HARALD LEUPOLD-L6wENTHAL
61
account, since in the meantime the German authorities had con–
fiscated Alexander Freud's assets "because an employee had tried to
get Harry Freud's collection of stamps out of Germany." After this
confiscation (on August 30, 1938) Fuhrer travelled to Lugano and,
claiming to act on orders of the Gestapo, got the Alexander Freud
family to give him at least a part of the family jewels by promising
that this would influence the authorities to consider remanding the
confiscation of the business.
Apparently Fuhrer was one of the "German keepers of law who
are not just representatives of the client but act as
Treuhiinder
of the
German people ." His altruism, however, appeared to be self–
enriching. In September 1938, an article in the German
Pariser
Tageszeitung
notes that "lawyers make careers":
Among the party members who are reaping in the money and
who want nothing to do with
Gemeinnutz
is also the lawyer Erich
Fuhrer who was elected vice-president of the Legal Association.
As soon as his election became public, the clients, interven–
tionists and business opportunists flocked to him. He moved his
offices.... Already in the first week after the taking of Austria
he drove his own, large car with a uniformed chauffeur.
In 1962, Indra states: "In the old mes of Erich Fuhrer I found
the copy of a receipt that is somewhat comical. Fuhrer, with the
Freud's agreement . . . brought jewelry and silverware back from
Switzerland. . . . Later, in line with par.
#
14 of the law on Jewish
fortunes, he had one of his employees deliver at least 20,000 grams
of silver to the Dorotheum. The receipt I found does not mention the
name Freud, but that of Dr. Erich ISRAEL Fuhrer." Clearly,
Fuhrer did not hesitate to be besmirched as aJew for financial gain.
From the confiscated holdings of Alexander and Harry Freud the
various taxes were being paid (RM 46 . 195 and 67.906 in April
1939). By then Alexander Freud depended on handouts from family
and friends .
As we know, Sigmund Freud was able to leave Vienna on June
3, 1938. He had deposited enough money with Dr. Indra to pay
various bills for his office, dues to the medical association, etcetera.
And he had legally terminated his lease, for reasons of "emigration."
Although there were other complications about the transport of his
furniture, it did arrive in London on August 15, 1938, but not
