Aliaga-Buchenau 43

the same topic of informing and warning immigrants in his 1861 lecture "Die
Friedrich Gerstacker Writes, "Let's go to America:" Deutschen im Ausland" (" Germans Abroad") which he presented and
German Inunigration and Colonial Fantasies in the Nineteenth Century published in German in Rio de Janeiro.
Ana-Isabel Aliaga-Buchenau
In this paper I examine "Das Auswandererschiff" and "Die Deutschen im
Ausland" to illuminate the connection between the immigrant experience and a

\ German national identity as propagated by Friedrich Gersilicker. Part of a larger

study of fictional and narrative representations of German immigration to the

I Americas, the paper builds on Susanne Zantop's study Colonial Fantasies:Family,

and Nation in Precolonial Germany, 1770-1870. As Zantop explains, widely shared
Inspired in his youth by Robinson Crusoe and the works of John Fenimore colonial fantasies played a significant role in the formation of German national
Cooper, Friedrich Gerstacker, a native of Braunschweig, Germany, emigrated identity in the nineteenth century: "Colonial fantasies provided an arena for
from his homeland in search of adventure at the age of 21 in 1837. The young creating an imaginary community and constructing a national identity in
man became a writer by default when his mother submitted his letters to her to a opposition to the perceived racial, sexuaL ethnic, or national characteristics of
publisher. When Gersilicker returned to Germany after six years in the New others, Europeans and non-Europeans alike." She points out that "Germans and
World, he found his descriptions in print. He continued to travel and write for their Germanic national characteristics would be contrasted [in these fantasies)
the rest of his life. In 1849, he began a journey that took him to Latin America, with those of other Europeans, with whom Germany competed for moral
Australia and Java over the ensuing three years. In 1860, he once again economic or political supremacy." Zantop further posits that as Germans
embarked for Latin America. imagined the other [while reading texts about the New World) they imagined it
outside and inside Germany; they created for themselves a colony which became
Gerstacker's travels find expression in many stories, novels and essays. As with a blank space to create a new imaginary national self (7).
most of his other works, he bases his fiction on his personal experiences of place
and people. The author's travels were inspired by works of fantasy and fiction The nineteenth century saw a proliferation of texts published in Germany about
such as Robinson Crusoewith its islands and palm trees. However, Gersilicker is the New World. Alexander von Humboldt's travels and subsequently published
always conscientious to stick as closely as possible to what he represents as facts narratives inspired many to emigrate, to travel and to write about the Americas.
in his stories. His work occasionally combines fiction with personal The tone and stance of these texts changes throughout the century. Titles such as
experiences-a mixture of fantasy and fact., "Die Europamiiden" ("Those Tired of Europe") indicate that the thirties and
forties witnessed an idealized and romanticized version of life in the Americas.
Much of Gerstacker's writing shows his deep interest in immigrants and their But in 1855, Ferdinand Kiimberger published a reaction against this trend
experiences before departure, during the journey and upon arrival. Many of his entitled "Die Amerikamiiden" ("Those Tired of America"). Gerstacker strikes a
texts-letters, stories and even diary entries-are meant to inform if not warn balance between these two extremes in that he tries to correct both the
immigrants of what lies ahead and how to prepare properly. An example of idealization and demonization of the New World (Durzak 3, 8). He claims that
such a warning is the fictional sketch "Das Auswandererschiff" ("The Emigrants' ,'I his works are based on his own experiences and therefore present an accurate
Ship")\ which appeared in a magazine called mustriertes Familienbuch:zur picture of life in the New World as it is (O~el 9). Many of his works warn
Unterhaltungund BelehrunghiiuslicherKreise(IllustratedBookfor theEntertainment against the pitfalls of the immigrant experience, and his own example speaks of
andEdifiClltionof theDomesticSphere).In a differentformat,Gerstackertakesup
Postscript 46 Aliaga-Buchenau 47

