Eugenische Zwangssterilisationen und Schwangerschaftsabbrüche im Nationalsozialismus

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.