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Staatsgrenze 1981-1983/Border 1981-1983 (1983)

Staatsgrenze 1981-1983/Border 1981-1983 (1983)

Austria borders on seven foreign countries:

the Federal Republic of Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein—countries which represent the most diverse political systems: the so-called Eastern Bloc, one non-aligned state, the NATO, a neutral state and a principality.

Artificially drawn political borders have always played an important role for mankind and probably will continue to do so as long as man exists. Such borders, I believe, will only lose their importance when common defence against an extraterrestrial enemy is called for.

The 1,681-mile-long Austrian border is far less brutal than, for example, the Berlin border, where a concrete wall cruelly cuts a city in half. It is even beautiful, romantic, inconspicuous, but in this quiet landscape one feels the silent, sad facts even more strongly than in Berlin.

On my trips along the border I have tried to find places where tragic incidents occurred and to dig up personal stories in my exploration of the “border” phenomenon.

in detail

>>>Book "Staatsgrenze/Border 1981-1983

© Seiichi Furuya, 1983

1  Wurzenpass | 2  Loiblpass | 3  Seebergsattel | 4  Globasnitz/Globasnica | 5  Ratsch an der Weinstraße | 6  Spielfeld | 7  Radkersburg | 8  Lutzmannsburg| 9  Loipersbach im Burgenland | 10  Loipersbach im Brugenland | 11  Schattendorf | 12  Andau | 13  Deutsch Jahrndorf | 14  Marchegg | 15  Langenzersdorf | 16  Drösing | 17  Hohenau | 18  Drasenhofen | 19  Wildendürnbach | 20  Kleinhaugsdorf | 21  Unterretzbach | 22  Hardegg | 23  Fratres | 24  Kuazen | 25  Rottal | 26  Stankauer Teich | 27  Gmünd | 28  Weigetschlag | 29  Klaffer © s.furuya
1  Wurzenpass | 2  Loiblpass | 3  Seebergsattel | 4  Globasnitz/Globasnica | 5  Ratsch an der Weinstraße | 6  Spielfeld | 7  Radkersburg | 8  Lutzmannsburg| 9  Loipersbach im Burgenland | 10  Loipersbach im Brugenland | 11  Schattendorf | 12  Andau | 13  Deutsch Jahrndorf | 14  Marchegg | 15  Langenzersdorf | 16  Drösing | 17  Hohenau | 18  Drasenhofen | 19  Wildendürnbach | 20  Kleinhaugsdorf | 21  Unterretzbach | 22  Hardegg | 23  Fratres | 24  Kuazen | 25  Rottal | 26  Stankauer Teich | 27  Gmünd | 28  Weigetschlag | 29  Klaffer