Fantasy and idealization rule all dreams concerning the New World and replace den westlichen Staaten NordamerikJIs (Account of a Journey to the Western States of
all rational thought. Women dream of the many cups of coffee they will drink in North America) and even fictional texts by such authors as Karl May created
their new homes, since the coffee will grow in their garden, and of eating images and ideas to which they cling hopefully in their worry about what the
pineapples and bananas under a palm tree (Die Deutschen 2). Immigrants of the new life might bring.
educated class who are inspired by their fantasies to immigrate also complain
about the new home when they get there. But in contrast to the working class Gerstacker repeatedly points out the danger of adhering to these fantasies and
immigrants they do not send money and do not write letters asking others to warns that the passengers will be rudely awakened and disappointed. What is
follow them. It is interesting to note that Gerstacker has experienced this same worse is that the passengers face a much more immediate danger; they may not
draw of his own fantasies. He admits in his writings that his reading of Robinson survive because they cannot work together toward a solution in their panic. A
Crusoe and The LeatherstockingTales led him to dream of the New World and was sudden storm overtakes the boat in the channel within sight of the French
a large factor in his strong desire to emigrate. While Gerstacker arrived safely in coastline. The strength of the wind breaks off several masts. The passengers
the new world and crossed the ocean many times unharmed this cannot be said however are relieved that the damage is relatively small and enjoy a round of
for the immigrants in "Das Auswandererschiff." storytelling and drinking below deck. Three passengers, all of the educated
class-a tailor who has had to escape Germany because of his revolutionary
The German immigrants on the boat Kaptaube (Dove of the Cape) are bound for activities in the revolution of forty-eight, a tanner and an instrument maker-all
share a conversation with a retired sailor and the cook of the boat. As the retired
New York. The night the story opens, they had already been on board for eight
days, but their boat has been kept stationary in the channel due to a storm. Then, sailor Meier has predicted the whole evening, the storm returns with much
they are finally under way, happily over the first seasickness and enjoying the stronger force and runs the boat onto a sandbank where it is slowly but surely
smashed to pieces by the incoming waves.
quiet ride. While many of them are peasants and workers, there are also some
immigrants from the educated classes on board. In first class, several ladies and
The behavior of the four men as well as that of a merchant from first class are
merchants travel towards the New World, while the reader meets a tailor, an
instrument maker, a tanner and a retired sailor on the lower deck. The magic representative of what Gerstacker perceives to be the problem of Germany in the
word among these immigrants is "America." The weather and their stomachs middle of the nineteenth century. They lack unity and strength. They cannot
finally let them talk and enjoy the journey: face the problem of the sinking ship because they only try to save themselves.
The tanner, "a large, strong man, with fists like a bear's, lay on his knees,
[they...] build castles in the clear blue air, whining to God, begging for forgiveness of his sins and rescue from deepest
castles that reach high into the clouds which trouble" while the tailor cried like a child (13).' Instead of strength and courage
they show behavior worthy of children in Gerstacker's eyes. The cook tries to
move westward.. .Quite a few beautiful plans
incite the sailors still working under the captain's command to give up their fight
are thought through, quite a few fantastic
against the storm. He comes out of the kitchen with a keg of rum which he is
dreams are dreamt [...] through the colorful
willing to share so that they can at least die drunk (12). The worst behavior
rainbow of hope they see the faraway land as
however comes from another member of the educated class and that is the
a paradise in front of them
merchant Mr. Wolf from the first class cab~. He throws himself to his knees and
("Auswandererschiff" 2).5
begs the sailors to save him and only him since he has lots of money and can
make them rich (13): "The sailors pushed the man away in disgust and in the
Their fantasies are inspired by what they have read and heard about the New
end he lay whining like a dog on board, scratching the planks with bloody nails,
World. Reports such as Gottfried Duden's 1829 book BerichtabereineReisenach
pulling out his hair, swearing and praying" (13).'
Postscript 44 Aliaga-Buchenau 45

