Acareer start in the Third Reich : The pathologist and Rudolf Virchow Award recipient Walter Müller (1907-1983).

Abstract

The pathologist Walter Müller is undoubtedly one of the most prominent post-war representatives of his profession. He became full professor and founding dean in Essen, and in 1983 the German Society for Pathology (DGP) awarded him the Rudolf Virchow Medal - the highest distinction of the society - for his merits to the field of pathology.But this glorious career was by no means predetermined. Rather, after the end of the Second World War there were signs of acareer break that were still largely unknown. After fleeing Königsberg from the approaching Red Army, Müller had to fear for his professional existence and his scientific advancement, as he was threatened with aban on his profession in connection with denazification. As ayoung assistant doctor, Müller had joined the Berlin SA soon after the National Socialists took power and had also applied for membership of the NSDAP in 1937.Using Müller as an example, this article deals with the political influences and effects of National Socialism on young scientists and their career development. It poses the question of typical political barriers and overarching patterns of adaptation.On the basis of the personal written estate, personal archive sources, and areanalysis of the available secondary literature, existing self-portrayals and narratives of Walter Müller are critically reviewed and supplemented. Several examples show that Müller's career development was characterized by awillingness to adapt politically. After abrief career slump in the years 1946/47, he succeeded in consolidating his career thanks to amild denazification process and subsequently became one of the leading experts in German-language pathology.