Abortion and Eugenics in Nazi Germany

Abstract

Today is legal and available the major cities of the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany during the 1st 3 months of pregnancy. However during the Nazi rule of Germany from the years 1933-1945 was strongly opposed for other than extreme medical reasons. This was not the popular opinion of the German people but rather an official statement by the German Medical Association. Little evidence is available on this period as it seems many records have been hidden or lost and nowhere does the term abortion appear any of the German documents retrieved during WWII. The Nazi eugenics movement and attempt to eradicate or individual choice family planning had its roots Hitlers autobiography Mein Kampf. Subsequent to Hitlers rise to power the pursuit of racial purism evinced itself new legislation and actions aimed at expanding the Aryan race. As fecundity was seen to be in the public and actions that would limit fertility seen as contrary to that interest stronger measures such as fines and imprisonment were instituted as penalties for and race mixing. As restrictions and laws increased with severity abortions went underground and became covert risky operations. During the 2nd world war special courts were established to give the death sentence to those who had illegally terminated a pregnancy. The article overviews the development of policies Germany from its historical beginnings the German Reich through the Nazi period. The experience of neighboring countries is also explored.