Jacob and Hedy Bronitsky [1910-1946]

The memoirs of Jacob and Hedy Bronitsky were recorded by their son Gordon Bronitsky during an interview in November 1991. Hedy Bronitsky grew up in an assimilated Jewish family. Her father was an organist and a decorated veteran of World War One. Her mother Anna Maria Jarosch was a Catholic and converted to Judaism prior to her marriage. She was shunned by her family for this desicion. Celebration of the high Jewish holidays at Hedy's paternal grandmother. Christmas celebrations at home. Occasional concert visits at Catholic churches, where her father played the organ. Remote memories of Jewish religious education at school. Friendship with Ethel Hirschhorn, an orthodox Jewish refugee from Poland, who attracted her to Zionism. Recollections of antisemitic incidents as a medical student at Vienna University as early as the end of the 1920s. Hedy belonged to the General Zionists and was a member of the Maccabi Hatzair. Jacob Bronitsky came to Vienna as a medical student from the United States. Awareness of the dangers of National Socialism. Hedy and Jacob got married in 1934 and left for the United States in 1935. After the Anschluss Hedy's mother died. Her father was issued his affidavit and left for the United States with the last boat in 1941. Jacob Bronitsky volunteered as a physician in the American Army. Recollections of Hedy's life as an officers wife traveling throughout the States.Hedy Bronitsky, née Alexander, was born 1910 into an assimilated Jewish family in Vienna, Austria. Jacob Bronitsky was born in the United States and came to Vienna in the late 1920s as a medical student, due to the Jewish quota at American universities at that time. They got married in 1934 and left for the United States in 1935.Hedy Bronitsky’s parents were the composer and organist Robert Alexander and his first wife Anna Maria, née Jarosch, who committed suicide in Vienna on January 11, 1939.Synopsis in fileDevetter, HertaGetter, ZwiHirschhorn, Ethel SylviaJarosch, Anna MariaJarosch, familyKessin, familyKolisch, HermannKolisch, ImreKolisch, SophieTandler, Julius, 1869-1936Tilger, FranzIowaLouisianaMartinsburgNew YorkPragueAustriaCzechoslovakiaAssimilationBund juedischer StudentenChildhoodChristmasConvertsHolidays, JewishMaccabi HatzairMedicineMilitary service, World War IINational socialismNuremberg Trial of Major German War Criminals, 1945-1946Universities and collegesWomen, associationsWomen, educationWomen, emplymentYouth movementZionis