Migration of Czech Alex Newman (Nypl) from a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany to Australia in 1948

Date1948-1949

Object numberANMS0286

NameArchive series

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Alex Newman

Terms

DescriptionPersonal papers of Alex Nypl (Newman) relating to his migration from Czechoslovakia to Australia via Germany and Genoa on the SS PROTEA in 1948 and his settlement in Australia in 1949.History'In two days, I will be celebrating anniversary of 40 wonderful years in this lovely country and I will always be grateful to the Commonwealth of Australia and its people, for giving me the opportunity to start new life here, after the horrific years of Nazi occupation in 1938-1945 and then again the Communist putch in February 1948 and persecution and jail one had to go through, which has hurt lot more as it has been inflicted by our own countrymen and in many cases by friends. The start over here, not speaking the language, not having any trade or profession,without a penny to my name, has not been easy, but with hardwork and learning English quite quickly, I had a good life, have made a lot of Australian friends and consider Australia home'. Alex Newman (Nypl), 20 December 1988, letter to the Australian National Maritime Museum. Alex Nypl was born in Rychnov, in the Republic of Czechoslovakia on 22 July 1921. Either Rychnov nad Kněžnou or Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou both of which are now in the Czech Republic, the former is the larger town. His father's name was Adolf and his mother's name Anna Prazakova. Czechoslovakia invaded and dismembered by Nazi Germany, first with the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, followed by the occupation of the rest of the country in 1939. Czechoslovakia was re-established in 1946 under a coalition government that included Communist ministers. The Communists seized full control of the government in February 1948 turning Czechoslovakia into a Socialist Republic. We know from the letter that accompanied his donation that Alex was not in sympathy with the Communist regime which is why he may have fled the country. By September 1948 he was in southern Germany where he was issued a Temporary travel document in lieu of passport for stateless persons. On the 16th of October he obtained a visa to travel to Australia after an interview at the displaced persons camp at Lugwigsburg in Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany. In November 1948 he and other Czechoslovak refugees were sent by train from Ludwigsburg to Italy to board the SS PROTEA which departed Genoa on 16 November and arrived in Melbourne on 22 December 1948. Once in Australia he was sent to the Bonegilla migrant camp in Victoria. On 26 January 1949 he left Bonegilla for Woomera, South Australia, to work as a labourer at the Department of Works and Housing as directed by the Government. At some point prior to 1988 he changed his surname to Newman by deedpoll.SignificanceThis archive is significant in recording the European migration to Australia after the turmoil of WWII and the takeover of eastern European states by Communist governments.