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[The Erlangen Academic Psychiatry in Nationalsocialism.]
Birgit Braun1,2
1Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg.
Introduction:
The 200th anniversary of the University Psychiatry Erlangen motivates a critical-historical analysis of the role of Friedrich Meggendorfer (1880-1953) as a psychiatrist under National Socialism.
Method:
A current evaluation of previously unconsidered sources made it possible to classify Friedrich Meggendorfer's role as a Nazi university psychiatrist in a differentiated way.
Results:
Meggendorfer's expertise in hereditary psychiatry and forensic eugenics could be the decisive reason for his appointment as full professor of psychiatry to Erlangen in 1934. On 19.11.1945 Meggendorfer was supended by the military government. Although Meggendorfer was classified by the court on 20.09.1946 as a "follower", he succeeded no reintegration into the faculty of the Friedrich-Alexander-University.
Discussion:
Meggendorfer - among others through his explanations on the law for the prevention of hereditary diseases - allowed himself to be at least partially robbed of the freedom for independent intellectual creation as the core of academic self-understanding.
Conclusion:
The increased inclusion of ethical reflections in the psychiatric/ psychosomatic specialist training can protect the "soul doctor" from being instrumentalized.
