Karl Gebhardt
Karl Gebhardt (23 November 1897 – 2 June 1948) was a German SS-Gruppenführer, medical doctor, and a main participant in the medical experiments conducted on inmates of the concentration camps at Ravensbrück and Auschwitz during the Second World War. As one of Heinrich Himmler's personal physicians and a leading figure in the Nazi human experimentation programs, Gebhardt's work has become synonymous with the atrocities and war crimes committed under the guise of medical research in the Third Reich.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Karl Gebhardt was born in Haag in Oberbayern, Germany. He pursued medical studies and became a notable surgeon before joining the Nazi Party and the SS. His medical career took a dark turn when he became involved in the SS's medical division, where he rose to prominence due to his close relationship with Heinrich Himmler. Gebhardt utilized his position to conduct a series of inhumane and unethical medical experiments on prisoners within the Nazi concentration camp system, particularly focusing on the effects of sulfanilamide and other treatments on battlefield injuries, as well as experiments on bone, muscle, and nerve regeneration and repair.
During the war, Gebhardt was responsible for overseeing the medical care of high-ranking SS officials and was instrumental in the establishment of the Hohenlychen Sanatorium as a hospital for the SS elite. However, his legacy is marred by his leadership in the execution of gruesome medical experiments that resulted in the suffering and deaths of countless individuals.
War Crimes and Trial[edit | edit source]
After the war, Karl Gebhardt was arrested and tried at the Doctors' Trial, part of the subsequent Nuremberg Trials. He was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in the medical experiments at Ravensbrück and Auschwitz. Gebhardt was found guilty on both counts and was sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on 2 June 1948.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
The actions of Karl Gebhardt and other physicians involved in Nazi medical experiments have led to significant ethical discussions and reforms in medical research, including the development of the Nuremberg Code, a set of research ethics principles for human experimentation.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Nazi human experimentation
- Ravensbrück concentration camp
- Auschwitz concentration camp
- Doctors' Trial
- Nuremberg Code
 | This biographical article related to medicine is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
