Karl Erdheim
- Born on: 29.6.1919
- Birthplace: Vienna (Wien),
- Category: Diploma program
The English version is based on a translation by Artificial Intelligence. The authentic version is the German edition.
In the spring of 1939, Erdheim was drafted into the Reich Labor Service in Linz. Presumably, this was followed by conscription into the Wehrmacht. He was only registered again in Vienna in August 1942, specifically at Burggasse 48/2/35 (7th district).
However, applying for admission to study at the University for World Trade proved unsuccessful. Although Erdheim was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, he was considered a 'Mischling' under Nazi ideology due to his Jewish father, and therefore, admission to study at the University for World Trade required approval from the Reich Ministry of Science, Education, and National Culture (Berlin). However, a decision was postponed as long as Erdheim was still in military service. It was to take into account "whether and to what extent he had distinguished himself in military service." After Erdheim was discharged from the Wehrmacht, he was able to submit a new application for admission to study in November 1942. Although he had been awarded the Iron Cross II Class during his military service, and although, according to Rector Kurt Knoll, he had "still been engaged in the fighting period for the [NS] movement and the annexation of the Ostmark to the Reich," his application was ultimately rejected by the ministry in mid-March 1944 (with significant delays). This decision was made after consulting with the NSDAP. The specific reasons for the negative decision are unknown; after all, the Nazi regime had meanwhile tightened the admission requirements for 'Mischlinge'.
His application to be recognized as a victim of political persecution after World War II due to the interruption of his studies or a break of at least three and a half years in accordance with § 1 of the Victim Care Law of 1947 was not granted.
After the war, Karl Erdheim made no further attempts to pursue studies at the 'University for World Trade'. Instead, he began studying at the Technical University in Vienna for the winter semester of 1945/46 with the aim of becoming a civil engineer. He successfully completed this study with the second state examination in 1951.
It is documented that Erdheim had a daughter with his wife Melitta (born January 10, 1924). In 1975, the civil engineer moved with his family to Baden bei Wien. He passed away there on November 14, 1991. Three weeks later, he was buried at the Helenenfriedhof in Baden.
Author: Johannes Koll
Source material
Meldeauskunft des Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchivs, GZ MA 8 – B-MEW – 625959/2013.
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Archiv der Republik, Unterricht/Kurator der wissenschaftlichen Hochschulen in Wien, Kart. 13, GZ 5201 ex 1941-1944.
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Archiv der Republik, Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI), Gauakt 218651: Dienstzettel der Magistratsabteilung 12 des Amtes der Wiener Landesregierung vom 19. Januar 1965 an Abteilung 2 des Bundesministeriums für Inneres, Zl. MA 12-34398.
E-Mail von Dr. Paulus Ebner (Archiv der Technischen Universität Wien) an PD Dr. Johannes Koll vom 29. Oktober 2025.
E-Mail von Angela Rosenmayer (Römisch-katholische Pfarre St. Christoph, Baden) an PD Dr. Johannes Koll (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien) vom 2. Oktober 2014.