an immigrant who gave up the project of living in another culture. He returned Gerstiicker acknowledges the many personal motivations that might lead to
after only six years. However, despite his warnings and the fact that he returned, immigration: poverty, idealism, escape from the law and many others. However,
Gerst1icker is enthusiastic about immigration into the countries in which he has his lecture "Die Deutschen im Ausland" methodically distinguishes between two
lived. groups to which all immigrants belong. The first group of immigrants are those
who leave their homeland due to economic need, and the second group are those
Gerstiicker marvels at what he sees as an interesting paradox. While Germany is who leave inspired by their idealization of the new world. The first group is
the origin of the largest number of immigrants to the Americas in the mid- made up of those who work hard wherever they are and dream of owning a
nineteenth century, he believes that German immigrants share the strongest piece of land elsewhere. Immigrants who belong to this group complain about
their new home but nevertheless write letters home-or rather dictate letters, as
feelings of homesickness. In his view, they are the most "heirnatverbunden"
(attached to home) (Die Deutschen 1). Gerst1icker notes that despite the strong many of them are barely literate-telling their friends and families to follow
attachment to their homeland, Germans are coming in droves. He admits that them into the New World. In addition, they send money home to facilitate new
some-but only very few-immigrate to achieve freedom from political immigration. Gerstiicker concludes the rather positive picture he paints of these
oppression! In his novel Nach Amerika (To America) Gerst1icker describes in hard working immigrants by saying that they are all of the lower or working
class(Die Deutschen 1).
more detail different personal motivations that lead Germans to immigrate to the
Americas:
The other motivation Gerstiicker examines in detail is fantasy. The author
The wild boy calls "To America" easily and himself belongs to the group of immigrants who come to the New World because
cheekily, in spite of the difficult and sad first they dream of an idealized place based on their reading materials. He posits that
fantasy is the most dangerous companion of any immigrant. This motivation is
hours which will test his strength and strengthen
his courage- The desperate man whispers "To mainly a cause for immigration in the educated middle and upper class. In this
America" because he was close to ruin and is group one might find immigrants from such diverse backgrounds as
being pulled more and more into the abyss- The impoverished scribes, professors, barons and dukes. For Gerstiicker, typically
poor man says "To America" quietly and idealized books which describe the immigrant experience are dangerous because
determinedly, with manly strength and still in the readers' fantasy digests the reading material and, in its own fashion, creates
its idealized version of the New World:
vain he has fought the power of circumstances
over and over; with bloody sweat he has asked
Even if these books are written in a realistic
for his daily bread and he has not received any,
he sees no help for his family in the fatherland, and impartial tone, their own [the immigrants']
damned fantasy throws a Bengal flame on all
he cannot beg yet he will not steal. Having just
committed a crime, the crimina1laughs "To of the negative aspects uncovered, and even a
swamp, truthfully depicted, if it only has palm
America" because there he expects to be safe
from the reach of the offended law- The idealist trees and one can find even one animal print,

exclaims "To America," angry with the real can become the goal of longing until they [the
immigrants] are stuck in that same swamp
world, because it is so real, and expecting an
themselves... (Die Deutschen 2),4
image across the ocean, which is similar to the
one in his mind.3
Postscript 48
Aliaga-Buchenau 49

The instrument maker, also of the educated .classes, does not behave quite as a major theme in Gerstacker's lecture "Die Deutschen im Ausland" ("The
badly as the other four men but rather tries to comfort and protect his wife and Germans Abroad.") This lecture given on September 21, 1861 details
child by shielding them from the waves. The only person who deserves praise in Gerstiicker's observation during his travels through the Southern Cone. He
Gerstacker's eyes is the retired sailor Mr. Meier who immediately steps up to specifically visited and tried to find Germans who have settled in Ecuador, Chile,
follow the captain's orders and to help the other sailors. When finally the one Argentina, Peru and Brazil. He notes with consternation that the German
passenger life boat is lowered into the raging ocean the scared immigrants try to immigrants after their arrival in the New Wprld do not live together in peace and
gain access, disregarding the captain's orders that women and children should unity. Instead he finds discord and "the old story [...] where when two Germans
go first. Merchant WoIf is one of the first ones attempting to save his own life. In come together, they do not rest until they find a third one to whom they can
the end, the boat is so overfilled that Meier tells the instrument maker to trust complain about the bad treatment of the other one" (11).8 Even in Brazil, a
him and not to die sooner than necessary on the lifeboat which is bound to country that offers so much space that peaceful cohabitation should be possible,
capsize. The captain's life boat leaves with some sailors and some first class he observes that the Germans do not get along. They are divided over
ladies. Finally, only the iNtrument maker, the heroic Meier, and the captain, as everything as Gerstiicker noted in 1853:
well as eight women from the lower deck who did not manage or dare to get
onto the life boat, remain on the battered wreck in the storm. They survive We Germans really do have particular
miraculously. historical bad luck. We are not only North-and
South Germans, we are High and Low
The selfishness of the majority of the immigrants in the face of death is Germans, we are from Sigmaringen and
underlined by the fact that they do not help those who have missed the boat, Sondershausen, from. Prussia and
flailing in the water, asking for help. What is worse, if someone in the water Wiirttemberg etc. and on top of that we are
managed to hold on to the side of the boat, his or her hands were cut with knives Catholics and Protestants, or German Catholic
to insure that they could not enter the boat (13). Meier is saved because he was and Reformed or Lutheran Protestants, and to
willing to help others and to work for the captain as well as with the other add insult to injury we are Republicans or
sailors. He is the positive example of an immigrant. Similarly, the instrument aristocrats. 9

