with his family. They spent most of these years in the Gran Chaco. Bolivia fought one of the major South American wars with Paraguay in the Chaco (1932-35). The Bolivian Army as a result of the War maintained a large presence in the Chaco. Conditions there were primitive. Bolivia was one of the poorest countries in the Hemisphere and the War had only worsened conditions. Not many Bolivian doctors wanted to live in what remained of the BoliviAn Chaco. There the Poppers would have experienced rather primitive living conditions, but at least they were safe. Here we see the family in the Chaco during 1943 (figure 1). The Popper family returnedcto to Vienna after the War (1947). We suspect that the fact that they spent only a shirt time under NAZI control was a factor. Lutz Elija Popper published his father's memoirs and the story of the family's survival (2006).

Childhood

Ludwig Popper (1904-84) was born in Vienna and grew up in Paris and Zurich. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Vienna as a physician (1927).

Career

Dr. Popper worked in Vienna General Hospital. Popper was dismissed from Vienna General Hospital because of his Jewish origin (1936). This of course was before the NAZIs seized control of Austria. We are not sure if this was done legally under Austrian law or was a private act of bias.

Family

Dr. Popper married Friederike Bednarsky (1934). Their first child, Peter, was born (1936). Thrir second son Lutz Elija was born (1938).

Anchluss (1938)

A few days after their second child was born, NAZI Germany staged the Anschluss and widespread violence against Jews began. The Popper family was able to esape by entering Switzerland. Carl Popper, Ludwig's father, could have left with his son, but remained in Austria. Later he was unable to obtain a visa and was killed in the Holocaust.

Switzerland (1938-39)

The Popper family went to Switzerland immediately after the Anschluss. Getting to Switzerland almost certainly saved their lives. We are not sure how this was possible. Austrian Jews were desperated and beseiged foreign embassies for visas. The Swiss did take in refugees, but with the Anschluss anf Kristallnacht were overwealmed and restricted entry. During the War turned many foreign (non-Swiss) Jews over to the NAZIs. Perhaps the Popper family already had a visa because Ludwig had previously lived in Zurich. They had some Swiss friends that aided them. Moreover Mrs. Popper was not Jewish. They wished go to the United States, but finally they obtained a visa for Bolivia first.

Bolivia (1939-47)

Dr. Popper obtained a visa to enter Bolivia before the War (1939). Bolivia also did not grant many visas to Jews, requiring proof of legal emigration from the country of origin. We suapect that Dr. Popper was able to get a Bolivian visa because he agreed to work with the Bolivian Army. Their daughter Susanne was born in Bolivia (1941). Dr. Popper worked 8 years in the Bolivian military medical service. He following the troops with his family. They spent most of these years in the Gran Chaco. Bolivia fought one of the major South American wars with Paraguay in the Chaco (1932-35). The Bolivian Army as a result of the War maintained a large presence in the Chaco. Conditions there were primitive. Bolivia was one of the poorest countries in the Hemisphere and the War had only worsened conditions. Not many Bolivian doctors wanted to live in what remained of the Bolivian Chaco. There the Poppers would have experienced rather primitive living conditions, but at least they were safe from the NAZIs. In the Chaco the Popper family experienced primitive living conditions. They lived in barracks or tents. The weather was always hot. The children could attend only village schools and usually they went barefoot all years round, as their local mates. Mrs Popperhad, however, a servant. Here we see the family in the Chaco during 1943 (figure 1).

Return to Vienna (1947)

The Popper family returnedcto to Vienna after the War (1947). We suspect that the fact that they spent only a shirt time under NAZI control was a factor. As was probabky living conditions in Bolivia. Lutz Elija Popper published his father's memoirs and the story of the family's survival (2006).

Sources

Popper, Ludwig. Bolivien für Gringos. Exil-Tagebuch eines Wiener Arztes (Verlag edition lexliszt 12, Wien, 2006).

Created: 7:33 PM 4/30/2011
Last updated: 7:50 PM 4/30/2011