The original Dunera-diary of George Chodziesner, which we are publishing for the first time in German, adds a new dimension to the accounts of the voyage of the HMT Dunera. In the English translation under the heading “How I came to Australia”, he describes the events during the 57-day horror journey of the deportation ship “coolly and dispassionately”. According to historians, it is “probably the most important and comprehensive report[1] Seumas Spark, intro to the Australian publication of the diary on the Stories from the Dunera and Queen Mary platform, retrieved on 28 July 2024.” from a personal perspective. Under the impression of reading it, George’s great-grandson Joshua Chodziesner captured the dramatic moment in a graphic novel when two torpedoes from the Nazi navy narrowly missed the Dunera.
Peter & Paul Dehn, November 2024.
While we normally publish all articles here on dunera.de in both English and German language, this time, as an exception, we refer to the website that first published George Chodziesner’s diary in the English translation.
The website Stories from the Dunera and Queen Mary is greatly recommended to anyone who is trying to learn about the the Dunera Boys and the Queen Mary internees, as it holds a vast archive, telling this special chapter of the history of World War 2 in an extraordinary way, combining personal stories and art.
So, to read the english text written by George Chodziesner (and then – follow up on the rest of this great website), please click the link behind the diary’s cover or the logo on the left for all the Stories from the Dunera and Queen Mary.
George’s detailed report comprehensively illustrates the official complaints that the internees of Camp 7 and Camp 8 submitted to British and Australian authorities shortly after their arrival in the camps.
Georg Chodziesner. The Foto was taken between 1930 and 1935.
Quelle: Courtesy of the Chodziesner family.
Please also read our biographical article about George Chodziesner and his family.
