Dr Russell Barton, Belsen concentration camp and 1960s psychiatric hospitals in England: the controversy

Abstract

ABSTRACTRussell Barton was one of the 96 London medical student volunteers who went to Belsen concentration camp in Germany, 2 weeks after its liberation in 1945, to help survivors. Barton later became a psychiatrist. In 1968, he wrote about the medical students’ experiences and his understanding of Belsen based on his time there, in an invited article in Purnell’s History of the Second World War. He perceived parallels between the regimes controlling Belsen and National Health Service psychiatric hospitals, noted similar harmful psychological consequences for those held within and commented that the public appeared to turn a blind eye to both. His article outraged readers. While some of his interpretations of Belsen were incorrect, his experience there connected intimately with his passion and persistence to provide humane and dignified treatment and care for patients and to improve hospital facilities. Later, Holocaust deniers cited his article. This article seeks to provide an informed review and analysis of the controversy.AbbreviationsNational Health Service (NHS)AEGIS (Aid for the Elderly in Government Institutions)United States of America (USA)