Eduard Pernkopf's atlas of anatomy or: The fiction of 'pure science'

Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift

Volumn 110, Issue 4-5, 1998, Pages 193-201

  Malina, Peter ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA   (Austria)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AUSTRIA; MEDICAL PRACTICE; POLITICAL SYSTEM; REVIEW;

ANATOMY, ARTISTIC; AUSTRIA; FACULTY, MEDICAL; HISTORY, 20TH CENTURY; HUMANS; JEWS; MEDICAL ILLUSTRATION; POLITICAL SYSTEMS; PORTRAITS;

EID: 0032570585     PISSN: 00435325     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (53)

1. Eduard Pernkopf's "Topographische Anatomie des Menschen. Lehrbuch und Atlas der regionär-stratigraphischen Präparation", published by Urban & Schwarzenberg, to which the criticism refers, was published in several parts between 1937 and 1960: Vol. 1: Allgemeines, Brust und Brustgliedmaße. [General, Thorax and Thoracic Limbs] Part 1. Berlin Vienna 1937; Vol. 1: Allgemeines, Brust und Brustgliedmaße. [General, Thorax and Thoracic Limbs] Part 2. Berlin Vienna 1937: Vol. 2: Bauch, Becken und Beckengliedmaße. [Abdomen, Pelvis and Pelvic Limbs] Part 1. Berlin Vienna 1941: Vol. 2: Bauch, Becken und Beckengliedmaße. [Abdomen, Pelvis and Pelvic Limbs] Part 1. 2nd unrevised edition. Berlin Vienna 1943; Vol. 2: Bauch, Becken und Beckengliedmaße. [Abdomen, Pelvis and Pelvic Limbs] Part 2. Berlin Vienna 1943; Vol. 2: Bauch, Becken und Beckengliedmaße. [Abdomen, Pelvis and Pelvic Limbs] Part 2. 2nd unrevised edition. Berlin Vienna 1945; Vol. 3: Der Hals. [The Neck] Vienna Innsbruck 1953; Vol. 4: Topographische und stratigraphische Anatomie des Kopfes. [Topographical and Applied Anatomy of the Head]. Part 1. Munich Berlin Vienna 1957; Vol. 4: Topographische und stratigraphische Anatomie des Kopfes. [Topographical and Applied Anatomy of the Head] Part 2. Edited by Alexander Pichler. Munich Berlin Vienna 1960. In the following years, several new editions of the individual volumes and revised compendiurns of Pernkopf's atlas were published. The first English edition was published by Helmut Ferner: Atlas of topographical and applied human anatomy. Vol. 1-2. Philadelphia 1963-63. It was followed by further, partly revised English editions
2. In addition to the rector and prorector of the University of Vienna, Alfred Ebenbauer and Wolfgang Greisenegger, the dean of the Medical Faculty, Wolfgang Schütz, the director of the Jewish Community, Avshalom Hodik, and Helmut Gruber from the Institute of Anatomy as scientific members, the current members of the commission are: Gustav Spann and Peter Malina (Institute of Contemporary History, University of Vienna), Wolfgang Neugebauer (Documentary Archive of the Austrian Resistance Movement), Kurt Mühlberger (Archive of the University of Vienna), Karl Holubar and Helmut Groger (Institute of History of Medicine)
3. With regard to the history of the Medical Faculty at the University of Vienna 1938-1945, attention must be drawn primarily to the papers by Michael Hubenstorf: Medizinische Fakultat 1938-1945 [Medical Faculty 1938-1945]. in: Heiß G, Mattl S, Meissl S, Saurer E, Stuhlpfarrer K (eds), Willfäbrige Wissenschaft. Die Universitat Wien 1938-1945. [Submissive Science. The University of Vienna 1938-1945 Vienna, 1989 (Österreichische Texte zur Gesellschaftskritik. 43), pp 233-282: "Der Wabrheit ins Auge sehen". Die Wiener Medizin und der Nationalsozialismus -50 Jahre danach ["Facing the Truth". The Vienna School of Medicine and National Socialism - 50 Years After] (Part 1). In: Wiener Arzt. Mitteilungen der Ärztekammer für Wien, 1995, pp 6, 16-28 [both papers without references, unfortunately]: Österreichische Ärzte-Emigration. [Emigration of Austrian Doctors] In: Stadler F (ed.) Vertriebene Vernunft I. Emigration und Exil österreichischer Wissenschaft. 