Leslie Massey
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1905 and died in 1997. Frankl founded logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for life's meaning as the central human motivational force. Despite having the opportunity to leave Austria and escape the Holocaust, Frankl chose to stay in the country due to his strong connections to his family, his patients, and his Jewish community. He believed that Jews could have a life worth living in Nazi-ruled Europe and was determined to save as many lives as possible. Frankl's decision to stay in Austria ultimately led to his imprisonment in concentration camps, where he lost his wife, Tilly Grosser, and his parents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for staying in Austria | He could have left Austria to save his life but chose to stay because he did not want to abandon his parents and his soon-to-be wife, Tilly Grosser/Gosser. |
| Time spent in Austria | Frankl was born in Vienna, Austria, on March 26, 1905, and lived there until he was deported to concentration camps in 1942. |
| Life in Austria | Frankl was a neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He founded logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for life's meaning as the central human motivational force. |
| Impact of staying in Austria | Frankl's experiences in Austria, including his time in concentration camps, influenced his psychological theories and writings, such as his book "Man's Search for Meaning." |
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What You'll Learn
Viktor Frankl was devoted to his family
In 1937, Frankl opened a private practice in neurology and psychiatry. However, his ability to treat patients became limited after the Nazi invasion of Austria in 1938. Despite the danger, he continued to help his patients, even sabotaging Nazi procedures by making false diagnoses to prevent the euthanasia of mentally ill patients.
In 1940, Frankl became head of the neurological department at Rothschild Hospital, the only hospital in Vienna still admitting Jews. He obtained a visa to the US in 1939 but let it expire, not wanting to leave his elderly parents behind. In 1942, Frankl married, but just months later, he, his wife, and his parents were arrested and sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in Bohemia. His father died there of starvation and pneumonia, and in 1944, Frankl and his surviving relatives were transported to Auschwitz, where his mother and brother were murdered.
After liberation, Frankl returned to Vienna, where he continued his work in neurology and psychiatry and taught at the University of Vienna until 1990. In 1992, the Viktor Frankl Institute was founded in Vienna to further his work, and he published his autobiography, Recollections, shortly before his death in 1997.
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He was determined to save Austrian Jews
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He developed the psychological approach known as logotherapy, which is widely recognized as the "third school" of Viennese psychotherapy.
In 1937, Frankl opened his own practice in neurology and psychiatry. However, his ability to treat patients became limited after the Nazi invasion of Austria in 1938. During this time, he faced various restrictions due to his Jewish identity. He was forced to close his private practice and move his remaining practice into his parents' home. Despite these challenges, Frankl was determined to continue helping his patients.
In 1940, Frankl joined Rothschild Hospital as the head of the neurological department, the only hospital in Vienna still admitting Jews. Austrian Jews were facing a suicide crisis, with approximately ten deaths by suicide per day. Frankl was determined to save Austrian Jews from this fate. He tried various methods, including injecting them with amphetamines and performing brain surgery, despite having limited experience in this area. He also made false diagnoses to prevent the euthanasia of mentally ill patients, going against the Nazi regime's policies.
Frankl's commitment to saving Austrian Jews extended beyond his professional duties. He obtained a visa to the US in 1939 but chose not to use it, concerned about leaving his elderly parents behind. This decision ultimately led to his own imprisonment in concentration camps, where he continued to provide support and comfort to his fellow prisoners.
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![By Viktor E. Frankl - Man's Search for Meaning (4th Edition) (1992-10-15) [Hardcover]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71orfg+W8uL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
He believed Jews could have a life in Nazi-ruled Europe
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He developed logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for life's meaning as the central human motivational force.
Frankl believed that Jews could have a life worth living in a Europe ruled by the Nazis. He refused to believe that Hitler’s regime was a death sentence for Jews like him. In November 1941, Frankl received a visa to emigrate to the United States from Austria, but he decided to stay. He was about to marry Tilly Grosser, a nurse at the Rothschild Hospital, and his parents and patients were close by in Vienna. He wrote that he could not imagine being a well-to-do Jewish doctor in Manhattan at the cost of abandoning the people he loved.
