Otto Berdach
| Born: |
07-06-1900 |
| Faculty: |
Medical School | Medical University Vienna |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Dr.rer.pol. Otto BERDACH, born on July 6
th, 1900 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Karl Berdach, MD (1863-1943, senior physician 'Medizinalrat') and Julie, née Reik (1868-1900), lived in Wien 2, Praterstraße 44, was enrolled finally in the spring term 1938 at the Medical School in the 5
th and last year of his studies. Shortly before he could finish his studies in medicine, he was forced to quit and to leave the university for racist reason without a possibility to graduate (Leaving Certificate ('Abgangszeugnis') was issued on September 15
th, 1938).
When he started studying medicine, he had already graduated in political sciences at the Vienna University on June 23
rd, 1922 (Dr. rer. pol.) after he had passed the final examinations on November 17
th, 1921 at the School for Law and political Sciences (the title of his dissertation: "Das Problem der Anstalts- und Familienpflege in der modernen Jugendpolitik").
His father Karl Berdach, MD (1863-1943, senior physician 'Medizinalrat', born October 19
th, 1863 and graduated from Vienna University on July 14
th, 1887) and his uncle, his fathers’ brother Julius were deported from Vienna to Theresienstadt/Terezin on July 14
th, 1942 and were murdered there in the beginning of 1943. Ottos mother Julie had already died on the occasion of his birth in 1900.
Dr. Otto Berdach could flee from Vienna and succeeded to emigrate to the USA. He could finish his medical studies there und lived and worked as a physician in America (u.a. 1950 at State Hospital Norwich, Connecticut/USA, 1961 in Jacksonville, Illinois/USA).
He died in October 1970 and is burried in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois/USA.
Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/Enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1937-1938, Rigorosen Jus J RA St 20; information of Dr.in Barbara Sauer, Vienna 2018; REITER-ZATLOUKAL/SAUER 2022; Austrian State Archive/AdR /BMF/AHF; www.genteam.at, www.geni.com; Tamara Ehs, Die Staatswissenschaften. Historische Fakten zum Thema 'Billigdoktorate' und 'Frauen- und Ausländerstudien', in: Zeitgeschichte, 37 (2010), 238–256, 246.
Herbert Posch
