Friedrich (Frederick G.) Zak
| Born: |
02-13-1915 |
| Faculty: |
Medical School | Medical University Vienna |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Friedrich ZAK, born on February 13
th, 1915 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of
tit. ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Emil Zak (physician, chief physician of Viennas' polyclinic and head of the cardiology department), lived in Vienna 9
th district, Widerhofergasse 7, was enrolled finally in the spring term 1938 at the Medical School in the 5
th year of his studies ('Absolutorium' was certified on November 28
th, 1938).
After the takeover of power of National-Socialism in March 1938 he was forced to quit his studies for racist reason without a chance to graduate. He requested to continue his studies in the context of the 2% Numerus Clausus of Jewish Students, was first allowed to continue for about two months, but finally had to leave the University of Vienna.
Also his brother
Dr. med. Georg Zak, student at the philosophical school in his 3
rd year of chemical studies was forced to leave the university and also their father,
Prof. Dr. Emil Zak, lost his venia legendi at the University of Vienna in April 1938 and was forced to leave his position as Primarius of the Policlinic.
Friedrich and his brother Georg Zak were both deproted to the concentration camp Dachau after so called "Reichskristallnacht" in November 1939, were released in 1939 and Friedrich Zak could emigrate to the USA. He changed his name to "Frederick G. Zak", could countinue with his medical studies and graduate and became a pysician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and professor at State University New York. From 1959 on he was a member of the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research).
Prof. emer. Frederick G. Zak died on February 5, 2005 at age 89 in New York, NY/USA.
Lit: Vienna University Archive/enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1937-1939; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 502; information from Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 12/2017 and 07/2019; Austrian State Archive/Archive of the Republic/06-Finances/"Hilfsfonds"; AACR.
Herbert Posch
