Heinrich Von Neumann's mission to the Evian Conference : July 6-15, 1938

Abstract

The novelist Hans Habe claims his work "Die Mission" is a fictionalized form of Dr. Heinrich von Neumann's secret mission to the Evian Conference which was held in the French resort from July 6-15, 1938. According to Habe the world-famous surgeon was forced by the Viennese Gestapo to offer the Jews of Austria to those nations participating in the conference for $250 per head, $1,000 per family. The present thesis is an attempt to corroborate Habe's claim. In the chapters following the Introduction, a summary of both the Evian Conference and the theme of Habe's work is presented. This is followed by documentation to support the similarities between the fictionalized version and the actual participants and their views. While no definite clues to the actual content of the Nazi offer were evident, the reports in the newspapers viewed for the period strongly pointed to its authenticity. Support for such a proposition was sent to Habe's editors. Those historians doubting the plan could offer no definite documentation to back their claim. Habe's widow gave particularly convincing evidence in support of the diabolical plot. While the author of this thesis is convinced that the plan outlined in Habe's work is indeed based on fact, the conclusion is not definitive. Attempts to contact diplomats present at the historical event have been fruitless. There is a strong possibility that the final answer to quell the doubts of those who still insist the work is pure fiction lies in the files of one of the participating nations at the Evian Conference.