Hermine Allgayer

Hermine ALLGAYER, born December 20^th, 1917 in Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna/Austria, citizenship 1938: Austria) as the daughter of Dr. Raoul Allgayer (1879–1954, lawyer, head of section in the General Directorate for Public Security) and Hermine, née Ressel (1891–1917, died at her birth). Hermine Allgayer graduated from the girls' secondary school of the Schulverein für Beamtentöchter in Vienna's 8^th district, Langegasse 47 on June 15^th, 1937.

She then began studying veterinary medicine at the Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine in the fall term of 1937/38. Under National Socialism, she was considered a "Mischling 2. Grades" and was able to continue her studies – subject to revocation at any time – on a temporary basis. In the fall term of 1939/40, however, she was no longer admitted to examinations and further enrolment at the University of Veterinary Medicine for racist reasons.

She then immediately enrolled at the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna to study human medicine, as this was still possible under the regulations at the time. She was also given credit for 2 semesters and some examinations.
Like all "Mischlinge" from the 1^st trimester of 1940, she submitted an application to the Reich Ministry of Education in Berlin for admission to study (April 2^nd, 1940, she then lived in Vienna's 8^th district, Wickenburggasse 10). In accordance with the regulations, the dean of the responsible medical faculty, Prof. Eduard Pernkopf, submitted an expert opinion dated April 27^th, 1940, which "had to deal in particular with the personal impression of the applicant's personality and appearance. It must mention whether and to what extent characteristics of the Jewish race are externally recognizable in the applicant." [Decree of the Reich Ministry of Education, January 5^th, 1940]. It stated: "Allgayer Hermine, "Mischling" II degree. Hardly anything Jewish to be discovered."

The Reich Ministry of Education forwarded the application to the Reich Ministry of the Interior - responsible for physicians - and on June 19^th, 1940, Hermine Allgayer was informed by the Rectorate that she would be admitted to further studies. However, she was no longer admitted to the medical examination according to the old Austrian study regulations, but according to the new Reich study regulations, which also stipulated the writing of a dissertation. However, the ministry only grants admission "with the proviso that this does not entitle you to be licensed as a doctor. You are granted a license to practice medicine if the subsequent findings, to be made shortly before the decision on the license, show that there are no objections to be raised against the political and moral reliability of the candidates and their families. Accordingly, [...] she could complete her medical training as a "Mischling" II degree, insofar as she was in fact descended from only one Jewish grandparent."

After completing the prescribed courses (final examination on February 15^th, 1944 and submission of a dissertation entitled "Der atypische Myocardinfarkt", advisor: Prof. Eppinger, I Mmedical University Clinic, and proof that she was in fact only "Mischling" II degree, she was able to graduate on July 12^th, 1944 in a single appointment and obtain the academic degree of "Dr.med.univ.". The missing signature in the doctoral transcript indicates that no doctorate in the true sense of the word was awarded with personal attendance, but at least a diploma was issued in German. She did not sign her vow to "always prove herself worthy of the dignity of a doctor of medicine from a German university" until half a month later. A professional ban, as with many other "Mischlinge" who were still able to gain a doctorate, was not noted in her doctoral transcript. Instead, on July 12^th, 1944, she was granted the "Bestallung" (professional license) as a doctor, although she had already been "emergency duty" on April 18^th, 1944, even before her doctorate: without a salary and initially without a doctorate, she had to work for a year as a doctor or "compulsory assistant" in various places in the German Reich, sometimes close to the front (e.g. in Dessau, Barby/Elbe, Calbe/Saale and Genthin). Immediately after the end of the war, she worked in an American hospital in Uchtspringe near Gardelegen, then traveled through war-ravaged Central Europe to Graz, where she was not allowed to work as a doctor and returned to Vienna, initially working as a junior doctor on a small scholarship at the I Internal University Clinic (director: Prof. Lauda).

She lived and worked as a doctor in Vienna after she was licensed as a general practitioner on November 1^st, 1948 and also worked part-time as a school doctor and in maternity counseling.

Dr. Hermine Allgayer died by suicide in Vienna on January 26^th, 1952 at the age of 35 and is buried in the Hadersdorf-Weidlingau cemetery.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1939–1944, MED GZ 1115 ex 1939/40, Rectorate GZ 944 ex 1939/40/41, MED S 51.1 ONr. 16, graduation registry ("Promotionsprotokoll") MED M 33.14, Nr. 870; Archive of the Veterinary University of Vienna/photoalbum Historical Archive Veterinary University, Matr. Nr. 4541–5140, Vol 9; Verstorbenensuche Friedhöfe Wien; Lisa Rettl, Jüdische Studierende und Absolventen der Wiener Tierärztlichen Hochschule 1930–1947: Wege – Spuren – Schicksale, Göttingen 2018, 121–153, 181–182; REITER-ZATLOUKAL/SAUER 2024.

Herbert Posch