Kesslergasse 15 (laid in 2011, revised text in 2015)
Rudolf Müller
Transport rerouted for film recordings
Rudolf Müller, born March 21, 1930 in Wiener Neustadt.
On December 7, 1940 admitted to the Gugging children’s nursing institution, intended transport on March 15, 1941 to Hartheim. But that transport was rerouted for film recordings to Arnsdorf, near Dresden. On August 4, 1941, Rudolf was transferred to the Leipzig-Dösen children’s unit, murdered there on September 22, 1941.
Born in 1930 with disabilities, growing up with his parents on Kesslergasse. In October 1940, the health office issued an assessment: “very limited” educational ability—almost a death sentence. Admission to a care institution was declared necessary, Biedermannsdorf recommended. On the medical record, “no space” noted and assigned to Gugging instead.
On December 7, 1940, the 10-year-old was admitted to Gugging. Transport lists to Hartheim for 14 children and teens were prepared for March 15, 1941; records were finalized with a stamp to conceal Hartheim as the destination.
At Arnsdorf, a stopover for the killing center at Pirna-Sonnenstein, a euthanasia propaganda film was scheduled. Since there were no juvenile patients at Pirna, the Gugging transport was simply diverted to Arnsdorf.
After filming ended, the children were handed over to euthanasia. Rudolf Müller was moved on August 4, 1941 to Leipzig-Dösen, where he was killed with medicine on September 22.
Alongside Rudolf Müller, 11-year-old Karoline Formann of Wiener Neustadt was also sent to Arnsdorf and murdered in Leipzig (Stolperstein, Flugfeldgürtel 13/15).
Anton Blaha
Photo: False discharge note (© Anton Blaha)