VIENNA, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 30 June 2009, the online version of the memorial book for the victims of National Socialism at the University of Vienna in 1938 is available worldwide. The database comprises approximately 2,200 names and biographies of those predominantly Jewish affiliates of the University of Vienna who were dismissed by the university following the advent of National Socialism in 1938 and who were consequently exiled and/or murdered. With this memorial book, the University of Vienna takes a further initiative in order to deal with the complex dimensions of National Socialism with regard to its own history.

Following the advent of the National Socialist regime in the year 1938, more than 2,700 mostly Jewish affiliates of the University of Vienna were dismissed and subsequently exiled and/or murdered due to racial and/or political reasons - lecturers, students and administration employees. Furthermore, over 200 alumni were stripped of their academic titles. Among the victims were the psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim, the writer Stefan Zweig, the psychologist Charlotte Bühler, the composer Egon Wellesz and the jurist and later prime minister Bruno Kreisky.

This memorial book is not complete; rather, it should be regarded as a work in progress. Therefore, its online publication is regarded as an opportunity for expanding scientific knowledge.

Apart from the online version of the memorial book, there is the handwritten, original memorial book which was reposited at Marpe Lanefesh Memorial. (Hebrew: healing for the soul), the former Jewish Prayer House of the former General Hospital at the Campus of the University of Vienna. The handwritten memorial book is accessible under further announcement at gedenkbuch@univie.ac.at.

Online memorial book: http://gedenkbuch.univie.ac.at

Contact Herbert Posch University of Vienna M +43-664-381-03-42 herbert.posch@univie.ac.at

Contact: Herbert Posch, University of Vienna, M +43-664-381-03-42, herbert.posch@univie.ac.at.