Paul Nitsche

Pirna Sonnenstein

Paul Nitsche (November 25, 1876 – March 25, 1948) was a German psychiatrist who played a significant role in the T-4 Euthanasia Program, a Nazi euthanasia campaign that targeted individuals deemed "life unworthy of life" including the mentally ill and physically disabled. Nitsche's involvement in the program and his contributions to the field of psychiatry during the Nazi era have made him a controversial figure in medical history.

Early Life and Career

Paul Nitsche was born in Colditz, Saxony, in 1876. He pursued his medical studies at various German universities, eventually specializing in psychiatry. Early in his career, Nitsche was recognized for his work in psychiatric hospitals, where he focused on the treatment and care of patients with mental illnesses.

Role in the T-4 Euthanasia Program

In 1939, the Nazi Party initiated the T-4 Euthanasia Program, which aimed to exterminate individuals who were considered a burden to the Aryan race due to their physical or mental disabilities. Paul Nitsche emerged as a key figure in this program, utilizing his expertise in psychiatry to categorize patients as either fit for life or marked for death.

Nitsche's involvement included the selection of patients for euthanasia, overseeing the operation of killing centers, and developing propaganda to justify the program to the German public. His actions during this period underscored the perversion of medical ethics and the role of physicians in the atrocities committed under the Nazi regime.

Post-War Trial and Execution

After World War II, Paul Nitsche was arrested by Allied forces and tried for his involvement in the T-4 Euthanasia Program. In 1947, he was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nitsche was sentenced to death and executed by hanging in 1948.

Legacy

Paul Nitsche's legacy is a subject of ongoing debate among historians and ethicists. While his early contributions to psychiatry are noted, his actions during the Nazi era have overshadowed his career. Nitsche's participation in the T-4 Euthanasia Program serves as a grim reminder of the potential for medical practices to be manipulated for inhumane purposes.

See Also

• T-4 Euthanasia Program
• Nazi human experimentation
• Ethics in psychiatry