Biographies of Victims of Biomedical Research during National Socialism

During the National Socialist period, countless individuals were deprived not only of their freedom and lives, but also of their identity and individuality. Reduced to numbers and anonymous file references, they were marginalized and dehumanized. Yet behind each file number was a person – someone with relationships, hopes and dreams, fears and sorrows, strengths and vulnerabilities.

Individual life stories transform abstract numbers into concrete names and faces, revealing diverse and often interrupted life paths. At the same time, they offer deeper insight into the vast and almost unimaginable scale of crimes committed under National Socialism – including those carried out in the name of science. The biographies presented here reflect the experiences of numerous victims of coerced biomedical research, particularly those targeted in the context of brain research conducted at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes.

Efforts have been made to reflect the diversity of victim groups: individuals institutionalized and murdered in context of the so-called “euthanasia” programs, forced labourers, prisoners of war, people executed by courts of the regime, victims of medical experiments in concentration camps, civilians from German occupied territories, and individuals persecuted as Jews. Nonetheless, comprehensive representation was not possible due to fragmentary source material, archival restrictions, and other limitations.

Three individuals, depicted in a collective biography, are not recorded in the project's database. They have been intentionally included here to acknowledge this gap and to represent the many other victims who could not be documented within the scope of this research project, but who nonetheless deserve to be remembered.

The available sources present considerable challenges. Most information derives from medical records and other documents produced in the context of persecution, while personal testimonies – such as letters or diaries – have rarely been preserved. Furthermore, many archival documents reflect the often biased and dehumanizing perspectives of institutional staff, most of whom acted under complicity. Particular care has been taken to approach these sources with critical sensitivity and respect for the dignity of the victims.

The selection of appropriate images required similar caution. Many of the preserved photographs were taken in direct connection with the crimes, presumably against the victims' will and under coercive and degrading circumstances. Out of respect, such images are not displayed here. Whenever possible, photographs from victims' private or professional lives have been chosen – images that portray individuals beyond the labels of "patients" or "inmates." This approach, however, means that the brutality and violence endured by the victims are not visually represented. Although this dilemma cannot be fully resolved, prioritizing the dignity of the victims remains essential.

Efforts were made to involve relatives in the creation of these biographies. In many cases, however, family members could not be identified or contacted. If a family member is featured in one of the published biographies and you do not consent to its publication, please use the contact form, available here, to get in touch.

Despite extensive research, significant gaps remain. Some life stories could only be reconstructed in fragments, while others allow for a more nuanced portrayal. For some individuals, portraits or photographs relevant to their life stories have been preserved or could be found; for others, no such images exist. Nevertheless, the biographies published here offer insight into the lives of those who were disenfranchised and murdered during a period of profound injustice. These accounts seek to encourage reflection, deepen historical understanding, and help preserve the memory of the victims