Neue Deutsche Heilkunde

A Nazi-era medical movement

Neue Deutsche Heilkunde (New German Medicine) was a medical movement in Nazi Germany that sought to align medical practices with the ideological principles of the Nazi Party. It emphasized a holistic approach to health, integrating natural medicine and traditional medicine with the racial and political ideologies of the time.

Origins and Development

The concept of Neue Deutsche Heilkunde emerged in the early 1930s, as the Nazi regime sought to reform various aspects of German society, including healthcare. The movement was officially endorsed by the regime and was part of a broader effort to create a "new" German culture that was free from what the Nazis considered foreign influences.

Propaganda poster promoting Neue Deutsche Heilkunde

The movement was heavily influenced by the ideas of natural healing and homeopathy, which were popular in Germany at the time. It also incorporated elements of eugenics and racial hygiene, reflecting the regime's focus on "racial purity" and the health of the "Aryan race."

Key Figures

One of the leading figures in the Neue Deutsche Heilkunde movement was Reichsärzteführer (Reich Medical Leader) Leonardo Conti, who played a significant role in shaping Nazi health policies. Conti and other proponents of the movement sought to integrate traditional German healing practices with modern medical science, while also promoting the regime's racial ideologies.

Julius Streicher in conversation with Reich Medical Leader Dr. Wagner

Principles and Practices

Neue Deutsche Heilkunde emphasized the importance of preventive medicine and the use of natural remedies. It promoted a holistic view of health, considering the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of individuals. The movement also encouraged the use of herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and physical exercise as means to maintain health and prevent disease.

The movement was also characterized by its rejection of certain "foreign" medical practices, which were seen as incompatible with Nazi ideology. This included a distrust of psychoanalysis, which was associated with Jewish intellectuals, and a preference for "Germanic" approaches to medicine.

Impact and Legacy

While Neue Deutsche Heilkunde was promoted by the Nazi regime, its impact on mainstream medical practice was limited. Many of its ideas were not scientifically validated, and the movement was largely discredited after the fall of the Nazi regime in 1945. However, some aspects of the movement, such as the emphasis on natural medicine, continued to influence alternative medicine practices in Germany and beyond.

Related Pages

• Nazi eugenics
• Racial hygiene
• Alternative medicine
• History of medicine