THE BIOLOGICAL STATE: NAZI RACIAL HYGIENE, 19331939

Nazismwasappliedbiology,statedHitlerdeputyRudolfHess.DuringtheThirdReich,a
politicallyextreme,antisemiticvariationofeugenicsdeterminedthecourseofstatepolicy.Hitlers
regimetoutedtheNordicraceasitseugenicidealandattemptedtomoldGermanyintoacohesive
nationalcommunitythatexcludedanyonedeemedhereditarilylessvaluableorraciallyforeign.
Publichealthmeasurestocontrolreproductionandmarriageaimedatstrengtheningthenational
bodybyeliminatingbiologicallythreateninggenesfromthepopulation.ManyGermanphysicians
andscientistswhohadsupportedracialhygieneideasbefore1933embracedthenewregimes
emphasisonbiologyandheredity,thenewcareeropportunities,andtheadditionalfundingfor
research.
Hitlersdictatorship,backedbysweepingpolicepowers,silencedcriticsofNazieugenicsand
supportersofindividualrights.Afteralleducationalandculturalinstitutionsandthemediacame
underNazicontrol,racialeugenicspermeatedGermansocietyandinstitutions.Jews,considered
alien,werepurgedfromuniversities,scientificresearchinstitutes,hospitals,andpublichealth
care.Personsinhighpositionswhowereviewedaspoliticallyunreliablemetasimilarfate.

THEBATTLEFORBIRTHS
Echoingongoingeugenicfears,theNazistrumpetedpopulationexpertswarningsofnational
deathandaimedtoreversethetrendoffallingbirthrates.TheMaritalHealthLawofOctober1935
bannedunionsbetweenthehereditarilyhealthyandpersonsdeemedgeneticallyunfit.Getting
marriedandhavingchildrenbecameanationaldutyfortheraciallyfit.InaspeechonSeptember
8,1934,Hitlerproclaimed:Inmystate,themotheristhemostimportantcitizen.
Actingonearliereugenicconcernsabouttheeffectsofalcohol,tobacco,andsyphilis,theNazi
regimesponsoredresearch,undertookpubliceducationcampaigns,andenactedlawsthattogether
aimedateliminatinggeneticpoisonslinkedtobirthdefectsandgeneticdamagetolater
generations.In1936theReichCentralOfficeforCombatingHomosexualityandAbortionwas
establishedtostepupeffortstopreventactsthatobstructedreproduction.Ina1937speechlinking
homosexualitytoafallingbirthrate,GermanpolicechiefHeinrichHimmlerstated:Apeopleof
goodracewhichhastoofewchildrenhasaonewaytickettothegrave.

THEMASSSTERILIZATIONPROGRAM
OnJuly14,1933,theNazidictatorshipfulfilledthelonghelddreamsofeugenicsproponentsby
enactingtheLawforthePreventionofGeneticallyDiseasedOffspring,basedonavoluntary
sterilizationlawdraftedbyPrussianhealthofficialsin1932.ThenewNazilawwascoauthoredby
FalkRuttke,alawyer,ArthurGtt,aphysiciananddirectorofpublichealthaffairs,andErnst
Rdin,apsychiatristandearlyleaderoftheGermanracialhygienemovement.Individualswho
weresubjecttothelawwerethosemenandwomenwhosufferedfromanyofnineconditions
assumedtobehereditary:feeblemindedness,schizophrenia,manicdepressivedisorder,genetic

epilepsy,Huntingtonschorea(afatalformofdementia),geneticblindness,geneticdeafness,severe
physicaldeformity,andchronicalcoholism.
Specialhereditaryhealthcourtslentanauraofdueprocesstothesterilizationmeasure,butthe
decisiontosterilizewasgenerallyroutine.Nearlyallbetterknowngeneticists,psychiatrists,and
anthropologistssatonsuchcourtsatonetimeoranother,mandatingthesterilizationsofan
estimated400,000Germans.Vasectomywastheusualsterilizationmethodformen,andforwomen,
tuballigation,aninvasiveprocedurethatresultedinthedeathsofhundredsofwomen.

