Hans Frederick Bettinger (1897–1975) – “Father of Australian obstetrical and gynecological pathology” and victim of Nazism

Abstract

The German-Australian Hans Bettinger is regarded as one of the most important and influential pathologists of his time. Bettinger’s research focused on gynecological pathology, with a particular interest in intersexuality, ovarian and cervical cancer. He received global recognition for his achievements: among others, he was a Honorary Fellow at the International Academy of Cytology, the Royal Australian College of Physicians, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, London.Far less well-known is German-born Bettinger’s role as a victim of Nazism. This significant yet hitherto “blind spot” in Bettinger's life is the focus of this paper. Previously undiscovered archival material from the German Federal Archives in Koblenz, supplemented by documents from the Public Record Office Victoria, Australia, and the University of Melbourne Archives, served as the central sources for this study.This paper reveals that Bettinger, as the husband of a Jewish woman in Nazi Germany, was disenfranchised, and subsequently forced to emigrate. After considerable efforts, he succeeded in building a new life in Australia, where he became the “father of obstetrical and gynecological pathology”. In the 1950s Bettinger submitted an application for “reparations” to the Federal Republic of Germany. The legal claim was successful: From April 1951 onwards, Bettinger received a substantial pension and was thus officially recognized as a victim of Nazism. He was, however, never able to bring himself to return to Germany, and spent the rest of his life in Australia.