“Cleansing” anatomical collections: The politics of removing specimens from German anatomical and medical collections 1988–92

In 1989–90 an intense debate erupted in the Federal Republic of Germany over the status of anatomical specimens from the period of National Socialism. Pressure was brought on the German universities and research institutes to remove body parts. The solution was deemed rapid burial of all specimens w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of anatomy Vol. 194; no. 3; pp. 237 - 242
Main Author: Weindling, Paul
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.06.2012
Subjects:
Academies and Institutes
Anatomical specimens
Anatomy
Anatomy - history
Euthanasia
Germany
History, 20th Century
Humans
Jews
National Socialism - history
Nazi anatomy
Nazi medicine
Societies, Medical - history
Universities - history
Victims’ burial
Violence
War Crimes - history
War Crimes - legislation & jurisprudence
World War II
Germany
Nazi anatomy
Anatomical specimens
Anatomy
Nazi medicine
Victims’ burial
Euthanasia
ISSN:0940-9602, 1618-0402, 1618-0402
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In 1989–90 an intense debate erupted in the Federal Republic of Germany over the status of anatomical specimens from the period of National Socialism. Pressure was brought on the German universities and research institutes to remove body parts. The solution was deemed rapid burial of all specimens whose provenance was in doubt. A range of options was considered, and the eventual decision to bury cremated remains was deemed the best way to draw a line under an uncomfortable past of Nazi medical atrocities. The aim was to achieve closure on this issue by a rapid “cleansing” of collections. However, identification of victims was left unresolved amidst the heated debates at the time.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0940-9602
1618-0402
1618-0402
DOI:10.1016/j.aanat.2012.02.003