Berta Adler (Mandl)

Born:	07-02-1909
Faculty:	Philosophical School
Category:	Expelled student

Berta ADLER, born on July 2^nd, 1909 in Krems/Lower Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), daughter of Ing. Dr. Artur Adler (born on March 9^th 1877 in Vienna, entitled residency: Vienna, he had studied at the Technical University Vienna in 1896 to 1902 civil engineering ("Bauingenieurwesen"), later on worked at the Austrian Railway Company ("OeBB") and retired in 1932 as a senior railway official "Oberbahnbaurat") and Ottilie Adler (nee Ziegler, born on February 2^nd, 1886 in Gratzen/southern Bohemia [Nové Hrady/Czech Republic], entitled residency: there, after the marriage: Vienna). In 1938 Berta Adler lived together with her parents in Viennas' 13^th ditrict, Hadikgasse 150/3, the flat was "aryanized" in 1939 and the parents had to move to a flat in Viennas' 1^st district, Biberstrasse 14 in 1940 and were finally deported to Theresienstadt [Terezín/Czech Republic] on October 9^th, 1942 from their last residency in Viennas' 2^nd district, Weintraubengasse 19/28. From Theresienstadt they were transferred to Auschwitz [Oswiecim/Poland] on October 28^th, 1944, date of death unknown. Berta Adler finished High School ("Realschule") in 1927 and enrolled the qualification course ("Realschulabsolventenkurs") at the Philosophical School a the University of Vienna (1927/28) and continued to study mathematics and descriptive geometry to gain a teaching degree for secondary schools as an extraordinary student (from fall term 1928/29 to spring term 1930), continued as an ordinary student at the Technical University of Vienna from fall term 1930/31 to spring term 1933, the fall term 1932/33 she studied at both universities at the same time, until the fall term 1933/34 again as an extraordinary student only at the University of Vienna. In 1934 she had the obligatory number of terms enrolled at the university to be able to gain the to gain a teaching degree for secondary schools ("Hautpschullehramt") and finished her studies with the examination on December 13^th, 1934 and was allowed to teach mathematics and descriptive geometry. Since January 7^th, 1935 she had tenure as a secondary school teacher at the City Council of Vienna ("staedtische Hauptschullehrerin") and taught at the secondary school for girls ("Maedchenhauptschule") in Viennas' 13^th district, Feldmuehlgasse 26. In March 1938 she was "suspended" because of her nonayrian descent, later on fired for racist reasons. As a graduate from secondary school ("Realschule") she was only allowed to take philosophical studies after taking a compulsory examination, which she took on October 1^st, 1937. In the beginning of fall term 1937/38 she was permitted to get a leaving certificate ("Absolutorium") after enrollment of one more year as ordinary student (she had already studied for six years at university) and after writing a dissertation she would be allowed to take the final examinations ("Rigorosen") and to graduate with a PhD ("Dr. phil."). In the end of spring term 1938 she fulfilled all requirements and asked for the leaving certificate on May 6^th, 1938, and presented her birth certificate and certificate of residency, certificates of her academic studies and the birth certificates of both of her parents. On May 21^st, 1938 she presented her dissertation, asked for consideration of her studies at the Technical University as ordinary student and at the University of Vienna as an extraordinary student. Die commission in charge, consisting of the professors Richard Meister, Heinrich von Srbik, Dietrich Kralik and Egon Schweidler, accepted the studies internally on May 23^rd, on June 24^th the secretary of education accepted it too and Berta Adler was allowed to begin with the final examination. Only a few days earlier, state commissary Plattner edicted on June 20^th, 1938, that jewish students are allowed to get a leaving certificate until the end of spring term 1938 and are allowed to take the final examinations, which was announced by the rector of the university on  June 22^nd. She succeeded to take the first rigorosum on October 27^th 1938 and also her dissertation '"Mathematical and graphical designation of the resonance-frequency and -values with different configurations of inductor, capacitor and resistance" ("Rechnerische und zeichnerische Bestimmung der Resonanz-Frequenzen und -Werte bei verschiedener Anordnung von Spule, Kondensator und Widerstand") (doctoral advisers: Ludwig Flamm, Egon Schweidler) was approbated on January 14^th 1939 – but at this point no jewish student was allowed any more to take the  second final examination or to graduate at the University of Vienna. In the printed catalog of dissertations of the University of Vienna Berta Adler is listed with the title of her dissertation as a graduate and alumni, because her dissertation was approbated, usually this means to gain the academic degree, in this case she was not allowed to, although she had fulfilled all requirements only because of her status of "Non-Aryan", which made it impossible to graduate In Vienna in the Nazi-era. Berta Adler married in July 1938 in the Viennese temple Ing. Walter MANDL (b. January 8^th, 1909 in Vienna as son of Alfred Mandl, civil servant). Walter Mandel had also studied at the Technical University of Vienna (mechanical engineering, 1927-1932) and finished his studies on March 28^th, 1932 with the final examination "II. Staatspruefung"). Both succeeded in leaving Vienna and they were able to emigrate to London/Great Britain, where they lived for some time. When her husband went to Turkey as a technical engineer for the sugar industry, Berta followed him. In 1948 both came to the USA together with their daughter Berta and their younger son. Berta Mandl, née Adler, died on October 28^th, 1982 in den USA, two years after her husband.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna, enrollment forms ("Nationale") PHIL 1927-1938, final examination files and register ("Rigorosenakt und -protokoll") PHIL 14567; Vienna City Archive/Historical Central Registration of Viennese inhabitants/reply to request from June 11^th, 2012, MA 8 – B-MEW-3633/2012 vom 11. Juni 2012; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 354; DÖW 2001; www.yadvashem.org [March 2006]; information from her daughter Berta Adler, USA 2012; information from Dr. Juliane Mikoletzky, Archive of the Technical University Vienna, 2012.

Herbert Posch