Category
Oral - Textual or Investigative
Description
This paper looks at the personal and professional relationship between Hans Asperger, a psychiatrist during the Second World War in Nazi-controlled Austria, and the National Socialist movement. I argue that while Hans Asperger had a mixed relationship with National Socialism, he unarguably played a role in implementing its policies and was found to have been cooperative with the Nazi’s agenda by the SS. Influenced by his family, faith, and childhood experiences, Asperger’s background led him to become active within the medical field. During his time within the clinic at Vienna, Asperger rapidly rose the ranks thanks to the dismissal of many medical professionals due to National Socialist ideals. Interacting with a plethora of doctors who sympathized with the Nazis or were Nazis themselves, Asperger was routinely exposed to the culture of the Third Reich. Never concretely stating his support for the Nazis, Asperger still adhered to the policies of their regime, actively sending some of the children that he worked with to Am Spigelgrund, a clinic where disabled children were euthanized. In addition, Asperger’s work in studying Autism and his notes on some of the children whom he worked with hint at a mindset in line with the eugenics ideals of the Third Reich. While no conclusive answer can be gathered from Asperger’s statements, secondary evidence suggests that Asperger was at least willing to actively participate in the Nazi’s eugenics policies.
Shadow Mimicking the Darkness: Hans Asperger’s Relation to National Socialism
Oral - Textual or Investigative
This paper looks at the personal and professional relationship between Hans Asperger, a psychiatrist during the Second World War in Nazi-controlled Austria, and the National Socialist movement. I argue that while Hans Asperger had a mixed relationship with National Socialism, he unarguably played a role in implementing its policies and was found to have been cooperative with the Nazi’s agenda by the SS. Influenced by his family, faith, and childhood experiences, Asperger’s background led him to become active within the medical field. During his time within the clinic at Vienna, Asperger rapidly rose the ranks thanks to the dismissal of many medical professionals due to National Socialist ideals. Interacting with a plethora of doctors who sympathized with the Nazis or were Nazis themselves, Asperger was routinely exposed to the culture of the Third Reich. Never concretely stating his support for the Nazis, Asperger still adhered to the policies of their regime, actively sending some of the children that he worked with to Am Spigelgrund, a clinic where disabled children were euthanized. In addition, Asperger’s work in studying Autism and his notes on some of the children whom he worked with hint at a mindset in line with the eugenics ideals of the Third Reich. While no conclusive answer can be gathered from Asperger’s statements, secondary evidence suggests that Asperger was at least willing to actively participate in the Nazi’s eugenics policies.
Comments
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