I read Erich Hackl's latest "docu-novel" Am Seil in one sitting; it is a short, but gripping, true story of the unassuming metal-worker Reinhold Duschka who hid a Jewish woman and her young daughter for four years in Vienna under Nazi rule. Hackl reconstructed the story primarily through interviews with the daughter , Lucia Heilman, who also provided the subtitle "eine Heldengeschichte" ("story of a hero"). Hackle quotes her at the outset: "Reinhold ist der Held meiner Geschichte. Nur seintwegen erzähle ich sie." ("Reinhold is the hero of my story. I'm only telling this for him.") But as we learn in the book, Reinhold would be the last to claim that he did anything heroic. Reinhold's connection with Lucia and her mother was through a friendship with Lucia's father: they were both enthusiastic mountain climbers. But friendships had perhaps a greater meaning back then:
"Er war der beste Freund ihres Vaters, zu einer Zeit, in der Männer noch beste Freunde und Frauen beste Freundinnen hatten, vor einer halben Ewigkeit also."
The father left Austria, Lucia and her mother remained in Vienna. But by 1941 the situation for Jews in Vienna was dire; they were systematically being rounded up and deported to the east:
"Längst hat sich herumgesprochen, daß Judenhäuser geräumt, ihre Bewohner auf Lastwagen weggeschafft werden. Wohin, dorthin, von wo niemand zurückkommt."
Just as they were about to be detained, Reinhold took them to his workshop in an industrial section of Vienna where they stayed hidden for the next four years. Much of the book deals with this period in the workshop. To pass the time, Reinhold has the mother and child (Lucia was just ten at the time) assist him in work of creating Christmas ornaments and other handicrafts from tin. Somehow, he was able to procure food and provisions for the Lucia and her mother, even though these were strictly rationed. They were not allowed to use the bathroom, since other occupants of the building might spot them and become suspicious. Nights were difficult since the mother and daughter could not make any noise; lights were forbidden because of the mandatory blackouts. Reinhold would bring the girl books and tutor her in geography and math. On a couple of occasions, Reinhold would take the girl on short excursions to the park (Lucia was blonde and therefore could pass a "Aryan"), but as the war progressed the Gestapo became increasingly fanatical in searching for Jews who had somehow escaped deportation ("untergetauchte Juden"). Finally, in 1945 the workshop is bombed and Lucia and her mother flee for their lives, narrowly escaping arrest at a control checkpoint. Reinhold has them stay in his summer hut until he find them safe lodging.
The last section of the novel covers the postwar years. Lucia eventually studies medicine, Reinhold marries, starts a family but continues to pursue his true passion of mountain climbing. Hackl interviews former employees as well as family members. Reinhold never spoke about how he saved a mother and daughter from certain deportation and death during the war. In fact, Reinhold's own daughter was shocked to learn of this chapter of her father's life only when she was a grown woman. Early on, Lucia wanted to put forward Reinhold's name for Yad Vesham Righteous Among the Nations recognition, but he demurred since he felt that such publicity could damage his business (a damning indictment of persistent Austrian anti-Semitism). Finally, shortly before his death in 1992, Reinhold accepted this honor.
The title of the book - Am Seil - refers to the ethos of mountain climbing. The climbers are tethered and mutual trust is required to survive on the mountain. Reinhold put his own life at risk in performing what he considered his civic duty in saving Lucia and her mother (the title has been translated as "Roped Together). Hackl discussed this ethos in an interview:
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