Elisabeth Dubsky (verh. Thurnher)

Elisabeth DUBSKY (married: THURNHER), born on April 7^th, 1918 in Teschen [Cieszyn]/Poland (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna/Austria, citizenship 1938: Austria), daughter of Arnold Dubsky (1882-1969, ÖBB railway official), had completed her entire schooling in Vienna and passed her school-leaving examination (Matura) in 1936 at the Gymnasium of the Wiener-Frauen-Erwerbs-Vereins in Vienna 5, Wiedner Gürtel 68. She lived with her parents in Vienna's 5^th district, Margaretengürtel 40, was enrolled in the spring term af 1938 at the Medical School in the 2^nd year of her studies

She was Roman Catholic, but under National Socialism she was considered a “Mischling 1st degree” and could only continue her studies provisionally - subject to revocation at any time.

When all “Mischlinge” had to submit an application to the Reich Ministry of Education in Berlin for admission to continue their studies from the first trimester of 1940, Elisabeth Dubsky submitted an application to continue her studies on March 27^th, 1940. By this time, she had already passed her first viva, spent seven months studying at the University Clinic for Internal Medicine and was working on her dissertation, which was also required for doctors under National Socialism. She also noted in this application:

"I didn't give up my studies even after the Anschluss, although I knew that according to the German Medical Act I would never be able to work in private practice. However, I hoped to be able to complete the studies I had started so that I could then enlist for colonial service at the Tropical Institute in Hamburg, as I had heard that Mischlinge were also eligible for this. Should this no longer be the case today, I hope that I will be allowed to complete my beloved studies if I can find a field of activity for the knowledge I have acquired under modest circumstances. [...] I would also like to mention that in 1933 I joined the 'Jung Wien' branch of the German School Association 'Südmark' and in 1934 the German Alpine Association."

In accordance with the regulations, the dean of the responsible medical faculty, Prof. Eduard Pernkopf, enclosed an expert opinion dated April 26^th, 1940 with the application, 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 outwardly recognizable in the applicant." [Decree of the Reich Ministry of Education, January 5^th, 1940]. It stated: "is Mischling I. She states that she belongs to the German Alpine Club. There is nothing particularly Jewish about her."

The Reich Ministry of Education decided on June 19^th, 1940 (WF 2541), after consultation with the Reich Ministry of the Interior, to admit Dubsky "exceptionally" to the medical examination, as she had already passed the preliminary examination (1^st viva voce) on April 17^th, 1939. However, it was expressly pointed out to her that, as a "1^st degree Mischling", she had no chance of ever obtaining a license to practice medicine in the German Reich.

After passing the 2^nd and 3^rd viva, Elisabeth Dubsky applied to the Reich Ministry of Education in Berlin on June 5^th, 1941 for admission to doctoral studies. On June 26^th, 1941, Rector Knoll tried to clarify with the Reich Ministry of Education in general "whether the permission granted to mixed-race students on a case-by-case basis to 'complete their studies' also included obtaining a doctorate or whether the awarding of the doctoral degree was dependent on an additional permit being obtained" and, in the latter case, submitted Elisabeth Dubsky's application for admission to accept the doctoral diploma with approval.

Elisabeth Dubsky was admitted to the conditional doctorate "Dr.med.univ." on July 19^th, 1941, but was not awarded a diploma. It was not until March 12^th, 1942 that the Reich Ministry of Education decided: "She was previously considered a first-degree half-breed. She has proven by documents here [in the REM] that she is at most a 2^nd degree Mischling." As the issuing of the doctoral certificate is linked to prior appointment as a doctor, she should apply for this quickly. To do so, she needs a corresponding confirmation from the university that she has fulfilled the examinations and all other requirements for a doctorate. Such a certificate should be issued by the university and sent directly to her or the appointing authority. On April 16^th, 1942, the university issued a corresponding confirmation (without mentioning a mixed-race context or the status of "mixed-race not yet established degree") and a discussion ensued between the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and the Rector as to what the date of the doctoral certificate was if it was only valid or could only be issued after the appointment, i.e. whether the date of the appointment would also be the date of the doctoral certificate. Rector Knoll replied in the negative, stating that the actual date of the doctorate would remain on the certificate, regardless of when it was issued.

It cannot be determined with certainty whether the doctoral diploma contained the usual "blocking clause" for "first-degree half-breeds", which meant that she was not entitled to practise medicine in the German Reich, as this was not explicitly stated in the doctoral transcript.

After the end of National Socialism, her doctorate was valid without restriction from the date of the provisional doctorate, she married in 1943 the veterinary doctor (later university professor) Dr. Bruno Thurnher (1912-1981) and they had a son - Veterinärmediziner Dr. Martin Thurnher (1945-2006). Dr. med. Elisabeth Thurnher was licensed as a general practitioner in Vienna in 1948 and practised in her own practice in Vienna's 8^th district, Bennoplatz 6/9 until the end of 1970, also working as a company doctor in the Siemens-Schuckert works and as a company welfare doctor at the Vienna Regional Health Insurance Fund. She retired on June 30^th, 1980, having previously been appointed Medical Councillor and finally Senior Medical Councillor.

Dr. Elisabeth Thurner, née Dubsky, lived in Vienna in 2022 at the age of 104.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1935-1940, graduation registry ("Promotionsprotokoll ") MED 1929-1941, M33.13 Nr. 5666, MED S 51.2 ONr. 33, 34, MED GZ 10 ex 1941, MED GZ 1115 ex 1939/40, RA GZ 944 ex 1939/40/41, RA GZ 464 ex 1938/39; Austrian state Archives OeStA/AdR/02-Unterricht/Kurator d. wiss. Hochsch. Wien (K. 13)/GZ 5201 ex 1940-1943; Vienna City Archives WStLA/Aerztekammer Wien, K2/1 - Kartei: Aerztinnen und Aerzte (registry physicians); information by courtesy of Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 10/2024; Kleine Zeitung form September 4^th, 2022.

Herbert Posch