maker, a member of the educated class, is different from the other men in that he
does not behave like a child but rather protects his family and listens to reason, And while all these distinctions are true for Germans in Germany the differences
willing to trust Meier and to work with him. Literally, the storm causes the do not remain in Germany when the immigrants leave-rather they carry
death of almost all of the immigrants on board the "Kaptaube." Figuratively, it is differences and the seed for discord with them to the New World. It is no
their selfishness and greed to make their dreams and fantasies come true that wonder that Gerstacker posits that immigrants in their new homelands do not
causes their downfall. In a sense, the only thing that could have saved them is band together to form unified groups. Instead, he observes that Germans have
working and finding strength together. been trained to be good "Unterthanen" (subjects), which makes them obey and
fulfill their duty towards the governments of their new domiciles. However, it
At the time of the publication of Gerstacker's work, the German middle class was does not incite them to ask for any rights. In fact, Gerstacker emphasizes that
in an identity crisis. The 1848 revolution which had demanded unity had failed, only a unified group of German immigrants might be able to demand rights. But
and a unified Germany was not to become reality until after the Franco-Prussian he asks "How can one expect that from the many different elements a solid
war of 1870-71. Therefore, the lack of unity in Germany is a political topic of whole might form?" (Die Deutschen, Nachwort).lo
great urgency in the mid nineteenth-century. Much of Gerstacker's work
addresses these issues. In this manner, unity and the lack thereof in Germany is When contemplating the issue of German immigration, Gerstacker asks himself:
"Why does the German adapt more easily than other people to the foreign
 50 Aliaga-Buchenau 51
Postscript

country?"l1 He concludes that the lack of unity of the German immigrants has its Notes
roots in the fact that the fatherland is tom and unimportant. And with the
discord and lack of unity in their homeland comes an embarrassment of being 1 All translations are mine.
German. He goes so far as to say that they deny their origins through language
and customs, even in the education of their children (Die Deutschen).12For 2 Gerstacker refers to those who had to leave due to their revolutionary activities
Gerstacker, the lack of unity in the New World among the immigrants-as he in the Forty-eight Revolution.
allegorically showed in the story "Das Auswanderungsschiff" -can only lead to
disaster. It mirrors the disunity of the German nation which is not a unified 3 "Nach Amerika! Leicht und keck ruft es der Tollkopf trotzig der ersten
nation until 1871.
schweren, traurigen Stunde entgegen, die seine Kraft priifen , seinen Muth
stahlen sollte.-Nach Amerika! Fliistert der Verzweifelte, der hier am Rand des
It is at the end of his lecture then that Gerstacker explains his goals. He demands Verderbens dem Abgrund langsam, aber sicher entgegengerissen wurde.-nach
unity among immigrants and unity among Germans everywhere. He promotes Amerikal Sagt still und entsch10ssen der Arme, der mit mannlicher Kraft und
the ideas of the National Verein (National Association) which works towards the doch immer und immer wieder vergebens gegen die Macht der Verhaltnisse
unification of Germany. At the same time the National Verein also serves the nagekampft, der um sein 'tagliches Brod' mit blutigem Schweiss gebeten-und
purposes of the German immigrants allover the world. The National Verein es nicht erhalten, der keine Hiilfe fUr sich und die Seinen hier im Vaterland sieht,
works for a unified Germany which would benefit all Germans abroad by having und doch nicht betteln wilL nicht steh1en kann. - Nach Amerika lacht der
one diplomatic representation in each country. With the achievement of these Verbrecher nach gliicklich veriibtem Raub, irohlockend der femen Kiiste
goals he foresees that people can say: ''Thank God there are Germans abroad, entgegenjubelnd, die ihm Sicherheit verheisst vor dem Arm des beleidigten
who recognize the noble and larger goal of the fatherland and follow it."13 The Rechts.-Nach Amerikal Jubelt der Idealist, der wirklichen Welt ziimend, weil
German nation needs to exist as one unit in order for Germans to be proud of sie eben wirklich ist, und iiber dem Ozean driiben ein Bild erhoffend, das dem in
their heritage and to propagate their culture abroad. seinem eigenen tollen Him erzeugten gleicht."

