Die ambivalente Haltung Otfrid Foersters (1873–1941) gegenüber dem Nationalsozialismus

Martin, Michael; Karenberg, Axel; Fangerau, Heiner

doi:10.1007/s00115-019-00840-9

Cited by 12 publications

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References 27 publications

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“…After studying medicine and obtaining his doctorate in 1924, he became assistant to Otfrid Foerster (1873–1941) at the Neurological Clinic in Breslau (Wrocław) [ 55 – 57 ]. Foerster was a highly respected scientist at the time, attracting many physicians from abroad, including subsequently famous names such as Wilder Penfield and Percival Bailey [ 58 ]. Guttmann received a thorough training in clinical neurology and rehabilitation methods, and also learned various neurosurgical techniques and scientific methodology [ 59 ] (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical review: the German Neurological Society and its honorary members (1952–1982)

Martin

Fangerau

Karenberg

2022

Neurol. Res. Pract.

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Background As part of a larger project commissioned by the German Neurological Society (DGN), this paper focuses on the DGN’s German and Austrian honorary members. In particular, the question of whether former membership in the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) or other Nazi organizations was an obstacle to becoming an honorary member in the years 1952–1982, and whether victims of the Nazi regime were also considered for honorary membership. Results From the early 1950s to the early 1980s, the DGN awarded honorary membership to 55 individuals. Of these, 27 were German or Austrian citizens who were physicians during the Nazi era, and 17 of the 27 (63%) were members of the NSDAP, Storm Troopers (SA), or Schutzstaffel (SS). In the early postwar period, honorary membership was much less frequently awarded to former Nazi Party members than in the years around 1980. Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the only neurologist forced to emigrate, received his honorary membership in 1971. Brief biographies of Hans Jacob, Gustav Bodechtel, Karl Kleist, and Ludwig Guttmann outline exemplary careers and life histories, in addition to highlighting key issues such as concurrent research on “euthanasia” victims, denazification procedures, forced emigration, and the contemporary mindset in the Federal Republic of Germany. Conclusions Apparently, a “Nazi past” did not play a decisive role in the selection process for honorary members within the DGN until at least the 1980s. Aside from Guttmann, no other neuroscientist expelled from Germany was honored. With these practices, the Society marginalized its Jewish colleagues for a second time.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical review: the German Neurological Society and its honorary members (1952–1982)

Martin

Fangerau

Karenberg

2022

Neurol. Res. Pract.

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“…It is against this background that the written and oral testimonies—speeches and lectures—of the neuroscientists must be examined and evaluated. Quite a number of them avoided topics that were strongly influenced by National Socialism after 1933; some simply made do with truisms, such as “Heil Hitler.” In contrast, others immediately or gradually adapted to the system in terms of content and diction for different reasons, as the example of Otfrid Foerster shows 28 …”

Section: Being a Scientist 1933–1945mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Frankfurt University professor Karl Kleist called for more precise indications 17 . Otfrid Foerster, who gained international fame as a neurosurgeon, 28 took a stand against eugenics. Moreover, assessments could change over time: although Heinrich Pette (later famous for his research on poliomyelitis) stated in 1935 that “hereditary biology” and “the requests of the Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring” had “stimulated many problems in neurology (…),” not much later he clearly advocated a subtly differentiated diagnosis of alleged hereditary diseases and spoke against hastily ordered sterilizations 11 …”

Section: Attitudes Towards the Theory And Practice Of Eugenicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, others immediately or gradually adapted to the system in terms of content and diction for different reasons, as the example of Otfrid Foerster shows. 28 However, to conclude that no one was forced to join the party or any other Nazi organization or conduct research along party lines does not paint the whole picture. As far as appointments were concerned, political convictions were regularly reviewed, but the political evaluations made by representatives of the Nazi Lecturers League did not always tip the balance.…”

Section: Being a Scientist 1933-1945mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unsettling Realities of Nazism and the Legacy of the German Neurological Society

