Book presentation
Anne Hand "Austrian Again: Reclaiming a Lost Legacy"
Museum Dorotheergasse
©
From 2020, through changes to the Austrian Citizenship Act, the descendants of Austrian victims of National Socialism, many of them Jewish, have been able to reclaim Austrian citizenship. In this captivating memoir, the first of its kind to be published, Anne Hand embarks on a deeply personal journey to pursue Austrian citizenship and uncover her family’s hidden Holocaust history.
As Austria opens the door to reparation citizenship for descendants of those victimized by the Nazi regime, Hand digs through fragments of family stories and documents to trace her Austrian and Czechoslovakian roots. Through her search, she pieces together the story her ancestors withheld from their children after World War II, while reflecting on identity, migration, and heritage. Navigating the bureaucratic process of gaining citizenship, this journey becomes much more than just a legal pursuit. It transforms into a reflection on memory, loss, and resilience, culminating in the celebration of legacies both long buried and still cherished. Along the way, she confronts the silences and gaps in her family's past, grappling with the weight of history and its impact on future generations.
Anne Hand was born in 1985 in New York. Her grandmother was a librarian, and she grew up attached to the power of the written word. Her love of books and the worlds they transported her to have always fueled her desire to make change in the world. Anne has spent her career blending research, policy, and practice to create social impact across the Americas and beyond. She is a recognized expert in global education and development, publishing on topics related to technology and social impact. She holds a BSc. from McGill University and an Ed.M. from Harvard University. Austrian Again is her first book.
Hannah Lessing, chairwoman of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism, in conversation with the author.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Free admission
As Austria opens the door to reparation citizenship for descendants of those victimized by the Nazi regime, Hand digs through fragments of family stories and documents to trace her Austrian and Czechoslovakian roots. Through her search, she pieces together the story her ancestors withheld from their children after World War II, while reflecting on identity, migration, and heritage. Navigating the bureaucratic process of gaining citizenship, this journey becomes much more than just a legal pursuit. It transforms into a reflection on memory, loss, and resilience, culminating in the celebration of legacies both long buried and still cherished. Along the way, she confronts the silences and gaps in her family's past, grappling with the weight of history and its impact on future generations.
Anne Hand was born in 1985 in New York. Her grandmother was a librarian, and she grew up attached to the power of the written word. Her love of books and the worlds they transported her to have always fueled her desire to make change in the world. Anne has spent her career blending research, policy, and practice to create social impact across the Americas and beyond. She is a recognized expert in global education and development, publishing on topics related to technology and social impact. She holds a BSc. from McGill University and an Ed.M. from Harvard University. Austrian Again is her first book.
Hannah Lessing, chairwoman of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism, in conversation with the author.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Free admission