Zusammenfassung
Die vorliegende Abhandlung befaßt sich mit den 350000-400000
eugenischen Zwangssterilisationen, die zwischen 1934 und 1945 im nationalsozialistisch
beherrschten Deutschland vorgenommen wurden. Deren juristische Grundlage bildete
das „Gesetz zur Verhütung erbkranken Nachwuchses” vom 14.
Juli 1933. Der Schwerpunkt der Untersuchung liegt auf den Sterilisationen
an der Universitätsfrauenklinik Freiburg und der Praxis der Erbpflege
in Freiburg und Baden. Die Aufarbeitung der zeitgenössischen medizinischen
und juristischen Fachliteratur gewährt einen Einblick in die rassenhygienische
Ideologie und die nationalsozialistische Rechtsauffassung.
Abstract
About 350,000 to 400,000 coerced sterilizations were performed in Nazi
Germany between 1934 and 1945. The legal basis was the “Act for the
Prevention of Children with Hereditary Diseases” ofJuly14,1933. Eugenic
Sterilization required an order by one of the “Herditary Health Courts”,
which were set up for the purpose. The court Orders were executed even against
the will of the affected persons. This study analyzes the sterilizations performed
at the Maternity Hospital of the University of Freiburg, Germany, and the
practice of eugenics in Freiburg and Baden during the Nazi period. A review
of the hospital records yielded 906 compulsory eugenic sterilizations and
36 abortions performed 1934-1945. The most common stated indications
for Sterilization were congenital mental deficiency (52%), schizophrenia (36%),
epilepsy (5.8%), and manic depressive insanity (3.8%). Somatic conditions
led to sterilizations considerably less frequently than mental conditions.
The diagnostic criteria for congenital mental deficiency were “intelligence
defect”, a lack of “life justification” and “social
adaptability”. The proceedings of the Hereditary Health Courts cannot
be compared with those of a court in a country under the rule of law; they
must be seen in the context of the Nationalist Socialist concept of legality.
An analysis of contemporary medical and legal literature provides an insight
into the ideology of racial cleansing and National Socialist concept of legality.