1930-1940. [Banished Reason. Emigration and Exile of Austrian Science. 1930-1940] Vienna Munich 1987, 359-415; Vertriebene Medizin - Finale des Niedergangs der Wiener Medizinischen Schule? [Banished Medicine - Finale in the Decline of the Vienna School of Medicine?] In: Stadler F (ed) Vertriebene Vernunft II. Emigration und Exil österreichischer Wissenschaft. International Symposium 19.-23.10.1987. Vienna Munich 1988, pp 766-793; Kontinuität und Bruch in der Medizingeschichte. Medizin in Österreich 1938 bis 1945. [Continuity and Break in the History of Medicine. Medicine in Austria 1938 to 1945] In: Stadler F (ed), Kontinuitat und Bruch 1938 1945-1955. Beiträge zur österreichischen Kultur- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte. [Continuity and Break 1938-1945-1955. Contributions on the History of Austrian Culture and Science] Vienna Munich, 1988, pp 299-332. Also: Merinsky J (1980), Die Auswirkungen der Annexion Österreichs durch das Deutsche Reich auf die Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Wien im Jahre 1938. [Effects of the Annexation of Austria by the German Reich on the Medical Faculty at the University of Vienna in 1938] Dissertation, University of Vienna, and Feikes R (1993). Veränderungen in der Wiener judischen Ärzteschaft. [Changes in the Jewish Medical Profession in Vienna] Thesis, University of Vienna
4. Weissmann G (1985) Springtime for Pernkopf. Hospital Practice 30: 142-168
5. Druml W (1996) Die Wiener klinische Wochenschrift von 1938 bis 1945. Zum 50. Jahrestag des Wiedererscheinens 1946. [The Wiener klinische Wochenschrift from 1938 to 1945. On the 50th Anniversary of Republication 1945] Wien Klin Wochenschr 108: 381-384. The English translation see this issue Wien Klin Wochenschr (1998) 110: 202-205
6. Williams DJ (1988) The History of Eduard Pernkopf's Topographische Anatomie des Menschen, J Biocommunication, 2-12. Also in 1988, a paper of similar content was published which Williams had presented at the Congress of the History of Medicine in Düsseldorf in 1986: Eduard Pernkopf and the Pernkopf Painters. In: 30. International Congress of the History of Medicine 1986. Düsseldorf. 31.08-05.09.1986. Proceedings. Düsseldorf 1988, pp 524-536. In his reconstruction of Pernkopf's Nazi past, Williams was also able to use material from the Berlin Document Center. Pernkopf's personal file in the Archive of the University of Vienna and his gau file in the Archive of the Republic, which were mainly used for this new presentation, were not available to Williams at the time
7. Lehner M (1990) Die Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Wien 1938-1945. [The Medical Faculty at the University of Vienna 1938-1945] Thesis, University of Vienna, 107-111; a very early indication of what went on in the Vienna school of anatomy can be found in the documentation by Steiner H. (1968) Gestorben für Österreich. Widerstand gegen Hitler [Died for Austria. Resistance against Hitler] pp 114-117
8. Lehner M (1990) Die Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Wien 1938-1945. [The Medical Faculty at the University of Vienna 1938-1945] Thesis, University of Vienna, 107-111; a very early indication of what went on in the Vienna school of anatomy can be found in the documentation by Steiner H. (1968) Gestorben für Österreich. Widerstand gegen Hitler [Died for Austria. Resistance against Hitler] pp 114-117
9. Dahl M (1996) Endstation Spiegelgrund. Die Tötung behinderter Kinder während des Nationalsozialismus am Beispiel der Kinderfachabteilung in Wien 1940-1945. [Terminal Point Spiegelgrund. The Killing of Disabled Children During the National Socialist Era Based on the Example of the Children's Clinic in Vienna 1940-1945] Dissertation, Göttingen. Newer findings in the Gross case can be found - after processing for the media - in: Silvers J, Hagler T (1997) In the Name of the Fuehrer, The Sunday Times Magazine, 14.09.1997, pp 32-40
