Hitlers policy towards the mentally and physically disabled

Hitler’s policy towards the mentally and physically disabled

Research Question Assess Hitler’s policies towards the mentally and physically disabled and their impact on Nazi Germany. What were his policies? What were the aims of Hitler’s policy? What successes did Hitler have in this area? What failures did Hitler have in this area? To what extent was this achieved?

Vocabulary • Weltanschauung • Eugenics • Gemeinchaftfremde • Sterilization • Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring • Marriage Law • Euthanasia • Aktion T 4 • Sonnenstein • “Das Erbe” • August Von Galen

In two or three columns Hitler’s beliefs ◉ Weltanschauung- German philosophy or view of the world ◉ Eugenics- the belief in the possibility of improving the Aryan race through selective breeding “The perfect and complete human animal. ” ◉ Asocial or Gemeinchaftfremde “community foreigners” Those who “Show themselves, in their personality or in the conduct of their life, and especially in light of any unusual deficiency of mind or character, unable to comply by their own efforts with the minimum requirements of the national community. ” Consumers of state resources that could be better used for the Volkgemeinschaft. ◉ Schizophrenia, manic depression, hereditary epilepsy, serious physical deformities, alcoholism and feeblemindedness. Excuse to punish those blamed to have exercised poor judgement (KDP supporters).

In two or three columns Hitler’s policies ◉ Sterilization- between 1934 and 1945, 350, 000 people were sterilised. ◉ Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring, 1934“countless numbers of inferiors and those suffering from hereditary ailments are reproducing unrestrainedly while their sick and asocial offspring are a burden on the community. ” ◉ Marriage Law, 1935 - proof that any offspring from the marriage would not be afflicted by any genetic disease. ◉ Euthanasia- 72, 000 deaths before Aktion T 4 Named after the address of the organization, Tiergartenstrasse 4, Berlin, halted in 1939 with the start of WW 2. Killed by starvation, lethal injection and poison gas (200, 000). Six killing centres in Germany and Austria: Sonnenstein.

In two or. Sonnenstein three columns Schloss ◉ Born as a mental home, it was closed in 1939 to be converted into a euthanasia killing centre. ◉ Building 2 was dedicated to the actual killing facility (gas chamber and crematorium). ◉ The use of gas chambers served as a training for the SS for Auschwitz. ◉ Over 13, 000 were killed at Sonnenstein. ◉ Visits were not possible. ◉ Relatives received condolence letters with falsified death certificates.

And his means… Propaganda ◉ Joseph Goebbels in charge from 1929. ◉ “Der Angriff”, a weekly newspaper dedicated to promoting Nazi ideas. ◉ Aim of propaganda: capture the attention of potential supporters. ◉ Techniques, such as radio broadcasts, films, mass meetings and loudspeakers. “Opfen der Vergangenheit” (Victims of the Past)- attempts to justify the practice of euthanasia. “Das Erbe” (The Inheritance)- helped legitimize sterilization. Scientific tone, particularly persuasive.

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The aim In two or three columns Protect the racially healthy community, Volkgemeinschaft, from the mentally and physical disabled. ◉ Eugenics- study the laws of heredity with the practical purpose of using this information to improve the Aryan race. ◉ Sterilization and euthanasia- eliminate “hereditary defects” so that new generations will be “perfect Germans”. ◉ Aktion T 4 and Sonnenstein- eliminate incurable people who have “lives unworthy of living”.

Successes In two or three columns How successful was the Nazis’ attempt to create a perfect Volkgemeinschaft? Due to the Nazis’ use of law, terror and propaganda: ◉ Denunciations received by the Gestapo helped the Third Reich identify the undesirables. ◉ German youth was indoctrinated and controlled. By 1935, 60% of all young Germans belonged to one of Hitler’s groups. The Nazis managed to kill: ◉ Between 200, 000 and 250, 000 under the euthanasia program 70, 000 under Aktion T 4 The Reich saved about $3 billion! ◉ 300, 000 to 400, 000 were victims of sterilization

Victims of Aktion T 4 operation Total number of victims Centre From To Grafeneck Jan. 1940 Dec. 1940 9, 839 Bradenburg Feb. 1940 Oct. 1940 9, 772 Bernburg Nov. 1940 July 1943 8, 601 Hartheim May 1940 Dec. 1944 18, 269 Sonnnenstein June 1940 Sep. 1942 13, 720 Hadamar Jan. 1941 July 1942 10, 072 Total 70, 273 Source: Document 87, P. 232 cit. in Ernst Klee. Dokumente zur “Euthanasie”, 1985.

Failures In two or three columns The only failure was the participation of the Church, which opposed to the euthanasia program and Aktion T 4. Bishop of Muenster, August von Galen: “We are talking about men and women, our compatriots, our brothers and sisters. Poor unproductive people if you wish, but does this mean that they have lost their right to live? ” Hitler was opposed in public at Hof for the first time in 12 years of rule Aktion T 4 was suspended but it continued secretly Killing centres personnel were moved to concentration camps.

two or three columns To. In what extent? Hitler fully achieved his goals. Even if Aktion T 4 ended in 1941, the killing program secretly continued until the end of the war.

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