Gustav Hans Höfer

• Born on: 24.4.1920
• Birthplace: Hellmonsödt
• Category: Diploma program
• Right of domicile: Linz (Linz),

The English version is based on a translation by Artificial Intelligence. The authentic version is considered to be the German version.

Gustav Hans was the son of Dr. Agathe and Dr. Bruno Höfer, who worked as doctors in Linz.

Since the early 1940s, Höfer was registered in Vienna at various addresses in the 8th and 9th municipal districts, but maintained the parental apartment in Linz (Rainerstraße 12) as his ordinary place of residence for a longer time. Only after starting studies at the University for World Trade did Vienna become his ordinary residence: from November 1941 at Piaristengasse 54/1/3/22, from February 1942 at the nearby Buchfeldgasse 12/1/2/9 (both in the 8th municipal district of Vienna).

For the degree program, Höfer was enrolled at the 'University for World Trade' between the summer semester of 1941 and the winter semester of 1941/42. Here, additionally, a semester was credited to him that he had completed at the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna. In February and March 1942, he took the diploma exam at the 'University for World Trade', but in vain: In April 1942, his admission to study was retroactively denied by the Reich Ministry of Science, Education and National Culture (Berlin). Under existing university law, the ministry was authorized to do this for all individuals who were considered 'mixed race' by Nazi doctrine due to Jewish ancestors. Höfer was also included in this: Although he himself did not belong to the Jewish community, he was regarded by the Nazis as a 'half-Jew' because his mother (born August 2, 1887, as Agathe Stern) was of Jewish faith. Due to the "rejection of the mixed race application," which incidentally occurred without justification, Gustav Hans Höfer was "officially withdrawn" in April 1942. It may also have played a role that both his mother and his 'Aryan' father had been detained for several months after the 'Anschluss' of Austria.

As restitution, Höfer was credited with two semesters after World War II. Whether it also played a role that he was summoned to the Rossauer Barracks at the end of March 1940, where military service offices were housed during World War II, cannot be determined: Neither the purpose nor the duration of his stay in this barrack building is known. What is certain is that Höfer was registered again at a residence in Vienna from November 1940, specifically at Loidoldgasse 1/1/3/21 (8th municipal district). Taking into account the mentioned restitution, Höfer was able to take the diploma examination at the University for World Trade as early as October 1945; however, the diploma was issued with considerable delay in December 1946. In the summer semester of 1946, he was enrolled at the same university for the doctoral program. In the following semester, he took the doctoral examination, and on July 12, 1947, he was awarded a doctorate in commerce. This time, he received the diploma relatively promptly: It was issued to him in October 1947.

Author: Johannes Koll

Source material

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Universitätsarchiv, Karteikarte.
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Archiv der Republik, 02 Unterricht, Kurator der wissenschaftlichen Hochschulen in Wien, Kart. 13, GZ 5201 ex 1941-1944.
Meldeauskunft des Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchivs, GZ MA 8 – B-MEW – 625493/2013.
Oberösterreichisches Landesarchiv, Staatliche Verwaltung/Landesverwaltung 1926-1945/Reichsstatthalterei 1940-1945/Arisierungen Schachtel 12, Zl. 2.
Oberösterreichisches Landesarchiv, Weitere Bestände/Sonderbestände/Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Linz 21197.
Oberösterreichisches Landesarchiv, Weitere Bestände/Sonderbestände/Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Linz 21253.