VIEWSFROMABROAD
InternationalreactiontotheNazisterilizationlawvaried.IntheUnitedStates,somenewspaper
editorsnotedthemassscaleofthepolicyandfearedthatHitleriteswouldapplythelawtoJews
andpoliticalopponents.Incontrast,Americaneugenicistsviewedthelawasthelogical
developmentofearlierthinkingbyGermanysbestspecialistsandnotasthehastyimprovisation
oftheHitlerregime.
Inthe1930s,leadingAmericanandBritishgeneticistsincreasinglycriticizedestablishedeugenic
organizationsforfreelyminglingprejudiceswithadatedandsimplisticunderstandingofhuman
heredity.Atthesametime,sterilizationgainedsupportbeyondeugeniccirclesasameansof
reducingcostsforinstitutionalcareandpoorrelief.SterilizationratesclimbedinsomeAmerican
statesduringtheDepression,andnewlawswerepassedinFinland,Norway,andSwedenduring
thesameperiod.InGreatBritain,Catholicoppositionblockedaproposedlaw.Nowheredidthe
numbersofpersonssterilizedcomeclosetothemassscaleoftheNaziprogram.

THESEGREGATIONOFJEWS
Thesterilizationofethnicminoritiesdefinedasraciallyforeignwasnotmandatedunderthe1933
law.Instead,theBloodProtectionLaw,announcedinNurembergonSeptember15,1935,
criminalizedmarriageorsexualrelationsbetweenJewsandnonJewishGermans.Soonafter,Nazi
leaderstookbiologicalsegregationastepfurther,privatelydiscussingthecompleteemigrationof
allJewsasagoal.AftertheincorporationofAustriainMarch1938(theAnschluss),SSofficerAdolf
EichmanncoordinatedtheforcedemigrationoftensofthousandsofAustrianJews.TheNazi
organizedattacksonGermanandAustrianJewsandJewishpropertyofNovember910,1938
KristallnachtconvincedmanyJewsremainingintheReichthatleavingwastheironlyoptionfor
survival.

Nazismulafost"biologieaplicat",adeclaratHitleradjunctRudolfHess. naltreileaReich,oextrem
politic, antisemit devariaieaeugenieiadeterminatcursulpoliticiidestat. RegimulluiHitlertouted
"rasanordic"caidealdeeugeniciancercatsmodelezeGermaniantrocomunitatenaional
coerentcareaexclusoriceconsideratereditar"maipuinvaloros"sau"rasialstrine."Msuridesntate
publicpentruacontrolareproducereicstoriamenitesconsolideze"organismnaional"prin
eliminareagenepericolbiologicdelapopulaie. Multimedicisioamenidestiintagermanicareau

