Contemporary witness Viemue publishes book about escape from Vienna: A life between the wars!

Contemporary witness Viemue publishes book about escape from Vienna: A life between the wars!

In the coming days, Vienna will be the scene of exciting stories and moving memories. Viktor Viemue, a native of Brigittenau and a contemporary witness to the last days of the war in Vienna, is publishing his new book “Adolf, why did I have to go to the bunker?” to the book fair, which takes place from November 12th to 16th. This work is not only a personal account, but also an in-depth examination of the aftermath of the war and the challenges that the post-war period brought with it. Loud MyDistrict Viemue tells us about his escape from Vienna, together with his mother and siblings, and describes his return to the city of his childhood.

Viemue explains how missed professional opportunities and financial difficulties blocked his path in his youth. The 87-year-old expresses his regret about his dreams not being realized, such as studying German or working as a journalist. A lack of money, work permits and frequent moves often prevented him from shaping his own path in life. “I always wanted to live a self-determined life,” he states, and in his book he also addresses the family expectations and the pressure that this created. His grandchildren play an important role in this, as they encouraged him to put his story down on paper.

A multifaceted factual novel

In his book, Viemue tells the story of young Stefan Goldaus, a child of the silent generation who is caught between the pursuit of tolerance and a life of confinement. This fictional character study reflects the major themes of the work, such as the trauma of war, the desire for self-determination, friendship and love. Viemue thus creates a bridge between personal experiences and the universal questions of life, such as: Will Stefan find happiness? Can he count on help? (More on this on Viktor Viemue ).

After several years of research, which took between five and ten years, the book saw the light of day in October 2024 and is available both in printed form and as an e-book. Anyone interested can purchase the book for 14.90 euros and the e-book for 9.90 euros in various bookstores, at Buchschmiede and online on the author's website.

Insight into the escape stories

Viemue's work is surrounded by a broader context that also addresses the important social issues of migration and flight. This includes the online archive of the escape, initiated by the journalist Carolin Emcke. It documents the experiences of people who fled to Germany between 1945 and 2016 and shows how migration shapes society. Through oral history interviews conducted in a diverse team, the perspective of migrants becomes visible and their contributions to history are acknowledged. These initiatives illustrate how important understanding refugee stories is today. Further information is available at bpb.de available.

With “Adolf, why did I have to go to the bunker?” Viktor Viemue invites you not only to reflect on your own history, but also to understand and recognize the diversity of experiences that people have in difficult times. A good piece of Austrian history that makes you think while reading!