10. Dahl M (1996) Endstation Spiegelgrund. Die Tötung behinderter Kinder während des Nationalsozialismus am Beispiel der Kinderfachabteilung in Wien 1940-1945. [Terminal Point Spiegelgrund. The Killing of Disabled Children During the National Socialist Era Based on the Example of the Children's Clinic in Vienna 1940-1945] Dissertation, Göttingen. Newer findings in the Gross case can be found - after processing for the media - in: Silvers J, Hagler T (1997) In the Name of the Fuehrer, The Sunday Times Magazine, 14.09.1997, pp 32-40
11. Ernst E (1995) A Leading Medical School Seriously Damaged: Vienna 1938, Ann Int Med 122: 10, 791. To support his misleading claim, Ernst combines two comments used in a different context by Lehner M (1990) Die Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Wien 1938-1945, p 111, where conditions at the Vienna Institute of Anatomy are described as follows: "It is very likely that some of the detailed illustrations in Pernkopf's atlas of anatomy date back to this time. Murdered children from the children's department and from the municipal mental hospital 'Am Spiegelgrund' were dissected at the Anatomical Institute under the guidance of lector Wilhelm Wirtinger in 1942. The preparations thus obtained are still used for research today". To support the last part of her statement. Lehner refers to Hubenstorf M. Medizinische Fakultät 1938-1945, p 263. With his reference to Wirtinger, Hubenstorf only proves the connection between the NS extermination policy and the Faculty of Medicine, however. His mention of "the preparations thus obtained" for research purposes after 1945 refers to a publication by Heinrich Gross in 1942 and 1952, not to the Pernkopf atlas. In his scientific work, Gross used brain preparations from children that had been killed in the children's department "am Steinhof" during the NS regime, where he himself had been working as the senior doctor. Although tried in court after 1945, he was nonetheless able to continue his medical career successfully in post-war Austria. A detailed study of the publications by Heinrich Gross can be found in Dahl M. Endstation Spiegelgrund
12. Israel HA, Seidelman WE (1996) Letter to the editor. JAMA 276/20: 1633
13. Wade N (1996) Doctors question use of Nazi's medical atlas New York Times 26.11.1996, C10
14. Onstad K (1996) Remains of the Holocaust. Not all the victims of Nazi medical experiments have been laid to rest. Dr. William Seidelman wants to know why. Canadian Business Technology, 30.11.1996
15. Ebenbauer A, Schütz W (1997) Letter to the editor. JAMA 277/14: 1123-1124
16. Chiari H (1965) Eduard Pernkopf. In: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Almanach für das Jahr 1955. (1955 Yearbook of the Austrian Academy of Science] 105th year. Vienna 1965, p 403
17. Williams DJ (1988) The history of Eduard Pernkopf's Topographische Anatomie des Menschen,. J. Biocommunication, 2
18. Hast MH (1990) Book review, JAMA 263/15: 2116
19. This information is based on research done by the Information Office of the Central Medical Library in Vienna in late March/early April 1997
20. Hutton EB (1996) Letter to the editor. JAMA 276: 1634
21. Panush RS (1996) Letter to the editor, JAMA 276/20: 1633. Here and in his paper: Upon finding a Nazi anatomy atlas. The lessons of Nazi medicine. In: The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha, 59 (1966); 4: 18-22, Panush refers to Ernst E (1995) A leading medical school seriously damaged: Vienna 1938, p 791
