[Physicians in the northern part of Schleswig at the time of reunification with Denmark].

Abstract

Marie Hollensen (1884-1942) and Hans Storm (1886-1945) were Danish-minded inhabitants of Schleswig, a part of Denmark conquered in 1864 by Prussia. Both wanted to become general medical practitioners in their homeland. As a Danish medical degree would not allow them to practise in Germany they were forced to take their medical degrees in Germany. They met at the University of Heidelberg and had married in 1918. After the reunification in 1920, they practised general medicine in Graasten. Both had an extraordinary life story. Marie was daughter of a farmer in a rural community, Broager, was forced to go to a German elementary school, but later went to folk high schools in Denmark. After having passed the required German Arbitur (upper secondary school-leaving examination) in Berlin, she entered medical schools in Germany. Hans lived with his father in Königsberg in East Prussia. He was sent to a secondary school in Hillerød, studied philosophy, law and finally medicine in Copenhagen and at German universities. During The Great War he was forced to join the German Army and served at various military hospitals in Flensborg. Marie and Hans became popular general practitioners with the people in and around Graasten. Marie became the personal physician of crown prince Frederik and crownprincess Ingrid when they resided at the casle in Graasten. The orbiatuary tstified to their commitment to patient care and their personal integrity.