© s.furuya
Pictures of this work
In July 1983, a Yugoslavian border patrol opened fire on four Turks crossing the border illegally. One of them was wounded. Presently many Turks are trying to cross the ‘green’ border in order to reach Germany via Austria.<br /> Wurzen Pass, 1983 <br />
In July 1983, a Yugoslavian border patrol opened fire on four Turks crossing the border illegally. One of them was wounded. Presently many Turks are trying to cross the ‘green’ border in order to reach Germany via Austria.
Wurzen Pass, 1983
“IN THE ERA OF NATIONAL-SOCIALIST TYRANNY, SEVERAL THOUSAND PRISONERS FROM THE CONCENTRATION CAMP MAUTHAUSEN – MOST OF THEM OF FRENCH NATIONALITY – WORKED ON THE LOIBL TUNNEL DURING THE YEARS 1943 TO 1945. MANY OF THEM DIED FROM THE BRUTAL FORCED LABOUR TO WHICH THEY WERE SUBJECTED.”<br /> (From the inscription on the memorial stone) <br /> Loibl Pass, 1983 <br />
“IN THE ERA OF NATIONAL-SOCIALIST TYRANNY, SEVERAL THOUSAND PRISONERS FROM THE CONCENTRATION CAMP MAUTHAUSEN – MOST OF THEM OF FRENCH NATIONALITY – WORKED ON THE LOIBL TUNNEL DURING THE YEARS 1943 TO 1945. MANY OF THEM DIED FROM THE BRUTAL FORCED LABOUR TO WHICH THEY WERE SUBJECTED.”
(From the inscription on the memorial stone)
Loibl Pass, 1983
Wanted poster of RAF terrorists.<br /> Seebergsattel, 1983<br />
Wanted poster of RAF terrorists.
Seebergsattel, 1983
Border control investigation.<br /> Spielfeld, 1983<br />
Border control investigation.
Spielfeld, 1983
“If you give three loud screams, I’ll come and help you.”<br /> Lutzmannsburg, 1981<br />
“If you give three loud screams, I’ll come and help you.”
Lutzmannsburg, 1981
“On warm days fit for swimming, the Hungarian border guard spends a long time just watching our sun-bathing lawn through his telescope.”<br /> Loipersbach in Burgenland, 1981<br />
“On warm days fit for swimming, the Hungarian border guard spends a long time just watching our sun-bathing lawn through his telescope.”
Loipersbach in Burgenland, 1981
“This is where the free Western world ends, and it only begins again in Japan. When wild animals cross the border strip at night, illuminating shells will flare and Hungarian soldiers come marching up.”<br /> Schattendorf, 1981
“This is where the free Western world ends, and it only begins again in Japan. When wild animals cross the border strip at night, illuminating shells will flare and Hungarian soldiers come marching up.”
Schattendorf, 1981
In 1980, Dlubac Milan, a twenty-two-year-old Czech, attempted to swim across the swollen Morava River, which he succeeded in doing at the cost of his life. <br /> Marchegg, 1981<br /> <br />
In 1980, Dlubac Milan, a twenty-two-year-old Czech, attempted to swim across the swollen Morava River, which he succeeded in doing at the cost of his life.
Marchegg, 1981

On 4 July 1982, polish refugees – an agricultural pilot, his wife, and his daughter – landed near Vienna in a helicopter. A thunderstorm and low-altitude flying while crossing over the CSSR made their adventure possible.<br /> Langenzersdorf, 1982<br />
On 4 July 1982, polish refugees – an agricultural pilot, his wife, and his daughter – landed near Vienna in a helicopter. A thunderstorm and low-altitude flying while crossing over the CSSR made their adventure possible.
Langenzersdorf, 1982
“Can you imagine that 500 of the 8,000 local residents before 1938 were Jews (Nikolsburg/Mikulov). The Jews controlled everything. Thank God our Führer came and they disappeared! But then we lost the town ourselves.” <br /> Drasenhofen, 1983<br />
“Can you imagine that 500 of the 8,000 local residents before 1938 were Jews (Nikolsburg/Mikulov). The Jews controlled everything. Thank God our Führer came and they disappeared! But then we lost the town ourselves.”
Drasenhofen, 1983
“Four years ago, a Czech man in a wetsuit fled across the lake to Austria. After this incident, the Czech Republic installed a net all the way across the lake.”<br /> Stankauer Teich/Stankovský rybník, 1983<br /> <br />
“Four years ago, a Czech man in a wetsuit fled across the lake to Austria. After this incident, the Czech Republic installed a net all the way across the lake.”
Stankauer Teich/Stankovský rybník, 1983

“I am a gypsy. Our home is over there. Thirty-eight years ago, yes, in 1945, we were expelled with no more than the clothes on our backs and a few bundles. We couldn’t stay in Austria, so we went to Germany. I have never forgotten my home, nor how we left it.”<br /> Unterretzbach, 1983<br />
“I am a gypsy. Our home is over there. Thirty-eight years ago, yes, in 1945, we were expelled with no more than the clothes on our backs and a few bundles. We couldn’t stay in Austria, so we went to Germany. I have never forgotten my home, nor how we left it.”
Unterretzbach, 1983
“This is Berlin in Austria. The town is cut in half by a triple border fence, and the people on the other side live under a different political regime. Frankly, I prefer to be on this side.”<br /> Gmünd, 1983<br />
“This is Berlin in Austria. The town is cut in half by a triple border fence, and the people on the other side live under a different political regime. Frankly, I prefer to be on this side.”
Gmünd, 1983