Hanns Lenikus
- Born on: 16.5.1924
- Birthplace: Vienna (Wien),
- Category: Diploma program
- Right of domicile: Wien (Wien),
The English version is based on a translation by artificial intelligence. The authentic version is the German text.
Hanns was the son of Sofie and Dr. Hubert Lenikus. Although his parents were baptized Roman Catholic, his mother (born January 16, 1891 in Vienna, maiden name Rosenfeld) was considered Jewish according to the racist beliefs of the Nazi ideology. Both father and mother had to declare their entire assets to the Vermögensverkehrsstelle, a state organization for the systematic robbery of the Jewish population, after the 'Anschluss' of Austria; the corresponding declaration served the Nazi regime as a basis for the 'Aryanization' of Jewish property. Even the father's car with the license plate A 1234 was confiscated by the Nazis. In May 1938, the father (born October 31, 1892 in Vienna) was dismissed from the police service – until then, he had worked as a police councilor at the Vienna police department. In addition, he was imprisoned by the Nazis for six weeks. It was only after the end of Nazi rule and the Second World War that Hubert Lenikus was rehabilitated.
Until May 1942, the Lenikus family was registered at Jedleseerstraße 102; even after the war, Hanns lived at this address in the 21st district of Vienna.
When and in what way Hanns Lenikus was prevented from studying is not clear from the preserved documents. It can be assumed, however, that he, as a 'first-degree Mischling,' like all other 'quarter' or 'half-Jews,' was required to obtain permission from the responsible Reich Ministry for Science, Education, and Public Education (Berlin) to begin his studies and take exams. He was probably completely denied the permit or it was accompanied by harassing restrictions. The fact is that the University for World Trade recognized three semesters for him as "reparation" after the Second World War. Immediately after the war, Lenikus enrolled in the diploma program, and in total, he was registered at the 'Welthandel' between the winter semester 1945/46 and the summer semester 1948. He passed the diploma examination as early as the summer semester 1947. A year later, he submitted his dissertation but left the university without a doctorate.
Initially, Hanns Lenikus worked as a civil servant in the state administration but soon transitioned to the private sector as an independent businessman. He was a member of the Freier Wirtschaftsverband, which brought together socially democratic-oriented tradespeople and merchants after the end of the Second World War. In November 1960, Hanns Lenikus married Elisabeth, née Pleban; the marriage produced two children. He died on May 22, 1974, in Torremolinos on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. On June 4, he was buried in the Jedlesee cemetery. In the same grave rest his father and mother, who died at the ages of 86 and 72, respectively.
Author: Johannes Koll
Source material
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Universitätsarchiv, Karteikarte.
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Archiv der Republik, Bundesministerium für Finanzen, Vermögensverkehrsstelle, Vermögensanmeldungen 14879 und 14880.
Historische KFZ-Verzeichnisse, http://historische-kfz-verzeichnisse.technischesmuseum.at/?page_id=9 [24. Juni 2014].
Meldeauskunft des Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchivs, GZ MA 8 – B-MEW – 827882/2013.
E-Mails von Mag. Martin Lenikus an Dr. Johannes Koll (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien) vom 8. und 10. Juli 2014.
Friedhöfe Wien, Verstorbenensuche, http://www.friedhoefewien.at/eportal/ [30. August 2013].