Women's Healthcare in Nazi-controlled Vienna
Unraveling the Dark Past: Examining Gynecology during the Nazi Era at the Medical University of Vienna
Over eight decades since the end of World War II, the Medical University of Vienna has taken a significant step to scrutinize the role of gynecology in the Nazi era. From the exile of Jewish doctors to forced sterilizations and the involvement of women's clinics, this symposium shines a light on a grim chapter of history.
A Shadowed Chapter
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938 signaled the downfall of the professional existence of Jewish doctors. Roughly 60% of Vienna's gynecologists lost their jobs and were banned from practicing their profession. Many of these doctors were forced to flee to save their lives. The Nazi regime viewed gynecology as a crucial component of its misguided reproduction policies, with the aim of creating a "racially pure" population. In Vienna alone, nearly 230 women were forcibly sterilized in university women's clinics, often accompanied by abortions[1].
Professor Herwig Czech, a history of medicine scholar at MedUni Vienna, states, "Gynecology during the Nazi era served a murderous regime. Addressing these complexities is a long-overdue action."
Stepping Forward
This symposium symbolizes the beginning of an essential discourse. Herbert Kiss, co-head of the University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics at MedUni Vienna, emphasizes, "For years we've shied away from confronting the Nazi era and the actions of leading doctors. Now, we're making a statement—we're distancing ourselves, we're speaking up, we're standing tall. Silence only fuels forgetfulness."
For those unable to attend the symposium, the lectures are available online at frauenheilkunde.meduni-wien.ac.at/aufarbeitung-ns.
*(Note: The author acknowledges that while the symposium and its lectures are mentioned in the provided base article, no specific links to the online lectures or detailed information about the event are available in the search results. For further exploration of this topic, the author encourages readers to consult academic databases specializing in medical history or Nazi-era studies.)*
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- The anschluss, or annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, led to the expulsion of Jewish doctors from their positions in gynecology, accounting for roughly 60% of Vienna's gynecologists.
- The Medical University of Vienna, during the Nazi era, was a part of the forced sterilizations of women, with nearly 230 documented cases happening in university women's clinics.
- In an effort to confront the past, the online lectures from the symposium 'Aufarbeitung - Unraveling the Dark Past: Examining Gynecology during the Nazi Era at the Medical University of Vienna' are available for health-and-wellness enthusiasts who wish to educate themselves on this grim chapter of medical-condition history, particularly focusing on women's health.
- The symposium at the Medical University of Vienna highlights the entanglements of the medical profession with the Nazi regime's misguided reproduction policies, aiming to create a "racially pure" population.
- Speaking up about the past is essential for maintaining scientific integrity and avoiding forgetfulness, as professed by Herbert Kiss, co-head of the University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics at MedUni Vienna, urging for courage and transparency in confronting the dark past of gynecology during the Nazi era.
