Oskar Stein

Oskar STEIN, born on November 13^th, 1910 in Ungarisch Prodersdorf, Hungary/Austro-Hungarian Empire [Leithaprodersdorf, Burgenland/Austria) (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Leithaprodersdorf/Burgenland, citizenship 1938: Austria), son of Dr. Oskar Stein (1879-1931, district physician) and Karoline Stein, née Koller (1892-1934) - his father converted from Judaism to Roman Catholic faith before his marriage in 1910. Oskar Stein attended the grammar school in Ödenburg [Sopron/Hungary] where he passed his school-leaving examination (Matura) in 1928. He then began to study medicine at the University of Vienna, but had to interrupt his studies repeatedly for financial reasons after the death of his parents. In 1935 he also had to have his Matura certificate nostrified and now took his Matura at the Bundesrealgymnasium in Vienna's 4^th district. In 1937/38 he lived in Vienna's 1^st district, Gonzagagasse 19/10, and was enrolled in the spring term of 1938 at the Medical School in the 3^rd year of his creditable studies

He was discriminated as a so called 'Mischling 1. Grades' and could continue his studies at first - valid until revoked.

He was considered a "1st degree mixed race  ("Mischlinge")" (but in 1938 knew nothing of his father's Jewish ancestry) and was only able to continue his studies provisionally - subject to revocation at any time.

In June 1938, he was still able to take his first medical viva and was mustered on June 7^th, 1938 and assigned to the 1^st Infantry Medical Reserve in the German Wehrmacht, but not yet drafted.

He was in the 5^th and last year when "Mischlinge" (mixed-race students) had to submit an individual application to the Reich Ministry of Education in Berlin for admission to study from the 1^st trimester of 1940, and so he submitted an application to continue or complete his studies on April 10^th, 1940 (he was living in Vienna's 9^th district, Nussdorfer Straße 77/10 at the time).

According to the regulations, the dean of the responsible medical faculty, Prof. Eduard Pernkopf, attached to the application an expert opinion dated April 26^th, 1940 which "had to deal in particular 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 ["insbesondere auf den persönlichen Eindruck über die Persönlichkeit und das Aussehen des Gesuchstellers einzugehen [hatte]. Dabei ist zu erwähnen, ob und inwieweit Merkmale der jüdischen Rasse beim Gesuchsteller äußerlich erkennbar sind"]." [Decree of the Reich Ministry of Education, January 5^th, 1940]. It stated, "wurde heute am Dekanate vorgeladen; der Eindruck, den ich gewinne, ist ein guter; am Exterieur ist kaum etwas Jüdisches zu entdecken. Er selbst erhielt erst jetzt die Kenntnis, dass er Mischling I. Grades ist. Der Gesuchsteller macht mehr einen rustikalen Eindruck."

On June 19^th, 1940, the Rectorate was informed of the decision of the Berlin Reich Ministry of Education, after consultation with the Reich Ministry of the Interior, that Oskar Stein would "exceptionally" still be admitted to the medical examination according to the old Austrian study regulations, as he had already passed the preliminary examination (1^st viva voce) in June 1938. However, he was expressly informed that, as a "first-degree mixed-race", he had no chance of ever obtaining a license to practice medicine in the German Reich.

After passing the 2^nd and 3^rd viva, Oskar Stein would have been entitled to receive his doctorate on September 18^th, 1942 according to the old study regulations.

When the Vienna Reich Medical Association sent a request to the Medical Dean's Office in April 1943 for a list of all "mixed-races" who had not been awarded a doctorate, "Stein Oskar, Leithaprodersdorf, not yet approved" was included in the answer. Only after the end of National Socialism was he awarded a doctorate in the first post-war doctorate on June 8^th, 1945 - retroactively as of September 18^th, 1942 - in accordance with the old and now reintroduced Austrian study regulations for "Dr.med. univ." from the University of Vienna.

After completing his doctorate, he was licensed as a general practitioner by the Vienna Medical Association in 1945, was an intern at the Second University Women's Clinic, later a secondary physician at the Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy and lived in Vienna's 9^th district, Porzellangasse 43/25.

In October 1948, he moved to Neusiedl am See, Burgenland, where he worked as a medical officer and inspector.

In October 1948, he moved to Neusiedl am See, Burgenland, where he worked as a medical officer and inspector and was appointed regional medical officer ("Landessanitätsrat"). He was married to Stefanie Stein (1906-1993).

Dr. Oskar Stein died in 1957 and is buried in his parents' grave in Leithaprodersdorf, Burgenland.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment form ("Nationale") MED 1937-1939, graduation registry ("Promotionsprotokoll") 1942-1949, No. 1264, Rectorate GZ 944 ex 1939/40/41, MED S 51/1, MED GZ 1115 ex 1939/40; Vienna City Archive (WStLA)/Aerztekammer Wien, K2/1 - Kartei: Aerztinnen und Aerzte (registry physicians); POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 482;  REITER-ZATLOUKAL/SAUER 2025; information by courtesy of Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 08/2024.

Herbert Posch