August Hirt

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August Hirt (April 28, 1898 – June 2, 1945) was a German anatomist and SS officer involved in Nazi human experimentation during World War II. He was a professor at the University of Strasbourg and a key figure in the Ahnenerbe, an organization dedicated to researching the ancestral heritage of the Aryan race.

Early Life and Education

Hirt was born in Mannheim, Germany. He studied medicine and earned his doctorate in 1921. He later specialized in anatomy and became a professor at the University of Heidelberg before moving to the University of Strasbourg.

Nazi Involvement

Hirt joined the Nazi Party and the SS in the 1930s. He became involved with the Ahnenerbe, which conducted various pseudoscientific research projects to support Nazi racial theories. Hirt's work primarily focused on the collection and study of human remains.

Strasbourg Anatomical Institute

At the University of Strasbourg, Hirt headed the Anatomical Institute. During this time, he conducted experiments on prisoners from concentration camps, including Natzweiler-Struthof. These experiments were part of the Nazi regime's broader program of human experimentation.

The Jewish Skeleton Collection

One of Hirt's most notorious projects was the creation of a collection of Jewish skeletons. He selected prisoners from Auschwitz to be killed and their bodies preserved for anatomical study. This project was intended to provide physical evidence of the supposed racial inferiority of Jews.

Death and Legacy

As the Allies advanced into Germany, Hirt fled Strasbourg. He was captured by French forces and committed suicide on June 2, 1945, to avoid trial for his war crimes. Hirt's actions have been widely condemned, and he is remembered as a symbol of the atrocities committed by Nazi scientists.

Related Pages

• Nazi human experimentation
• Ahnenerbe
• University of Strasbourg
• Natzweiler-Struthof
• SS
• Anatomy
• World War II