Dfkm. Dr. Theodor Schmidt

• Born on: 26.2.1908
• Birthplace: Vienna (Wien),
• 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.

Theodor was the son of Michael Schmidt. Between the winter semester 1926/27 and the summer semester 1929, he was enrolled at the University for World Trade for six semesters in the diploma program. After passing various parts of the diploma examination in 1928/29, he was issued the diploma certificate in January 1930. Subsequently, he was enrolled at the 'University for World Trade' for the doctoral program in the summer semester 1936 and winter semester 1936/37.

Schmidt's promotion occurred during the period of the 'Anschluss' of Austria: While he took the first rigorous examination on November 12, 1937, still under the Austrofascist regime, the second rigorous examination took place on July 6, 1938, under National Socialist rule. Schmidt was one of the few Jewish doctoral students permitted by the Nazi regime to complete their doctorate after the Wehrmacht's invasion of Austria; this was to take place during the summer semester 1938. Thus, he was one of the seven Jewish doctoral candidates who promoted at the 'University for World Trade' on July 12, 1938. According to a directive from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior and Cultural Affairs, which was then under the supervision of Reichsstatthalter Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the promotion of Jewish doctoral candidates was subject to a number of restrictions that were intended 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 friends for the promotion;
• 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.

Only a week after the last rigorous examination, Schmidt submitted 50 copies of his dissertation Die Sojabohne. Wirtschaftsgeographische Untersuchungen at the University for World Trade, which he had meanwhile published as a partial print in self-publishing. He either did not apply for an exemption from the publication obligation, or it was not granted to him.

On October 18, 1938, he gave up the apartment at Schönbrunner Straße 23/3/17 (12th district of Vienna), where he had been registered since 1925. He fled to Detroit (USA). There, his trail goes cold.

Author: Johannes Koll

Source material

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Universitätsarchiv, Studierendenkarteikarte.
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Katalog der Hauptbibliothek.
Meldeauskunft des Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchivs, GZ MA 8 – B-MEW-MA 8 – B-MEW-140635/2013.