Johann (Hans) Löwit (später/later Ian Lowitt)
| Born: |
08-06-1919 |
| Faculty: |
Medical School | Medical University Vienna |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Johann (Hans) LOEWIT (later Ian LOWITT), born on August 6th, 1919 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Siegfried Loewit (physician, died 1925) and his wife Rosa Loewit, lived in Vienna 18th district, Waehringer Straße 138. After the death of his father, who had worked as physician as well as the two grandfathers, his mother ran a kindergarten in the family's residential house. Hans Loewit was enrolled finally in the fall term 1937/38 at the Medical School in the 1st year of his studies (Leaving Certificate ('Abgangszeugnis') was issued on May 21st, 1938, fall term 1937/38 was validated on February 9th, 1938).
In February 1939 his mother emigrated to the United Kingdom, helped by the 'Society of Friends' (Quakers). In Coullhouse, a mansion near Aberdeen/Scotland, she worked as a cook and persuaded her employer Colonel Liburn to employ her son as a butler, so he could follow her to Scotland in March, also with a "domestic permit". Like his mother he had already basic knowledge in the English language, which they improved quickly.
When their employer was drafted to military service after the begin of World War II, Johann Loewit did some odd jobs and then – at the intercession of the Quakers – worked in the radiology department of a hospital until he was arrested as an "enemy alien" in May 1940 and was transported to Canada. In 1942 he returned to the United Kingdom, joined the Pioneer's Corps and finally the Royal Army, where he did his military service in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. His mother continued her "domestic service".
After the end of World War II Ian Lowitt at first worked as a plumber - he had received a training in this profession in 1938 in Vienna in the course of the so called "Berufsumschichtung" pursued by the Jewish Community ('Israelitische Kultusgemeinde') and completed his skills during his internment in Canada.
Finally Ian Lowitt resumed his medical studies in Scotland and became a child psychiatrist in Aberdeen.
Lit.: BOLLAUF 2010, 340; KERN 2004; information by Traude Bollauf, Vienna, 2013.
Katharina Kniefacz and Herbert Posch