sprijinitideideigienrasialenaintede1933mbriataccentnoulregimprivindbiologiaiereditate,
noileoportunitidecarier,ifinanareasuplimentarpentrucercetare.
DictaturaluiHitler,sprijinitdezdrobitoareputeridepoliie,reduslatcerecriticiieugenieinazistei
susintoriaidrepturilorindividuale. Dupcetoateinstituiiledenvmnticulturaleimassmedia
aintratsubcontrolulnazist,eugeniarasialeptrunssocietateaiinstituiilegermane. Evrei,considerate
"strin",aufosteliminatedelauniversiti,institutedecercetaretiinific,spitale,idengrijirea
sntiipublice. Persoanenfunciinalte,careaufostvzutecapolitic"nesigure"cuosoartsimilar.
Luptapentrunateri
Ecoutemerieugenicencursdedesfurare,nazitiitrmbiatavertismenteleexperilorpopulaieide
"moartenaional"ivizeazpentruainversatendinadenatalitiicaresencadreaz. LegeaSntii
civildinoctombrie1935ainterzisuniunilentre"ereditarsntoase"iapersoanelorconsiderate
impropriigenetic. ".Rasialsepotrivesc"cstoresciaucopiiadevenitodatorienaionalpentruntrun
discursla8septembrie,1934,Hitleraproclamat:"nstareamea,mamaestecelmaiimportant
ceteanului."
Acionndnbazapreocupriloreugenieanterioarecuprivirelaefectelealcoolului,tutunului,isifilis,
regimulnazistasponsorizatdecercetare,antreprinscampaniideeducarepublic,ilegileadoptatecare
mpreunmeniteselimine"otravurigenetice"legatedemalformaiicongenitaleidaunegeneticea
generaiilordemaitrziu. n1936BiroulCentralpentruCombatereaReichHomosexualitateaiavortula
foststabilitsiintensificeeforturiledeprevenireaactelorcareobstrucionatereproducere. ntrun
discurs1937careleaghomosexualitatealaoratanatalitiinscdere,efulpoliieigermaneHeinrich
Himmleradeclarat:"Unpopordecursabuna,carearepreapuinicopiiareunbiletonewayla
mormnt."
PROGRAMULMASSSTERILIZARE
Pe14iulie,1933,dictaturanazistndeplinitviselelungaavutloceugenieisustinatoriiprinadoptarea
LegiipentruprevenireaOffspringgeneticbolnave,pebazauneilegidesterilizarevoluntarelaboratde
oficialidindomeniulsanatatiiprusacen1932.NoualegenazistafostcoautoruldeFalkRuttke,un
avocat,ArthurGUTT,unmedicsidirectoralafacerilordesntatepublic,iErnstRudin,psihiatrui
lidertimpurieamicriigermanedeigienrasial. Persoanelecareaufostsupuselegiiaufostacele
brbaiifemeicare"asuferit"dinoricenoucondiiipresupuneafiereditar:feeblemindedness,
schizofrenie,tulburaremaniacodepresive,epilepsiegenetic,coreeaHuntington(oformafatalade
dementa),orbiregenetice,surditategenetice,deformarefizicsever,ialcoolismcronic.
Instanespecialedesanatateereditaremprumutatoauradeprocesdincauzamsuriidesterilizare,dar
deciziadeasterilizaafostngeneralderutin. Geneticieniaproapetoatemaicunoscute,psihiatri,
antropologiiseaezpeastfeldeterenuri,launmomentsaualtul,mandatareasterilizrilede
aproximativ400.000degermani. Vasectomieafostmetodadesterilizaredeobiceipentrubarbati,iar
pentrufemei,ligaturareatrompeloruterine,oprocedurainvazivacareaduslamoarteaasutedefemei.

OPINIIDEPESTEHOTARE
Reacieinternaionallalegeasterilizriinazistvariat. nStateleUnite,uneleeditorideziarealuatact
descarlargapoliticiiisetemeac"hitleriti"saraplicalegeaevreiloriaopozanilorpolitici. n
schimb,eugenitiiamericaniauvzutlegeacadezvoltarealogicagndiriianteriordectre"ceimai
bunispecialiti"dinGermaniainuca"improvizaiapripitaregimuluiluiHitler."
nanii1930,deconduceregeneticieniamericaniibritaniciacriticatdincenceorganizaiiledeeugenie
stabilitepentruamestecaliberprejudecicuonelegeredatatisimplistaereditiiumane.nacelai
timp,sterilizareaactigatsprijindincolodecercuriledeeugeniecaunmijlocdereducereacosturilor
pentrungrijireainstituionalidereliefsraci. Rateledesterilizareaurcatnunelestateamericanen
timpulDepresiuni,inoilegiaufostadoptatenFinlanda,Norvegia,Suediainaceeaiperioad. n
MareaBritanie,deopoziiecatolicblocatolegepropus. Aunicierinumruldepersoanesterilizatese
apropiedescarlargaprogramuluinazist.
SegregareaEVREILOR
Sterilizareaminoritiloretnicedefiniteca"rasialstrine"nuafostmandatatnconformitateculegislaia
1,933. nschimb,"LegeaprivindproteciaBlood",aanunatnNrnbergla15septembrie,1935,
incriminatedecstoriesaurelaiilesexualentreevreiigermaninonevrei. Curnddupaceea,liderii
nazitiausegregarebiologicunpasmaideparte,discutanparticularde"emigrarecomplet"tuturor
evreilorcaunobiectiv. Dupncorporarea Austriei martie1938(Anschluss),ofierSSAdolfEichmanna
coordonatemigrareaforatazecidemiideevreiaustrieci. Atacurilenazistorganizatdeevreidin
GermaniaiAustriaiabunurilorevreietidin910noiembrie1938 Kristallnacht convincedmulievrei
rmainReichcareprsescfostopiunedoarpentrusupravieuire.