22. Panush RS (1996) Letter to the editor, JAMA 276/20: 1633. Here and in his paper: Upon finding a Nazi anatomy atlas. The lessons of Nazi medicine. In: The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha, 59 (1966); 4: 18-22, Panush refers to Ernst E (1995) A leading medical school seriously damaged: Vienna 1938, p 791
23. Panush RS (1996) Letter to the editor, JAMA 276/20: 1633. Here and in his paper: Upon finding a Nazi anatomy atlas. The lessons of Nazi medicine. In: The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha, 59 (1966); 4: 18-22, Panush refers to Ernst E (1995) A leading medical school seriously damaged: Vienna 1938, p 791
24. Yaros KA (1996) Letter to the editor. The New York Times, 03.12.1996, A14
25. Cutler DS (1997) Letter to the editor. JAMA 277: 1122
26. Office of the University of Vienna. Information for Users of the Pernkopf Atlas [German and English]. Vienna, August 1997
27. Wer ist Wer in Österreich? (The Austrian "Who is Who") Vienna, 1953, p 163
28. Personal questionnaire on the application for a preliminary membership card and assessment of membership in the Land of Austria, dated 31.05.1938, ÖSTA-AdR BMfI/gau file 281.509 [Dr. Eduard Pernkopf]
29. Letter from the dean of the University of Vienna to Eduard Pernkopf. Vienna, 10.05.1945: UAW - Personal file Pernkopf
30. Letter from the Medical Faculty at the University of Vienna to Eduard Pernkopf. Vienna, 17.05.1946; UAW Personal file Pernkopf
31. Letter from Eduard Pernkopf to the rector's office at the University of Vienna. Strobl, 05.07.1945; UAW - Personal file Pernkopf
32. Inquiry from the Vienna Police Headquarters to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Dept. 2, Vienna, 13.05.1947; ÖSTA-AdR - BMfI/gau file 281.509 [Dr. Eduard Pernkopf]
33. Williams DJ (1988), The history of Eduard Pernkopf's Topographische Anatomie des Menschen, 10, states that Pernkopf returned from Glasenbach/Camp Marcus W. Orr in 1948. After revision of his interviews with contemporaries, he later reduced the time of Pernkopf's imprisonment to two years in an e-mail dated June 30, 1997. There is certainly evidence of this period in the files, because in a letter dated early December 1947 and addressed from "Strobl-Weissenbach No. 97", Eduard Pernkopf applied to the Federal President for exemption from the provisions of the "Verbotsgesetz" and assessment as a "lesser incriminated person"; ÖSTA-AdR - PK GZ 925/1951
34. Chiari H (1965) Eduard Pernkopf, p 26. (see ref. 14)
35. Letter from Eduard Pernkopf to the Rector's office at the University of Vienna. Strobl, 05.07.1945; UAW - Personal file Pernkopf
36. Personal questionnaire on the application for a preliminary membership card and assessment of membership in the Land of Austria, dated 31.05.1938, ÖSTA-AdR - BMfI/gau file 281.509 [Dr. Eduard Pernkopf]
37. Eduard Pernkopf (1938) Nationalsozialismus und Wissenschaft. [National Socialism and Science (First lecture held at the Institute of Anatomy of the German Reich on April 6. 1938), Wien Klin Wochenschr 51: 548-551
38. Eduard Pernkopf (1942) Zur Wahl des ärztlichen Berufes. [On the choice of the medical profession] Lecture held for young graduates in Luftgau XVII at the Auditorium Maximum. Wien Klin Wochenschr 55: 743
39. Letter from the director of the provincial administration for Upper Austria, Dr. Otto Richter, to the director of the Presidential Office, Wilhelm Klastersky. Linz, 23.12. 1947; ÖSTA-AdR - PK GZ 925/1951
40. Letter from the director of the Presidential Office, Wilhelm Klastersky, to the director of the provincial administration for Upper Austria. Dr. Otto Richter, Vienna, 29.12.1947; ÖSTA-AdR - PK GZ 925/1951
41. Excerpt from documents on the civic behavior of the former professor of anatomy at the University of Vienna, Dr. Eduard Pernkopf, born 24.11.1888. 16.06.1950; ÖSTA-AVA - BMfU/PA 612 [Pernkopf], GZ 30699/I/2, 1950
