Escaping Nazi occupied Austria: Hans G谩l's story

草榴视频has long been committed to its role as a University of Sanctuary, working in partnership with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) to help protect vulnerable scholars and refugees. Here, we look at the role the University played in supporting renowned Viennese composer, Hans G谩l, after fleeing from Nazi occupied Austria.

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Hans Gal

Who was Hans G谩l? 

Hans G谩l was born in 1890 to a Jewish family residing in Lower Austria, near Vienna. From a young age, he displayed a remarkable talent for music and composition, studying at the New Vienna Conservatory under the tutelage of Richard Robert, and even winning the newly created 鈥楽tate Prize for Composition in 1915鈥. After serving in the First World War, G谩l would return to Vienna to resume his career, even going on to work as a lecturer at the University of Vienna.  

At this time, his career seemed to soar from strength to strength. In 1919, G谩l was awarded the Rothschild Prize and his opera, 鈥楧ie Heilige Ente鈥 and 鈥極verture to a Puppet Play鈥 were released in the 1920s to much acclaim. As the 1930s dawned, G谩l was serving as the Directory of the Conservatory in Mainz, but this decade would prove to be far more turbulent for the composer due to the rise of fascism and the Nazi Party. 

Fleeing Austria 

The deeply rooted antisemitic dogma of the Nazi Party had a resounding impact on G谩l鈥檚 career. When the fascist regime occupied Mainz, G谩l was removed from his post at the Conservatory and later returned to Vienna. Austria was also being subjected to a rise in antisemitic sentiment, and thus G谩l and many other talented individuals suffered due to the political climate.  

Nevertheless, as would prove to be typical of him, G谩l never stopped composing despite the turmoil around him, managing to pen, De profundis, using it as an outlet to express his frustration and disappointment1. G谩l and his family would continue to endure the oppressive conditions but, in 1938, as Germany looked to annex Austria, it became clear to G谩l that he and his family would need to flee the country if they wanted to survive. They did so in March 1938, initially intending to stay in the UK briefly before moving to the USA. 

While staying in England, G谩l encountered Sir Donald Francis Tovey, Professor of Music at the University of Edinburgh. This friendship proved pivotal as Tovey encouraged G谩l to move to Edinburgh, despite there being no vacancies at the University. Tovey was gained employment for G谩l cataloguing the University鈥檚 Music Faculty library.  

Disappointingly, this temporary stability did not last long and, thanks to Churchill鈥檚 internment policy for 鈥榝oreign aliens鈥, G谩l would spend much of 1940 imprisoned near Liverpool and then on the Isle of Man. Conditions at the internment camp were far from pleasant but, thanks to the presence of other foreign intellectuals, G谩l was able to endure, keeping a diary and even composing 鈥榃hat a Life!鈥 despite the poor selection of instruments present.  

Impact on Edinburgh

After his time spent on the Isle of Man, G谩l would return to Edinburgh, working first as a fire warden before gaining a position as a lecturer in Musical Education at the University in 1945. He would maintain this post until his retirement thirteen years later. While residing in the city, G谩l immersed himself in the local music scene and was closely involved with the formation of the Edinburgh International Festival, a venture spearheaded by G谩l鈥檚 associate, Rudolf Bing. G谩l would remain involved with the festival for many subsequent years and never stopped composing and remaining active as a scholar during this latter stage of his life, despite personal tragedies and adversity. 

G谩l鈥檚 achievements would be honoured several times; in 1964 he was appointed as an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) and in 1971, he was honoured by the homeland he fled over thirty years earlier, gaining a first-class Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art. G谩l passed away at the age of 97 in 1987.  

What can we learn from Hans G谩l鈥檚 story? 

Hans G谩l was a talented individual and, if not for the help he received fleeing Austria, it is likely that his story would have been cut prematurely short, robbing us of his contributions to music and Edinburgh. The story of Hans G谩l is still extremely relevant in the turbulent global climate today, where thousands of similarly gifted academics face the difficult prospect of leaving their homes in the hopes of a better and more peaceful future elsewhere.  

The University remains devoted to offering such scholars a helping hand, working in partnership with the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) to extend help to those seeking aid. Earlier this year, the University announced its intention to offer ten fully funded fellowships for at-risk scholars and their families, providing them refuge for two years. This latest support only continues the University鈥檚 legacy as a University of Sanctuary, and undoubtedly, the University will strive to build upon this commitment in the years to come.  

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