Artur Gerstl

Born:	10-07-1914
Faculty:	Law School
Category:	Expelled student

Artur GERSTL, born on October 7^th, 1914 in Vienna, son of Henrik (Heinrich) Gerstl (1874-1942) and Ida Gerstl, née Rudolf (1880-1942), wasn't enrolled at the Law School any more in 1938, but was preparing for the final exams ("Rigorosen"). In 1938 he was forced to quit his studies resp. examination procedure and to leave the University of Vienna for racist reason after the takeover of power of National-Socialism. But after numerous incertainties he could finally finish his studies and graduated on July 21^st, 1938, but only with the discriminating ceremony of a "Nichtarierpromotion", which included at the same time that he was banned from his profession. He had to flee Vienna and was able to emigrate to England/Great Britain in time, where he lived in 1939 as a "farm student" in Great Engeham Farms, Woodchurch, Kent, England/Great Britain. After initially being exempt from internment, he was interned as an "enemy alien" in England from June 21^st, 1940 to January 8^th, 1941.
His parents and his older sister Ludmilla (b. 1905) did not manage to escape from Vienna in time. All three were deported from Vienna's 9^th district, Loeblichgasse 6/11 to Riga/Latvia on February 6^th, 1942 and murdered there. Little is known so far about the further life of Artur Gerstl.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") IUR 1937-1938, graduation registry ("Promotionsprotokoll") IUR X (1924-1939) No 6510, IUR RigNr. 215 ex 1937/38; Archives of the Jewish Community of Vienna/birth- and marriage registry; POSCH 2009, 373; www.genteam.at; www.ancestry.de.

Herbert Posch