Gymnasium Wasagasse

The Gymnasium Wasagasse (Bundesgymnasium Wien IX, in short BG9) is a secondary school in Alsergrund, the 9th district of Vienna. Alumni of the school include two Nobel laureates, an Academy Award winner and many notable politicians, artists and scientists. History Planned by Heinrich von Ferstel, the Wasagymnasium was built between 1869 and 1871 and was officially inaugurated on 16 October 1871. For many decades the school was popular amongst the cultured Jewish bourgeoisie. In 1900, around 70% of the students were Jewish, whereas in 1938 there were only around 50% Jewish students. The Anschluss to the Third Reich put an end to this in 1938 and the school was relocated. Instead, the Gau administration of the Reichsgau Niederdonau used the school building as its headquarters. In the meanwhile, the Wasagymnasium used the school building of the Schottengymnasium, which was shut down by the Nazis, from 1938 until 1945.