Ellenbogen, Wilhelm (1863-1951)

Ellenbogen, Wilhelm

POLITICIAN, PHYSICIAN (AUSTRIA)

BORN 10 Jul 1863, Lundenburg, Mähren (now: Breclav, Czech Republic) - DIED 25 Feb 1951, New York City, New York
GRAVE LOCATION Wien: Feuerhalle Simmering, 11., Simmeringer Hauptstraße 337 (Abteilung ML, Gruppe 20A, Nummer 1G )

Wilhelm Ellenbogen was the son of an elementary school teacher. He studied medicine in Vienna and worked in Vienna as a physician. But he was also active in the Social Democratic Workers Party (SDAP). From 1901 to 1918 he was a member of the Reichsrat. He spoke at several international socialist congresses. From 1919 to 1934 he was a member of the Constitutional National Assembly that became the National Council. He was an opponent of fascism and stated that chancellor Ignaz Seipel was too close to Mussolini. In 1934 he was arrested but he was released soon afterwards.

He was a Jew and he was arrested again in March 1938. After his release he emigrated from Austria on 1 May 1938. In 1940 he went from Lissabon into the USA on the ship Nea Hellas. Franz Werfel and Heinrich Mann were on the same ship. From 1943 to 1945 he was a member of the board of the Austrian Labor Committee. After the war he wanted to return to Austria but this didn't happen because the new party leadership resisted him. He died in 1951 in New York City.

Events

13/10/1940

The ship Nea Hellas reaches New York. It was the last official ship from Lisbon New York in 1940. On board were Franz Werfel, Anna Mahler-Werfel, Heinrich Mann, Nelly Mann, Golo Mann, Wilhelm Ellenbogen, Otto Leichter, Erna Sailer and Alfred Polgar. [Mahler, Alma][Mann, Heinrich][Polgar, Alfred][Werfel, Franz]