Blinde Menschen unter dem NS-Regime in der „Ostmark“ – Eine Problematisierung

Abstract

This article presents various aspects of my doctoral thesis “Zwischen Integration,Kooperation und Vernichtung – Blinde Menschen unter dem NS-Regime in der ,Ostmark“. Thisdoctoral thesis presents various aspects of the circumstances of blind people’s lives inthe “Ostmark” under the Nazi regime, such as the economic and social situation.Legal, medical and gender aspects are also taken into consideration. The aim was togain detailed insight into the living conditions of blind people of that time. Under theNazi regime blind people were separated into three main groups: the civilian blind, thewar blinded and blind people of Jewish origin. Even since the time of the First WorldWar there had been a two-class system of the civilian blind and blinded ex-serviceman.Due to the Nazi regime’s anti-Jewish policy, the civilian blind and blinded veterans ofJewish origin were persecuted. In addition to that there was a strong segregationamong blind people under the Nazi regime. This article deals with some mainproblems concerning the research about the life of blind people.