Rudolf Csoknyai

Born:	10-09-1917
Faculty:	Medical School | Medical University Vienna
Category:	Expelled student

Rudolf CSOKNYAI, born on October 9^th, 1917 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Stefan Csoknyai (1883-1951, hairdresser) and Elsa, née Thieberger (1889-1921), lived in Vienna's 9^th district, Porzellangasse 39. After graduating from high school (Bundesrealschule Wien 1, Heßgasse) in June 1935, he enrolled at the Faculty of Philosophy from winter term 1935/36 to spring term 1936, but then switched to the Faculty of Medicine in winter term 1936/37. He was enrolled finally in the fall term 1938/39 at the Medical School in the 3^rd year of his studies (fall term 1938/39 was validated on April 14^th, 1939). In times of National-Socialism, he was considered a "Mischling 1. Grades" and was able to continue his studies provisionally after the "Anschluss" - but with revocation at any time, which was granted by the Berlin Reich Ministry of the Interior after he had passed his first of the final examinations/viva ("Rigorosen") on July 2^nd, 1940. Thereupon he worked as a famulus from August 1940 to July 1941 at the II^nd Univ. Clinic of Surgery (Prof. Denk) and, after several appeals and on the basis of new guidelines, was again admitted on February 18^th, 1941 to continue his studies from the 1^st trimester of 1941 up to and including the summer term of 1942, and on March 18^th, 1942 was exceptionally still admitted to graduation according to the old Austrian study regulations in the form of a 2^nd and 3^rd viva voce, although it was expressly pointed out that he was nevertheless not allowed to practice medicine as a 'Mischling 1st degree'.

He was discriminated as a so called 'Mischling 1. Grades' and he could continue his studies at first - valid until revoked. At the end of March 1943 his studies were successfully completed, but he was not allowed to do his doctorate and as a 'Mischling 1. Grades' he did not receive a doctor's diploma, and as a result he was not employed as a doctor. In November/December 1943 he could at least famulate at the hospital Lainz with Prof. Kunz in surgery without salary and from February 21, 1944 he was accepted by Prof. Leopold Schönbauer in the Vienna private clinic as a paid surgical servant. After the end of the war, he was finally able to graduate from the University of Vienna on June 8, 1945 - his doctoral diploma was backdated to June 21st, 1943. He then continued to work as a general practitioner at the Vienna Private Clinic (Vienna 9th, Pelikangasse 15) until the end of September 1951. Later he became an employee in the pharmaceutical industry and retired due to illness in 1977. He lived in Vienna's 19th district, Doeblinger Hauptstrasse 91/3 and was married to Helene Leopoldine Csoknyai (1921-2007). Rudolf CSOKNYAI died in Vienna in February 1983 and is buried at Neustifter Friedhof in Vienna's 18^th district.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment form ("Nationale") PHIL 1935-1936, MED 1936-1942, , MED graduation register ("Promotionsprotokoll") M 33.14 (1942-1949), Nr. 1225; Vienna City Archive (WStLA)/M.Abt. 208/A36 - Opferfuersorgeakten/Entschaedigungen (E): Dr. R. Csoknyai; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 372; REITER-ZATLOUKAL/SAUER 2022; information from Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 02/2019; www.friedhoefewien.at.

Herbert Posch