Edmund Randerath (1899-1961) – A forgotten pioneer of nephropathology and his role in Nazi Germany

Abstract

Edmund Randerath must be counted among the pioneers of nephropathology. However, his early experimental proof of glomerular proteinuria is hardly known, even among experts. The same applies to his political role in the Third Reich and his denazification in the post-war period.Against this background, this study deals with the life and career of Randerath. It focuses on (1) Randerath’s political stance and professional progress between 1933 and 1945, (2) his life and his position in German pathology after 1945, and (3) the (inter)national reception of Randerath’s work.The paper is based on mostly unevaluated sources of various archives and on the analysis of the relevant research literature.It demonstrates that Edmund Randerath willingly served the Nazi regime. In return, he succeeded in expanding his career in the Third Reich. However, after 1945 he moved up to even higher positions: He was successively appointed full professor (1947), dean (1950) and rector (1956) of Heidelberg University. Moreover, he played a decisive role in the reconstitution of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pathologie (German Society for Pathology) (1948) and was later elected president (1960). But despite his pioneering achievements in (nephro)pathology, he found only limited access to the international scientific community.