[History of anatomy - academy history. On the development of scientific academies in the Third Reich exemplified by anatomy].

Abstract

Research on the history of National Socialism has for decades ignored the German academies of sciences as well as the subject of anatomy. This was due to the rather minor roles the societies played in the scientific policy of the Third Reich and role anatomy played in medicine during this period of time. Recent investigations in both subjects were able to show how worthwhile the dealing with seemingly minor aspects of National Socialist policies is: Those aspects can especially help to sharpen the historical judgment of scientific and political actions. On the basis of recent archival research this article tries to present and analyze the subject of anatomy and the academies of sciences regarding their reciprocal relationship between 1933 and 1945. Besides the Leopoldina, the Prussian and the Bavarian Academies of Sciences will be focused on: By the examples of the anatomists represented in these societies it can be shown how anatomy as well as the societies developed under National Socialism and which general tendencies, entanglements and differences are relevant for the matter. The insight in this relationship focuses on the one hand on the anatomists represented in the societies. On the other hand it deals with the presence of anatomical research in the society, their meetings and publications, and especially with ideology and crimes reflected in this research.