42. Application by Eduard Pernkopf to the Federal Ministry of Education for his services during the time from 13.11.1938 to 27.04.1945 to be credited in the assessment of his pension. Vienna, 22.04.1949; ÖSTA-AVA - BMfU/PA 612 [Pernkopf], GZ 19863/III-8, 1949
43. Memorandum on the application by Eduard Pernkopf for his services during the time from 13.03.1938 to 27.04.1945 to be credited. 09.11.1953; ÖSTA-AVA BMfU/PA 612 [Pernkopf], GZ 81006-1/2, 1953
44. A detailed presentation of how the official Austria handled the victims of National Socialism after 1945, in: Bailer-Galanda B (1993) Wiedergutmachung kein Thema. Osterreich und die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus. [Reparation is not a Topic. Austria and the Victims of National Socialism] Vienna
45. The following more recent publications are mentioned as examples of the wide range of relevant publications on this subject: Baader G, Schultz U (eds.) Medizin und National-sozialismus. Tabuisierte Vergangenheit - ungebrochene Tradition. [Medicine and National Socialism. The past under a taboo - unbroken tradition] Berlin, 1983; Proctor R (1988) Racial hygiene. Medicine under the Nazis. Cambridge. Mass. London: Rapoport SM, Thom A (eds) Das Schicksal der Medizin im Nationalsozialismus. Auftrag und Verpflichtung zur Bewahrung von Humanismus und Frieden. [The Fate of Medicine under National Socialism. Mandate and duty to preserve humanism and peace] International Scientific Symposium of the European Sections of the IPPNW. 17-20. Nov. 1988. Erfurt/Weimar - GDR. Berlin, 1989 (including the contribution by F. Herber: Postmortale "Experimentalmedizin" in der Zeit des Faschismus - inwieweit kann der Tod im Dienste des Lebens stehen? [Postmortal "Experimental Medicine" during the fascist era - To what extent can death be at the service of life?] pp 88-91); Hohendorf G, Magull-Seltenreich A (eds). Von der Heilkunde zur Massentötung. Medizin im Nationalsozialismus. [From the art of healing to mass murder. Medicine under National Socialism] Heidelberg, 1990
46. The following more recent publications are mentioned as examples of the wide range of relevant publications on this subject: Baader G, Schultz U (eds.) Medizin und National-sozialismus. Tabuisierte Vergangenheit - ungebrochene Tradition. [Medicine and National Socialism. The past under a taboo - unbroken tradition] Berlin, 1983; Proctor R (1988) Racial hygiene. Medicine under the Nazis. Cambridge. Mass. London: Rapoport SM, Thom A (eds) Das Schicksal der Medizin im Nationalsozialismus. Auftrag und Verpflichtung zur Bewahrung von Humanismus und Frieden. [The Fate of Medicine under National Socialism. Mandate and duty to preserve humanism and peace] International Scientific Symposium of the European Sections of the IPPNW. 17-20. Nov. 1988. Erfurt/Weimar - GDR. Berlin, 1989 (including the contribution by F. Herber: Postmortale "Experimentalmedizin" in der Zeit des Faschismus - inwieweit kann der Tod im Dienste des Lebens stehen? [Postmortal "Experimental Medicine" during the fascist era - To what extent can death be at the service of life?] pp 88-91); Hohendorf G, Magull-Seltenreich A (eds). Von der Heilkunde zur Massentötung. Medizin im Nationalsozialismus. [From the art of healing to mass murder. Medicine under National Socialism] Heidelberg, 1990
