Kurzfuehrer_Abt_1_5 1..21 - Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte

3 n Authorities
People in Bavaria were only granted complete
freedom to emigrate from 1871 onwards.
Before that time, an emigration
application had to be filed with the authorities.
A passport could only be obtained
after submission of a birth and baptism
certificate, proof of financial security and
proof of military service. The intended
emigration also had to be publicly proclaimed,
so that debtors could be informed.
Only the passport issued officially for the
one journey made it possible for the holder
to purchase the ticket.
The treaty governing freedom of domicile
that was co-signed by the Kingdom of
Bavaria and America in 1845 did nothing
to alter this state of affairs.
Emigrating from Bavaria meant relinquishing
Bavarian citizenship. This freed
home communities from having to provide
for any impoverished emigrants who
returned, because they were no longer
subjects of the King.
Some emigration agencies procured
the papers for the crossing. From 1849
onwards, these agents had to have the
approval of the Bavarian government and
also pay a deposit in advance. They usually
worked on behalf of the large shipping
companies like Norddeutscher Lloyd
in Bremen (NDL), or HAPAG. There were
main agents and so-called sub-agents’.
Well-known agencies in Bavaria included
Leipert in Kempten and Dessauer in
Aschaffenburg.
Most emigrants had never been on
long journeys in their lives. This made
them easy prey for confidence tricksters,
both during the crossing as well as on
arrival in the US. Protection and advice in
Germany as well as during the voyage
were provided by associations such as
the Raphael Association or by welfare
and social workers.
n Mit der Einbürgerungsurkunde
vom 22. Dezember 1939 wurde
Maria/Mary Benz, geborene Zeilnhofer,
amerikanische Staatsbürgerin.
n „Certificate of Naturalization“
for Mary Benz, 1939 (Charles
H. Hackl, Barrington/Illinois)
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