GRG II Zirkusgasse

Hidden in plain sight on Zirkusgasse stands GRG II Zirkusgasse. This isn’t just any school. It’s a time capsule whispering stories of Vienna’s vibrant past. GRG II Zirkusgasse opened its doors in 1877 as a state lower secondary school for boys. It was located on Taborstrasse 24. Just a year later, it became the Imperial and Royal State Gymnasium. The school moved to its current location, a stunning building designed by Gustav Sachs and built by Eduard Frauenfeld Jr., in 1899. This magnificent structure, completed in just 18 months at a cost of 532,135 Kronen (equivalent to about 3.8 million Euros today), was renamed the Imperial and Royal Sophien-Gymnasium. It was named after Empress Sophie, mother of Emperor Franz Joseph I. The school’s location in Leopoldstadt placed it at the heart of a growing Jewish community. This led to a significant number of Jewish students attending. During World War I, the school provided afternoon classes for mainly Jewish refugee children. One notable attendee was the writer Manès Sperber. After the war, the school became the Federal Gymnasium. It began accepting both boys and girls in 1919. However, this coeducational system was short-lived. With the rise of the authoritarian Ständestaat in 1934, girls were once again excluded. The Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938 brought darker times for GRG II Zirkusgasse. Jewish teachers were dismissed, and Jewish students were segregated into “Jewish schools.” GRG II Zirkusgasse became one such school. By April 29, 1938, all 301 students were Jewish. In 1941, Jewish children across the Greater German Reich were forbidden from attending school. Around 1940-1941, the building housed the Army Technical School 2. It offered war training courses for non-commissioned officers. GRG II Zirkusgasse returned to its coeducational roots in the 1949/50 school year. In 1967, a modern language gymnasium was added to the existing humanities program. This was later replaced by a science-focused curriculum in 1990. In 1988, two plaques were installed inside the school. They commemorate the Jewish students and teachers who were persecuted during the Nazi era. One plaque bears an inscription. The other features a photograph of eleven Jewish students from the 8th grade in 1938. GRG II Zirkusgasse continues to thrive today. It offers a wide range of subjects including several foreign languages. The school also provides specialized support. It offers smaller classes for students needing extra help with German. GRG II Zirkusgasse has witnessed much change throughout its history. It remains a vital part of Vienna’s educational landscape.