47. The following more recent publications are mentioned as examples of the wide range of relevant publications on this subject: Baader G, Schultz U (eds.) Medizin und National-sozialismus. Tabuisierte Vergangenheit - ungebrochene Tradition. [Medicine and National Socialism. The past under a taboo - unbroken tradition] Berlin, 1983; Proctor R (1988) Racial hygiene. Medicine under the Nazis. Cambridge. Mass. London: Rapoport SM, Thom A (eds) Das Schicksal der Medizin im Nationalsozialismus. Auftrag und Verpflichtung zur Bewahrung von Humanismus und Frieden. [The Fate of Medicine under National Socialism. Mandate and duty to preserve humanism and peace] International Scientific Symposium of the European Sections of the IPPNW. 17-20. Nov. 1988. Erfurt/Weimar - GDR. Berlin, 1989 (including the contribution by F. Herber: Postmortale "Experimentalmedizin" in der Zeit des Faschismus - inwieweit kann der Tod im Dienste des Lebens stehen? [Postmortal "Experimental Medicine" during the fascist era - To what extent can death be at the service of life?] pp 88-91); Hohendorf G, Magull-Seltenreich A (eds). Von der Heilkunde zur Massentötung. Medizin im Nationalsozialismus. [From the art of healing to mass murder. Medicine under National Socialism] Heidelberg, 1990
48. Lampert U (1991) Die Pathologische Anatomie in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus unter besonderer Beachtung der Rolle einiger bedeutender Fachvertreter an deutschen Universitäten und Hochschulen. [Pathological anatomy during the National Socialist era - The role of some major members of the profession at German universities and colleges] Dissertation Leipzig
49. Das Tagebuch des Hermann Voss. [The Diary of Hermann Voss] In: Pross C, Aly G (eds) Der Wert des Menschen. Medizin in Deutschland 1918-1945. [The value of the human being. Medicine in Germany 1918-1945] Berlin, 1989, p 315. Voss, by the way, developed a "flourishing" trade with skeletons and skulls which were also sold to Vienna, and one of his coworkers produced plaster casts of "Jewish heads" for the Dept. of Anthropology at the Museum of Natural History: Götz Aly, Das Posener Tagebuch des Anatomen Herman Voss. [The Posen diary of the anatomist Herman Voss] in: Aly G, Chroust P, Heilmann HD, Langbein H, Biedermann und Schreibtischtäter. Materialien zur deutschen Täter-Biographie. [The philistine and the armchair culprit. Materials on the German Culprit Biography] Berlin, 1987, pp 54-55. For reading on the "Hall of Races" at the Museum of Natural History see: Klaus Taschwer, "Anthropologie ins Volk". Zur Ausstellungspolitik einer anwendbaren Wissenschaft bis 1945. ["Anthropology for the People". On the exhibition policy of an applied science until 1945] in: Herbert Posch. Gottfried Fliedl (eds) Politik der Präsentation. Museum und Ausstellung in Österreich 1918-1945. [Presentation politics. Museum and exhibition in Austria 1918-1945] Vienna, 1996, pp 238-260
50. Angell M (1992) Editorial responsibility: protecting human rights by restricting publication of unethical research, in: George G. Annas, Michael A. Grodin (eds) The Nazi doctors and the Nuremberg code. Human rights in human experimentation. Oxford University Press, New York Oxford, p 282
51. As an introduction to the problem, see in particular: Pross C, Aly G (eds) Der Wert des Menschen. Medizin in Deutschland 1918-1945. Berlin. 1989; Proctor R (1991) Value-free science? Purity and power in modern knowledge. Harvard Univ. Press. Cambridge, Mass.; Sandkühler HJ (ed) Freiheit, Verantwortung und Folgen in der Wissenschaft. [Freedom, responsibility and consequences in science] Lang, Frankfurt/M
52. As an introduction to the problem, see in particular: Pross C, Aly G (eds) Der Wert des Menschen. Medizin in Deutschland 1918-1945. Berlin. 1989; Proctor R (1991) Value-free science? Purity and power in modern knowledge. Harvard Univ. Press. Cambridge, Mass.; Sandkühler HJ (ed) Freiheit, Verantwortung und Folgen in der Wissenschaft. [Freedom, responsibility and consequences in science] Lang, Frankfurt/M
53. Weissmann G (1997) Letter to the editor. JAMA 277; 1122