| Born: | 03-20-1909 |
| Faculty: | Philosophical School |
| Category: | Expelled student |
Rachel PIEPES (recte PIEPE), born on March 20, 1909 in Ustrzyki dolne, Galicia/Austria-Hungarian Empire [Poland] (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), daughter of Josef Piepes (merchant in Vienna), lived in Vienna's 2nd district, Novaragasse 40/30. She was the fifth of seven children in an impoverished but very well-educated Jewish family that had to emigrate from Galicia in Rachel's early childhood years and came to Vienna, where she completed her schooling and had to contribute to the family income by working at home on the side. She passed the school-leaving examination (Matura) on June 25th, 1928, at the Chajesgymnasium of the Verein jüdisches Realgymnasium in Vienna's 2nd district, and from the fall term of 1929/30 studied German language and literature Studiesat the University of Vienna.
She was no longer enrolled at the Philosophical School in 1938, but had already been in the final stage of her final examinations for some time (Absolutorium issued on May 9th, 1935). Her dissertation thesis "Die Berliner Bohème (1885-1895) in Roman und Drama" had been approved on March 10th, 1936, and on the same day she had registered for the final examinations/viva voce ("Rigorosen") in German Studies. On July 1st, 1936, she had passed the two-hour viva, and on October 24th, 1936, she had also passed the one-hour viva ("Philosophicum"). She had thus fulfilled all examination requirements - why, under Austrofascism, the final ritual of the ceremonial graduation act (conferral and presentation of the doctoral diploma, which at that time was still a constituent part of the graduation process) did not take place, has not been clarified for the time being, but may have had political backgrounds.
Her sister Ida Pipes, later Margulies (1910-2003), who submitted her dissertation in history in the same year and also successfully passed the two viva voce examinations, was not able to complete her doctorate until after the end of National Socialism in 1946 for political reasons.
Rachel Piepes, after a long period of uncertainty, was at least able to complete her studies and receiveed her doctorate on July 21st, 1938, amidst numerous symbolic discriminations in the context of a "non-Aryan doctorate," while at the same time being banned from working in the entire German Reich.
Lit: Archives of the University of Vienna/National PHIL 1929-1938, Rigorosenakt und -protokoll PHIL Nr. 12588, Promotionsprotokoll PHIL 1931-1941 Nr. 2849
Herbert Posch
