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It was not long after the Anschluss of March 13, 1938, that the [[Nazis ]] began to take an interest in the Jew Sigmund [[Freud]]. The [[number ]] of "visits" to the Berggasse residence increased in frequency and were often accompanied by [[demands ]] for [[money]]. One Tuesday evening, on March 22, [[Anna Freud ]] was held "bei Gestapo" for questioning, which sealed her [[father]]'s decision to leave [[Austria]].

It has been suggested that "[[humor ]] is a polite way of expressing despair" and it is not surprising that a number of [[jokes ]] circulated in Austria at the [[time]]. One of [[them]], attributed to Freud himself, has been frequently repeated ever since Ernest [[Jones ]] reported it: "One of the [[conditions ]] for [[being ]] granted an exit visa was that he [[sign ]] a document that ran as follows, 'I Prof. Freud, hereby confirm that after the Anschluss of Austria to the [[German ]] [[Reich ]] I have been treated by the German authorities and particularly the Gestapo with all the respect and consideration due to my [[scientific ]] reputation, that I could live and [[work ]] in [[full ]] [[freedom]], that I could continue to pursue my activities in every way I desired, that I found full support from all concerned in this respect, and that I have not the slightest [[reason ]] for any complaint.' When the [[Nazi ]] officer brought it along Freud had of course no compunction in signing it, but he asked if he might be allowed to add a [[sentence]], which was: 'I can heartily recommend the Gestapo to anyone'" (Jones, 1957, p. 226).

This "story" has been repeated many [[times ]] and commented on by those who treated it as genuine. Some commentators have reproached Freud for a "recommendation" they felt to be ambiguous; [[others ]] admired his audacity. Eventually, some [[people ]] ended up believing that Freud had actually added this sentence to the Nazi document.

It is hard to imagine that Freud, who was aware of the difficult and costly negotiations by the U. S. ambassador to [[France ]] (William C. Bullitt), [[Marie Bonaparte]], and [[Ernest Jones ]] to obtain his visa, and who was [[responsible ]] for the fate of his daughter and wife within the climate of the anti-Semitic [[hatred ]] that had taken hold in [[Vienna]], would have taken the risk of making a [[joke ]] that in a matter of seconds might undo all their efforts. Moreover, he was depressed by the powerlessness resulting from his age and poor health, as he wrote in a [[letter ]] to his son Ernst on May 12, 1938, "I am [[writing ]] to you for no [[particular ]] reason because here I am sitting inactive and [[helpless ]] while Anna runs here and there [[coping ]] with all the authorities, attending to all the business details" (letter number 297, p. 442). But his "[[official]]" biography maintained this [[fiction]], and none of those close to Freud denied it, especially Anna Freud.

The original [[text ]] of the [[statement ]] was found during a 1989 [[public ]] auction of documents concerning the emigration of Freud's [[family]]. It is a more sober statement, closer to the horrible [[truth ]] of those years, than the theatrical version given by Jones, and more consistent with the customary bureaucratic indifference of the Nazi [[machine]]. It was written by Alfred Indra and signed by Freud, without any additions by him. It reads: "Erklarung. Ich bestätige gerne, dass bis heute den 4. Juni 1938, keinerlie Behelligung meiner Person oder meiner Hausgenossen vorgekommen ist. Behörden und Funtionäre der Partei sind mir und meinem Hausgenossen ständig korrekt und rücksickstvoll entgegentretten. Wien, den 4. Juni 1938. Prof. Dr. Sigm. Freud." (Declaration. I hereby confirm of my own free will that as of today, June 4, 1938, neither I nor those around me have been harassed. The authorities and representatives of the Party have always conducted themselves correctly and with restraint with me and with those around me. Vienna, June 4, 1938. Prof. Dr. Sigm. Freud.)

Freud's comment was most likely introduced to mask the anguish of his departure—a [[form ]] of black humor, which had close [[links]], throughout Freud's [[life]], with the [[tradition ]] of Yiddish Witze, which were often also tinged with despair.