Paula Eugenie Gross (geb. Hirsch)
| Born: |
02-02-1909 |
| Faculty: |
Philosophical School |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Paula Eugenie GROSS (nee HIRSCH), born on February 2
nd, 1909 in Vienna as daughter of Abraham Leib Hirsch and his wife Rosa (née Kowalek), wasn't enrolled at the Philosophical School any more in 1938, but was preparing for the final examinations ('Rigorosen'). She registered for the final exams in History on June 15
th, 1936, and passed the first 'Rigorosum' on February 27
th, 1937. Her dissertation "Henry VIII. and Charles V. since the fall of cardinal Wolsey 1529" ("Heinrich VIII. und Karl V. seit dem Sturze des Kardinals Wolsey 1529") was accepted on June 20
th, 1936, and she also passed the second 'Rigorosum' on July 7
th, 1938. She could finally finish her studies and graduated on July 21
st, 1938, but only with the discriminating ceremony of a 'Nichtarierpromotion', which included at the same time that she was banned from her profession.
She married the physician Dr. Alois Gross in Vienna on October 11
th, 1936 (born 1907 in Vienna, entitled residency for St. Poelten/Lower Austria) and they lived in Viennas' 9
th district in Rossauer Laende 19, later Meynardgasse 7 (before emigration finally in Spitellauer Laende 13).
In June 1939 they succeeded to emigrate to England/UK, but got no working permission, so they emigrated to the USA in June 1941. Paula Gross had planned to become a historian, a high school history teacher, but could never start in her profession in the USA (in the 1960s she made an application at the Austrian "Fonds zur Hilfeleistung an politisch Verfolgte, die ihren Wohnsitz und ständigen Aufenthalt im Ausland haben" (Hilfsfonds) for compensation for the loss in her education and was granted a compensation in 1965). She was naturalized and became a US-citizen. She lived in Brooklyn, New York/NY USA.
Paula Gross deceased, aged nearly 90, on October 28
th, 1998 in the USA.
Lit: Archive of the University of Vienna/Enrollment forms ("Nationale") PHIL 1937-1938, PHIL Rigorosen file 13160, PHIL graduation protocol 1931-1941, Nr. 2828; rectorate GZ 97 ex 1936/37, PHIL GZ 472 ex 1936/37; Austrian State Archive ÖStA / AdR / 06-Finances/Hilfsfonds; information from Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 06/2018; REITER-ZATLOUKAL/SAUER 2022.
Herbert Posch
