“The times have changed enormously, but I think that even a Jew, at least this Jew, may be allowed to approach you, at least on a purely academic matter.” Issues of the Monatsschrift für Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums owned by Samuel Krauss at the Vienna University Library1

Abstract

Samuel Krauss‘ library was looted by the National Socialists in Vienna in 1938. As rector of the Israelite Theological School in Vienna, Krauss was in academic exchange with the head of the Oriental Institute of the University of Vienna, Viktor Christian. Instead of helping Krauss, Christian commandeered part of the Krauss library for the SS Ahnenerbe as a “loan”. In 2014, the Nazi provenance research department at the Vienna University Library was able to restitute the holdings and received them on “permanent loan” from the heirs for safekeeping. The only known volume with surviving handwritten notes by Samuel Krauss was digitized for an exhibition.