Innsbruck's histological institute in the third Reich: Specimens from NS-victims

Abstract

As elsewhere, the cadavers of Nazi victims were used at the 'Alpenunversität Innsbruck' for the education of medical students. They were also used by members of the Institute of Anatomy and the Institute of Histology for scientific research and publications. In 2018, over 300 drawers were discovered in a laboratory anteroom of the Innsbruck Histological Institute containing around 15,000 histological slides. After a closer examination, 237 slides were found to have human tissues from victims of the 3rd Reich possibly. These 237 slides were produced between May 1938 and March 1944. All 237 slides were digitized, the labels carefully analysed, and some of the victims were identified. Several specimens come from the tissues of three Nazi victims who were executed in Munich-Stadelheim and whose bodies were brought to the Innsbruck Anatomical Institute. From there, the organs were passed on to the Histological Institute Innsbruck. Inscriptions on other slides such as "Cl[ara]. 40", "hing[erichtet]. Clara" or "Hinger[ichtet]. Cl[ara]." prove that the specimens were most likely sent to the Institute by the histologist Max Clara. At this time, Clara was Director of the Leipzig Anatomical Institute and still had close ties to the Innsbruck Institute, where he had been trained. Based on several sources, some Nazi victims could be identified by name; biographical traces complement this identification. Under what political and sociological conditions future generations will look at the crimes of the Nazi dictatorship is not yet foreseeable. As anatomists and scientists, we must be cautious about removing evidence from this terrible time. Therefore, we will bury all slides where relatives wish to do so or where it is clear that Rabbi Polak's "Vienna Protocol" must be applied. However, the remaining slides will be kept safe for eventual further investigation.

Keywords: Anatomical Research; Anatomy in the Third Reich; Dresden; History of Anatomy; History of Histology; Humans; Innsbruck; Leipzig; Remembrance of Victims; Victims of National Socialism.