Rudolf Königstein

Born:	01-10-1915
Faculty:	Medical School | Medical University Vienna
Category:	Expelled student

Rudolf KOENIGSTEIN, born on January 10^th, 1915 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Dr. Robert Koenigstein (physician, cousin of Prof. Hans Koenigstein), lived in Vienna's 7^th district, Mariahilfer Strasse 53. After graduation from highschool he started to study medicine and was enrolled finally in the spring term 1938 at the Medical School in the 5^th and last year of his studies ('Absolutorium' was certified on March 7^th, 1938). Still studying, he became an official at the university in April 1936 and in 1938 he hold the position of a "demonstrator with grant" ("Demonstrator mit Stipendium") at the medical-chemistry Institute (head: Prof. Fuerth) at the Medical School. In times of National-Socialism he was dismissed as a demonstrator for rassist reason and forced to leave the university, allthough he could first continue his studies in the context of the Numerus clausus of Jewish Students until the end of the spring term, but was no more allowed to finish his studies and was forced to leave the university. He succeeded to flee to Shanghai where he could continue his medical studies at St. John's University and graduated to "Dr. med./M.D." on May 31^st, 1941. He was working as a doctor in a laboratory from 1941 to 1945 in the international ghetto of Shanghai. From 1946 to 1951 he became a doctor in Hangzhou (Anglican-New Zealand Mission) before he decided to leave China in end of 1951 to Vienna in fear of Mao Tse-Tung and the Revolution. In Vienna he took all the necessary steps for the final examination (Rigorosum) and his doctorate from Shanghai was nostrificated on December 15^th, 1951. and became a senior physician ("Oberarzt") at the 3rd Medical Department of the Viennese hospital Lainz and later head ("Primarius") of the associated home for the elderly in Lainz. He also habilitated in February 1969 and became a "Privatdozent" and in July 1976 an extraordinary Professor ("a.o.Professor") for Intern Medicine and Tropical Disease at the University of Vienna. At the end of October 1979 he retired. He lived first in Vienna's 4th district, Mayerhofgasse 12/40, later in 10th district, Favoritenstrasse 235/I/6 corner to Libussagasse 9. He was married and they had a daughther. He passed away on July 15^th, 1985 in Vienna.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1937-1938, Rectorate GZ 680 I ex 37/38, Personalstand Uni Wien 1975/76; STADLER I 2004 [1988], 497; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 420; information from his daughter Dipl.-Ing. Erika Koenigstein, 2017; information from Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 07/2019.

Herbert Posch