Even when he was forced to wear a yellow star, Frankl refused to let it define him. He would hide it so that he could climb mountains and breathe the free air of the Alps. Frankl also continued to work with suicidal patients, even when he was living in the ghetto with restricted freedoms. He organized a suicide prevention group to serve as a “shock absorber” for new detainees arriving at the train station.
Frankl's belief that life is worth living, even in the most dire of circumstances, is reflected in his book "Man's Search for Meaning," which is about finding purpose in the worst possible place—a concentration camp. In the book, Frankl writes, “So live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now!” This message is a powerful testament to his resilience and determination to find meaning and purpose, even in the face of unimaginable horrors.
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He was about to marry Tilly Grosser/Gosser, a nurse
Viktor Frankl was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1905. He was an Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He founded logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for life's meaning as the central human motivational force.
In 1941, Frankl married Tilly Grosser/Gosser, a nurse at Rothschild Hospital. Soon after they were married, Tilly became pregnant, but they were forced to abort the child. Unfortunately, Tilly died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Frankl met Tilly, a station nurse at Rothschild Hospital, where he was the head of the neurology department. Rothschild Hospital was the only hospital in Vienna still admitting Jews. Frankl joined the hospital in 1940, and he and Tilly married in 1941.
Tilly supported Frankl in his work, which included helping patients avoid the Nazi euthanasia program that targeted the mentally disabled. Frankl made many false diagnoses to protect his patients from this program. Tilly's work as a nurse likely complemented Frankl's work as a doctor, and she may have shared his passion for helping others.
The couple's time together was tragically cut short by the horrors of World War II. In 1942, just nine months after their marriage, Frankl, Tilly, and his family were sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Tilly died later in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
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He was head of neurology at Vienna's only hospital admitting Jews
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. He founded logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for life's meaning as the central human motivational force.
In 1940, Frankl became head of the neurology department at Rothschild Hospital in Vienna. This was the only hospital in the city that was still admitting Jewish patients. Frankl's work at the hospital was driven by his desire to help his patients and his commitment to learning from them. He was determined to save his patients, especially as Austrian Jews were committing suicide at a rate of about 10 a day. Frankl tried to bring suicidal patients back by injecting them with amphetamines, but this was unsuccessful. He then attempted to revive them by boring holes in their skulls and injecting their brains with Pervitin, an amphetamine that was popular in the Third Reich. While this method revived the patients, it only did so for 24 hours.
Frankl's decision to stay in Vienna and take up the position at Rothschild Hospital was influenced by several factors. He had gained professional recognition and had the opportunity to escape the country, even receiving a visa to emigrate to the United States. However, he chose to stay due to his strong connections to the city and his loved ones there. Frankl was close to his parents and felt torn about leaving them behind. Additionally, he was expecting a child with his fiancée, Tilly Grosser, a nurse at Rothschild Hospital, and did not want to leave them either.
Frankl's dedication to his patients and his desire to help the Jewish community in Vienna likely contributed to his choice to remain in the city and serve as head of neurology at Rothschild Hospital, providing critical care to those in need during a tumultuous and dangerous time.
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Frequently asked questions
Viktor Frankl had the opportunity to escape Austria and emigrate to the United States. However, he decided to stay because he was about to marry Tilly Grosser, a nurse at the Rothschild Hospital. His parents and patients were also close by in Vienna, and he could not imagine abandoning them.
Frankl was determined to save Austrian Jews, who were killing themselves at a rate of about 10 a day. He tried to bring suicidal patients back by injecting them with amphetamines and performing brain surgery.
Frankl did consider leaving Austria. In 1941, he received a visa to emigrate to the United States, but he ultimately decided to stay. He also wrote about how he could not imagine being a well-to-do Jewish doctor in Manhattan at the cost of abandoning his loved ones.
