Dfkm. Dr. Josef Zimet

• Born on: 22.5.1909
• Birthplace: Tarnawka
• Category: Doctorate program
• Right of domicile: Wien (Wien),

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

Josef was the son of Leon Zimet. He was enrolled at the University for World Trade for eight semesters between the winter semester of 1930/31 and the summer semester of 1936. After passing the diploma examination in 1935, he was issued the diploma certificate at the end of January 1936. During his studies, he temporarily served as the chairman of the Vereinigung jüdischer Hörer an der Hochschule für Welthandel.

Zimet's doctorate fell during the period of the 'Anschluss' of Austria: He submitted his doctoral dissertation in June 1937 under the title Die Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen der Jahre 1935-36 im Einzelhandel in Österreich, and he took the first oral examination on February 4, 1938, still under the Austrofascist system. However, the second oral examination took place on July 6, 1938, that is, well over three months after the 'Anschluss'.

Zimet was one of the few members of the Jewish faith who were allowed by the Nazi regime to complete their doctorate after the Wehrmacht's invasion; this had to take place during the summer semester of 1938. Thus, he was one of the seven Jewish doctoral candidates who were awarded their doctorate at the 'Welthandel' on July 12, 1938. According to an order from the Austrian Ministry of Internal and Cultural Affairs, which was then under the supervision of Reichsstatthalter Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the promotion of Jewish doctoral candidates was subject to a series of restrictions designed to strip this academic event of all dignity:

• The promotion had to take place in private;
• The candidates were not allowed to send invitations to relatives or acquaintances for the promotion;
• The academic officials, such as the rector and promoter, were required not to appear in academic robes;
• And instead of the usual oral sponsorship, the Jewish doctoral candidates had to take the oath in writing by signing a printed form.
• Speeches were not permitted.

Zimet's application for exemption from the obligation to print the dissertation was rejected by the faculty, while a similar request from a non-Jewish doctoral candidate at the same time was indeed approved. According to § 5 of the Promotionsordnung, there was the possibility that a doctoral candidate who "is unable to publish the dissertation even in excerpts for economic reasons" and could also demonstrate that "he would suffer serious harm from the postponement of the promotion" could be exempted from the publication requirement. Although the Jewish population of the 'Ostmark' was systematically stripped of its assets by the Nazi regime at that time, Zimet was explicitly required by the faculty to publish his doctoral thesis in the volume of three printed sheets. However, the work was ultimately published in a volume of two printed sheets. On July 18, 1938, his doctoral diploma was legalized by the competent federal ministry for commerce and transport, and the following day Zimet submitted 50 copies of his doctoral dissertation to the University for World Trade. The title of the self-published version eliminated the term "Österreich"; it was titled Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen im Einzelhandel. Eine betriebs- und volkswirtschaftliche Untersuchung.

About two and a half weeks later, Zimet deregistered from the apartment at Pfeilgasse 29/5 (8th district of Vienna) where he had lived since 1932. The destination is unknown; the registration documents only mention, without further explanation: "emigrated". His further fate is unknown.

Author: Johannes Koll

Source material

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Universitätsarchiv, Studierendenkarteikarte und Akt Doktoren.
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Archiv, Professorenkollegiumssitzung zum 5. Juli 1938.
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Archiv, Präsidialakte 33/1933.
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Katalog der Hauptbibliothek.
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Archiv der Republik, Bundesministerium für Handel und Verkehr, Fasz. 577, Zl. 124383-14A/38.
Meldeauskunft des Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchivs, GZ MA 8 – B-MEW-139567/2013.