"I was born in a small village
as the first son of not unprosperous parents."
Wilhelm Reich
In his autobiographical notes—issued in the book Passion of Youth (1897-1922)—Wilhelm Reich curiously omits the name of the village, where he was born: Dobrzanica / Dobzau / Добряничі (translit. Dobrianychi). The place is situated 60 km South of the former Galician capital Lemberg (Lwów / Львів / Lviv). 100 years ago, Dobrianychi was one of the Easternmost outposts of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. In 1900—Reich was 3 years old—the family moved to Yuzhynets (Южинець) near Czernowitz (Чернівці/Chernivtsi). Today Dobrianychi and Yuzhynets are parts of Ukraine. Both places are waiting to be rediscovered.
After all, that is, where it all began. Learn More →
Dobrianychi
Was Wilhelm Reich born here? Mayor Senowyj Wynnyzkyj in front of house No. 8, German colony street, Dobrianychi, Ukraine.
On March, 24 1897 Wilhelm Reich was born in Dobrianychi. Reich's parents Leon and Cecilia had married two years earlier in Lemberg (Lviv). Learn More →
Yuzhynets
Weat all the way to the horizon! These rich lands were cultivated by the Reich family in Yuzhynets, Bukovina.
In 1900 Reich's father Leon got the opportunity to manage a huge agricultural estate, owned by Joseph Blum (the brother of Reich's grandmother). The Reich family moved to Yuzhynets. Learn More →
CZernoWitz
The Austrio-Hungarian 1st Gymnasium Czernowitz, founded in 1808
In 1910 Wilhelm Reich was sent to the German gymnasium of Czernowitz (Chernivtsi), where he lived with a host family. Learn More →
Vienna
In 1922 Wilhelm Reich received his doctorate in medicine. The nazis revoked it in 1940. It was re-awarded in 2008. source: University of Vienna
1918 Wilhelm Reich came to Vienna, together with his brother Robert. Reich studied medicine and met Sigmund Freud, who accepted him to the psychoanalytical association. Learn More →