Der Mediziner und Nobelpreisträger Robert Koch (1843–1910) erlangte mit der Entdeckung
des Tuberkuloseerregers 1882 Weltruhm. Seine Tätigkeit als „Mikrobenjäger“ [1] führte ihn in ferne Länder, um Infektionskrankheiten zu erforschen und zu bekämpfen.
Von einer weniger bekannten Episode aus dem Leben Robert Kochs – seinen Jahren als
junger Landarzt in den damals preußischen Provinzen Brandenburg und Posen – handelt
der vorliegende Beitrag.
Abstract
The bacteriologist and Nobel Prize winner Robert Koch (1843–1910) is one of the most
important and best-known scientists in German history. Many people associate him not
only with the institute named after him (today the Robert Koch Institute is Germany’s
National Public Health Institute), but above all, with his work as a “microbe hunter”.
Koch achieved world fame with the discovery of the tuberculosis pathogen in 1882.
To research and combat infectious diseases, he undertook expeditions to foreign countries.
This article deals with a lesser-known episode in Robert Koch’s life – his years as
a young rural doctor in the then Prussian provinces of Brandenburg and Posen. After
a chronological description of Robert Koch’s “wandering years”, the focus is directed
to today’s culture of remembrance. The question is discussed in which way, if at all,
the memory of Robert Koch is maintained at the authentic places.
Schlüsselwörter
Robert Koch - Landarzt - Medizingeschichte - Brandenburg - Posen
Key words
Robert Koch - rural doctor - history of medicine - Brandenburg - Poznan
