Gerta Münz (verh. Gershon)
| Born: |
01-30-1916 |
| Faculty: |
Medical School | Medical University Vienna |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Gerta MUENZ (married Gershon), born on January 30th, 1916 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), daughter of Max (Mayer) Muenz (salesman, born 1886 in Jaworow, L’viv, Galicia/Austro-Hungaria [Ukraine]) and Margarethe Münz (nee Rothmüller, born 1891 in Kostel [Podivin], Moravia/Austro-Hungaria [Czech Republic] ). The family lieved together in Vienna's 20th district, Heinzelmanngasse 13/23.
Gerta Muenz gained her secondary school leaving certificate ("Maturazeugnis/Reifepruefungszeugnis") from "Realgymnasium" in Vienna's 20th district, Unterbergergasse (today: Karajangasse 14), in 1935 and started her medical studies at the University of Vienna in fall term 1936/37 at the Medical School. Her second year of studies also was her last (fall term 1937/38 was validated on February 7th, 1938). After the "Anschluss" she was forced to leave the university for racist reason.
Her Gymnasium report has a typewritten line from the dean of the medical faculty of the university (Prof. Dr. Eduard Pernkopf), dating from 12 May 1938 reading that "she decided to resign her medical studies". This does not indicate any free decision, but makes a trivializing statement that she was not allowed to be part of the 2% numerus clausus Jewish students, allowed for some months to continue their studies under Nazi rule before even these few students were expelled in November 1938.
Her father was forced to emigrated to Chur/Switzerland where he worked as an ‘artificial cattle food maker’ (this is the profession listed on Gerta’s marriage certificate in England). At the time he fled he seemed to be a a travelling salesperson/rep. Her mother could no more flee Austria had to change to a flat in Klosterneubergerstrasse 32/9 and was deported from there in 1942.
She could flee to England and started a new live there. She became a nurse at the Wilkinsons Sanatorium, Bolton, Lancashire, England but could not continue or finish her medical studies. She married Alfred Gershon in 1943 and they had one son, Peter Gershon.
Lit.: information from her granddaugther Katherine Gershon and her son Peter Gershon, 2015, 2016
Herbert Posch
Nationale of Gerta Münz, fall term 1937/38 (1st form front), Photo: H. Posch (c) Universitätsarchiv Wien
Nationale of Gerta Münz, fall term 1937/38 (1st form back), Photo: H. Posch (c) Universitätsarchiv Wien
Gerta Muenz and her father Mayer Muenz in the late 1930ies, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Muenz disecting a dead body in the Anatomy Department University of Vienna 1937/38, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz with her husband Alfred Gershon on their weddingday, 1943, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, 1950ies, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, with her father Mayer Muenz and her son Peter Gershon, um 1952 in England, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, with her son Peter Gershon, um 1953 in England, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, with her son Peter Gershon at his graduation at Cambridge University, 1970, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, with her husband Alfred and her son Peter at his graduation at Cambridge University, 1970, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, with her husband Alfred and her son Peter at his graduation at Cambridge University, 1970, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, with her son Peter, her daughter-in-law and her three grandchildren on her 80th birthday, 1996, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, Highschool graduation report, 1934, front, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
Gerta Gershon, nee Muenz, Highschool graduation report, 1934, back with remark from medical dean 1938, (c) Peter and Katherine Gershon