Ultimately, Gerstacker's writings display a striking contradiction: on the one · "Mogen diese Biicher noch so wahr und unparteiisch geschrieben sein, we
hand, he desires unification and a strong national identity, and on the other hand eigene verwii.nschte Phantasie wirft eine bengalische Flamme auf alle dort
he denigrates the colonial fantasies that contribute to German immigration. Had aufgedeckten Schattenseiten und selbst ein getreu geschilderter Sumpf, wenn
Gerstacker understood the relationship betWeen the fantasies that drove the
nur Palmen darin stehen, und irgendwo eine vereinzelte Tigerfahrte eingedriickt
immigrants to the New World and their function in the formation of national ist, kann bei ihnen zu einem Ziel ihrer Sehnsucht werden-bis sie seIber darin
identity, he would not have railed against such fantasies. In fact, he did stecken "
participate in the formation of a German identity by creating fiction about the
colonial experience of Germans. He helped define what a German is and what 5 "[sie...] bauen sich Schlosser in die blaue, reine Luft, die hoch zu den Wolken
he should not be by contrast with the "other" in the New World. reichen, und mit diesen 'gen Westen ziehen"[...] Wie mancher schone Plan wird
da ersonnen, wie mancher phantastische Traum ausgebriitet und gehegt [...]
durch den tausendfarbigen Regenbogen der Hoffnung liegt ihnen das feme Land
schon jetzt in Paradieses Pracht und Schmuck vor Augen."

6 "ein grosser starker Mann mit ein paar Fausten, wie ein Bar, lag, [...] auf den
Knien und wimmerte zu Gatt um Vergebung seiner Siinden und Rettung aus
tiefer Noth". "
Postscript S2
Aliaga-Buchenau S3

7 "Die Seeleutestiessenden Mann in Ekelvon sich,und winselnd lag er zuletzt

lang ausgestreckt [...und] kratzte sich die Nagel blutig and en Planken raufte
sich die Haare und fIuchte und betete."
Works Cited

8 "die aIte Geschichte[...] wo zwei Deutschezusammensind ruhen sie nichteher

bis sie einen Dritten finden, bei dem sie sich iiber schIechte Behandlung des
Durzak,M..Amerikain derdeutschenLiteratur.Eds.S. Bauschinger,Horst Kenkler,
Wilfried MaIsch. Stuttgart: Pilipp Reclam Jun., 1975. in Jiirgen Ockel.
anderen beklagen konnen."
"Nach Amerika: Die Schilderung der Auswandererproblematik in den
Werken Friedrick Gerstackers." Beitriigezur FriedrichGerstiickerForschung
9"Wir Deutsche haben aber auch besonderes historisches Ungliick. Wir sind
3,8.
nicht aIIein Nord- und Siiddeutsche, wir sind auch Hoch- und Plattdeutsche, wir
Gerstiicker, Friedrich. "Das Auswandererschiff. H nIustriertes Familienbuch: zur
sind Sigmaringer und Sondershauser, Prewsen und Wiirttemberger usw., und
wir sind ausserdem noch Katholiken oder Protestanten oder Deutschkatholiken, Unterhaltung und Belehrunghiiuslichu Kreise6:1 (1855/56):1-14.
und wiederurn Reformierte oder Lutheraner, und dann noch zu aIIem Leid -. "Die einigen Deutschen im Ausland." MorgenblattfUr gebildeteLeute 39 (1853)
zitiert in Thomas Ostwald. "Nachwort" in Die Deutschen, 20.
Republikaner und Aristokraten."
-. "Die einigen Deutschen im AuslandH MorgenblattfUr gebildeteLeute 39 (1853)
zitiert in Thomas Ostwald. "Nachwort" in Die Deutschen, 20.
10 "Wie lasst sich da erwarten, dass aus so verschiedenen Elementen irgend ein
-. Die Deutschen im Ausland. Rio de Janeiro: Lorenz Winter, 1861
festes Ganzes werden konnte?"
Rlustriertes Familienbuch: zur Unterhaltung und Belehrung hiiuslicher KreiseL 6:1
(1855/56): 1-14.
\I "Weshalb schmiegt er [der Deutsche] sich leichter als andere Volker der
Kiirnberger, Ferdinand. Der Amerikamude Amerikanisches Kulturbild. Miinchen: G.
Fremde an?"
Milller, 1910.
Moltmann, Giinter. "Die Deutsche Amerikaauswanderung' ...nach Amerika!'"
\2"durch Sprachen und Sitten, ja selbst durch die Erziehung der Kinder."
Auswanderung in die Vereinigten Staaten. Auststel1ungskatalog Museum fUr
Hamburg. Geschichte, 1976.
13 "Gott sei dank, es leben Deutsche im Ausland, die das edle und grosse Ziel
Ockel, Jiirgen. "Nach Amerika: Die SchiIderung der Auswandererproblematik in
ihres Vaterlandes erkennen und sich dem anschliessen:"
den Werken Friedrick Gerstackers." Beitriige zur Friedrich Gerstiicker
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Willkomm, Ernst. Die Europamuden.ModernesLebensbild.Leipzig: J. Wunder, 1836.
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University of North Carolina at Charlotte