Page - 607 - in Zwischen geistiger Erneuerung und Restauration - US-amerikanische Planungen zur Entnazifizierung und demokratischen Reorientierung und die Nachkriegsrealität österreichischer Wissenschaft 1941-1955

607 Beginn der „U.S. Exchange“-Programme  – Seltsamkeiten und Pannen as previously determined by US legation and USFA has been that individuals with any sem- blance of National Socialist backgrounds would not be considered. Into this category falls an individual for whom considerable pressure is being brought to bear by interested USFA staff sections and Austrian agencies to include in present program. CIC report indicates subject applied for party membership 1940 and was admitted 1941 with Membership No. 9,030. 000 ; was member of the NSKK 1943 ; and supporting member of the SS for two months 1938 with Membership No. 1,400. 000. Further investigations indicated inactive party membership. [ … ] Subject was granted presidential amnesty June 1947 as of a less implicated person. He has since been restored to former position as head of a medical clinic in the University of Vienna. Sub- ject has rendered considerable assistance to medical personnel of Army Hospital Vienna in his professional capacity , which is still continuing. [ … ] He is highly recommended by Education Division USACA ; USFA Surgeon ; Austrian Ministry of Education , and by many influential Austrian medical circles and individuals. [ … ] Although subject obviously falls under category previously determined to be ineligible for participation in visiting experts program , it must be remembered that under Austrian law which the US has recognized , he has been restored to full status in local professional circles through his amnesty. Question arises whether passive participation in National Socialist organizations should still be construed as a barrier to inclusion in Project 414. The Program Committee for Austrian Experts now in existence here is charged with responsibility of formulating and recom mending policy. Program Committee believes that , although basic decision is in order , consideration might well be given in individual cases for inclusion of persons with National Socialist or Leftist backgrounds who can be counted upon to represent their field or profession adequately [ … ]”.2567 [ Hervorhebung d. Verf. ] Die sachliche , zugleich unterschwellig wohl auch etwas unwirsche , jedenfalls unmiss- verständliche Antwort von Colonel L. P. Irvin von der Civil Affairs Division in Washing- ton ging auf die geschilderten Ver wicklungen und allfälligen Empfindlichkeiten öster- reichischer Stellen erst gar nicht ein und beschränkte sich auf den inhaltlichen Kern des Problems : “Thank you transmitting this. Visiting Experts program does involve reorientation policy considera- tions and State Department has live interest in it. Nevertheless , since this specific case involves operational decision and possible modification of policy which was fixed locally in Vienna , we consider it inadvisable to give definite decision from here. Purely by way of advice , after check- ing with other interested office , we give Program Committee following to consider : A ) German program , which is much larger in size than Austrian program , has never yet included person who was member of NSDAP , regardless of whether or not he was subsequently amnes- tied. 2567 Col. Curtin CSOCI , to Chief , CAD , „Visiting Experts Program , 26. Mai 1949 , 1. The U. S. Occupation of Germany : Educational Reform 1945–1949 , Microfilm-Collection , a. a. O., 2-A–698.