Fangerau

Martin

Karenberg

2021

Annals of Neurology

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On behalf of the German Neurological Society (DGN), a study was conducted into how far former chairmen, honorary chairmen, and honorary members could be regarded as incriminated from the National Socialist period. While an online supplement of this journal presents seven individual biographies (in six papers) by way of example, this paper offers an overview summarizing the project results and introducing the biographies. The first part and the methodological section discuss the difficulties of retrospectively identifying neurologists involved in the Nazi movement. Formal characteristics (eg, membership of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) or other Nazi organizations or participation in Nazi crimes) and content-related clues (eg, statements reflecting Nazi ideology, personal contacts with Nazi officials or active support of the system) can be helpful. The second part summarizes the principal results of a study of 28 German and Austrian neuroscientists with regard to their involvement and their post-war careers. Six of the seven "founding fathers" of the DGN were former NSDAP members; 10 of the 13 presidents in office until 1976 had belonged to Nazi organizations-the NSDAP, the SA ("Brownshirts") or the SS ("Blackshirts"). Moreover, seven out of 10 honorary presidents had formal or substantive links to National Socialism. Of the German and Austrian honorary members appointed up to 1985, two-thirds had leanings to Nazi ideology or the National Socialist system. This paper concludes by outlining how the DGN and its members are currently addressing this historical legacy in order to establish a responsible culture of remembrance.

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“…Ferner wurde Otfrid Foersters Haltung als deutscher Neurologe gegenüber dem Nationalsozialismus analysiert [ 13 ]. Aktuellen Forschungen zufolge erkannte das NS-Regime seine Leistungen zwar an, jedoch zählte Foerster, der nie Mitglied der NSDAP war, weder zu den bekannten Unterstützern noch zu den offiziellen NS-Kritikern: „Foerster selbst verstand sich als unpolitischer Wissenschaftler“ [ 13 ]. Er hatte eine jüdische Ehefrau und zahlreiche jüdische Assistenten, wie etwa seinen leitenden Oberarzt Ludwig Guttmann (1899–1980).…”

Section: Biografische Skizze Und Forschungsstandunclassified

„Ein zu internationaler Berühmtheit gelangter Forscher und Arzt“: Otfrid Foerster (1873–1941) als Nobelpreiskandidat

et al. 2021

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ZusammenfassungDieser Aufsatz befasst sich mit den Nobelpreisnominierungen für den Neurologen und Neurochirurgen Otfrid Foerster (1873–1941). Foerster wurde 17 Mal für den Nobelpreis für Physiologie oder Medizin nominiert. Aufbauend auf Akten des Stockholmer Nobelpreisarchives, Primär- und Sekundärliteratur wird auf folgende Fragen eingegangen: Welche Gründe gab es für Foersters Nominierungen? Wie sah die Beziehung zwischen ihm und seinen Nominatoren aus? Warum hat er letztlich den Nobelpreis nicht erhalten? Das Gros der Nominatoren für Foerster hob als Hauptmotiv sein gemeinsam mit Oswald Bumke herausgegebenes Handbuch der Neurologie hervor. Den Nominatoren zufolge hatte Foerster mit diesem Handbuch einen enormen Einfluss auf die Neurologie seiner Zeit. Darüber hinaus wurde sein „ehrenvoller Charakter“ in den Nominierungsbriefen unterstrichen. Für das Nobelkomitee waren diese Begründungen jedoch nicht ausreichend: Die Mitglieder stuften das Handbuch nicht als originäre Forschungsleistung ein. Foersters Ruhm reicht trotzdem bis in die Gegenwart, etwa in Form einer seit 1953 von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie vergebenen Ehrung, die seinen Namen trägt (Otfrid-Foerster-Medaille).

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Die ambivalente Haltung Otfrid Foersters (1873–1941) gegenüber dem Nationalsozialismus

Cited by 12 publications

References 27 publications

Historical review: the German Neurological Society and its honorary members (1952–1982)

Historical review: the German Neurological Society and its honorary members (1952–1982)

Unsettling Realities of Nazism and the Legacy of the German Neurological Society

„Ein zu internationaler Berühmtheit gelangter Forscher und Arzt“: Otfrid Foerster (1873–1941) als Nobelpreiskandidat

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