Lost in a Labyrinth of Red Tape: The Story of an Immigration that Failed

Jewish Lives

by Armin Schmid, Renate Schmid, Margot Bettauer Dembo (Translation)

Lost in a Labyrinth of Red Tape is the story of one family's desperate attempts to emigrate from Nazi Germany. The Frühaufs faced enormous obstacles with the German and foreign authorities when they attempted to take advantage of matriarch Hilde Frühauf's U.S. citizenship. At the mercy of various agencies and shippers, they became more and more entangled in the red tape of the title. The daughter went into hiding and fled to Belgium, where she was hidden by the Resistance and survived the war. Tragically, the remaining members of her family failed to emigrate, and were killed by the Nazis.

174 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 1996

Reviews

[Daniel Winnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accidentally deleted my review, so I may go back and re-enter it later on.

In short:

A remarkable historical document, and a heartbreaking (as well as gripping, and at points quite inspiring) chronicle of a family’s failed emigration, and their daughter’s escape and survival.

If you can find a copy, I encourage you to read it.