Elisabeth (Helene Babette) Lissauer

Born:	12-01-1916
Faculty:	Medical School | Medical University Vienna
Category:	Expelled student

Elisabeth (Helene Babette) LISSAUER, born on December 1^st, 1916 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), daughter of Emanuel Kaufmann (merchant in Budapest, 1865-1921) and Leopoldine, née Wolfinger, remarried Waldhauser (wife of a tobacconist, 1890-?), lived in Vienna's 3^rd district, Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 28/13. After she had graduated from high school ("Realgymnasium") in Vienna's 13^th district, she began her studies at the Medical School of the University of Vienna in fall term 1936/37. Her mother had converted from Roman Catholicism to Judaism when she first married in Budapest in 1916; after her father's death in 1921, her mother converted back to Roman Catholicism in 1926 before her remarriage, and Helene Babette Lissauer was baptized as Elisabeth Lissauer on June 12^th, 1928 in Budapest, also in the Roman Catholic rite. She was thus considered and dicriminated as a "Mischling 1^st degree" under National Socialism and was only able to continue her studies for the time being even after the Anschluss - with revocation at any time - and was enrolled in the 4^th semester in the spring term of 1938. Her younger brother Ludwig Lissauer, who also studied at the Medical School, was subjected to the same discriminatory measures. When "Mischlinge" had to apply to the Reich Ministry of Education in Berlin for admission to be allowed continuing their studies as of the 1st term 1940, the Lissauer siblings also submitted applications for the continuation of their medical studies in which they presented themselves as largely loyal to the Nazis. In accordance with the regulations, the dean of the responsible medical faculty, Eduard Pernkopf, attached to the application an expert opinion dated April 1940, which

"in particular [had to] deal with the personal impression about the personality and the appearance of the applicant. It is to be mentioned whether and to what extent characteristics of the Jewish race are outwardly recognizable in the applicant." [Decree of the Reich Ministry of Education, January 5^th, 1940].

He stated:

"In both siblings the Jewish type comes out somewhat."

The Reich Ministry of Education Berlin, after consultation with the Reich Ministry of the Interior, decided in June 1940 to admit the siblings "by way of exception" to the medical examination according to the old Austrian study regulations, since they had already passed the preliminary examination (1st Rigorosum). However, it was to be expressly pointed out to them that as "Mischlinge 1^st degree" they had no chance of obtaining the Bestallung (professional license) as a physician in the German Reich. After passing the 2nd and 3rd viva voce examinations ("Rigorosen"), Elisabeth and Ludwig Lissauer would have been entitled to a doctorate according to the old study regulations. In June 1941, the University of Vienna forwarded the siblings' applications for admission to the doctorate of complete medicine. At the suggestion of the Dean of the Medical Faculty, the Rector of the University of Vienna decided on June 26^th, 1941, to "conditionally" admit the siblings' doctorate. He agreed that

"Ludwig Lissauer and Elisabeth Lissauer be admitted to the doctorate already now, subject to subsequent approval by the Reich Minister of Education. A report on this matter to the Reich Ministry of Education is in preparation. The diplomas of both will be kept in the administration ("Pedellenkanzlei") and will be handed out to the students only after positive completion of my application in the Reich Ministry of Education."

"The present case seems to me all the more worthy of consideration, since the Fuehrer has made a decision of clemency to the effect that the mother of the above-mentioned candidates, Leopoldine Waldhauser, may continue to belong to the NSDAP without restriction of membership rights, despite not being of pure Aryan descent."

The Reich Ministry of Education Berlin did not make a fundamental decision until September 19th, 1942: without proof of certification as a physician (which was generally not granted to "Mischlinge 1st degree"), the doctoral diploma could not be handed out.

"However, in order to make it easier for the aforementioned to obtain suitable employment in industry, I authorize the faculty to issue a certificate to the effect that, apart from proof of German-blooded ancestry, they have fulfilled all the requirements for the award of the doctoral degree. It shall be expressly noted on the certificate that it is NOT valid as a doctoral diploma."

It was not until after the end of National Socialism that the doctoral diploma, which she would have had already formally obtained on July 5^th, 1941, was issued to her in June 1945 and retroactively made valid. Whether she became a doctor and where she lived is still unclear - she was de-registered from Vienna in 1951 to "unknown". Dr. Elisabeth Lissauer deceased at the age of 80 in October 1997 and was buried at the Vienna Central Cemetery.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna (UA) / enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1936-1941, graduation registry ("Promotionsprotokoll") MED M 33.13, 5639; Senate MED S 51/2; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 431; REITER-ZATLOUKAL/SAUER 2022; find a grave in Vienna; www.genteam.at.

Katharina Kniefacz and Herbert Posch