Unrecognized Abroad: Career Disruption and Adaptation in Exile
A large part of the Latvians who had achieved significant success in their professions before the occupation of Latvia lost not only their homeland but also the opportunity to continue their careers during their journey as refugees. Upon arriving in their new host countries after the Second World War, they encountered a completely different environment, and it was not easy to adapt their skills and knowledge to it. Often, the education and professional qualifications acquired in Europe were not recognized, and moreover, the language skills of the newcomers were frequently insufficient. Thus, former teachers worked as cleaners, artists became factory workers, and lawyers ended up on construction sites.
Over time, some managed to retrain and return to their profession. Others continued to work simple “bread jobs,” maintaining a connection with their previous life outside of work – by fostering Latvian traditions and maintaining social life in Latvian communities on weekends and holidays
Architect Artūrs Braunfelds’ folding ruler, which he took with him when going into exile during the Second World War.
Donated by Skaidrīte Sobolev.
Artūrs Braunfelds (1891–1979) was an architect and engineer with a successful career in the Republic of Latvia. He had obtained his education in Riga and Moscow, worked for Eižens Laube, and later established his own architectural office, which designed various buildings in Riga, Ogre, and elsewhere in Latvia. In 1944, as the Soviet Union’s army re-occupied Latvia, Braunfelds went into exile with his family. He took this folding ruler – one of the tools of his trade – with him.
After several years in refugee camps in Germany, the family emigrated to the USA in 1950. There, Braunfelds initially worked as a gardener, but later enrolled at Syracuse University, where he learned English and also studied architecture. This allowed him to return to work in his profession, and he became a senior architect’s assistant in the construction department of Syracuse University.