Austrian refugees
'We are not Germans, although we speak the same language' (6)
For Austrian refugees, British acceptance of the German annexation of Austria in 1938 added to the pain of exile. Austrian national identity was no longer recognised. Those wanting to emigrate first had to apply for German passports, those already in Britain had to apply for stateless persons' papers. Following the outbreak of war in September 1939, former Austrian citizens were subsumed into the category of 'enemy aliens' along with German refugees. Consequently, Austrian refugees spent a lot of time and energy emphasising their cultural differences and campaigning for an independent Austria.
Up to 30,000 of the wider refugee population were from Austria. In London, where most of the Austrian refugees settled, self-help groups began to be set up, followed by Austrian cultural organisations. The most active and successful of the Austrian refugee agencies was the Communist-led Austrian Centre at 124-126 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington.