Edwin Katzen-Ellenbogen

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Edwin Katzenellenbogen
War crimes
TrialBuchenwald trial
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment; commuted 12 years imprisonment

Edwin Maria Katzenellenbogen, also spelled Katzen-Ellenbogen (22 May 1882 – after 1955) was a Jewish American eugenicist and physician in the concentration camp of

Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, whom he later divorced.[1]

Registration card of Edwin Katzenellenbogen as a prisoner at Buchenwald Nazi Concentration Camp

Katzenellenbogen returned to Germany in the 1930s. In 1943, he was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. There, Katzenellenbogen collaborated with the Nazis as a doctor.[3] He became known for his cruelty especially towards French communists.[4]

Katzenellenbogen testifies during his trial

In September 1945, Katzenellenbogen was arrested in

Dachau Trials), he was charged along with 30 others. Katzenellenbogen was accused of mistreating prisoners, and killing 1000 of them via lethal injection. He was one of the few physicians to show remorse at his trial. After being found guilty, Katzenelenbogen requested a death sentence, saying "You have placed the mark of Cain on my forehead. Any physician who committed the crimes I am charged with deserves to be killed. Therefore, I ask for only one grace. Apply to me the highest therapy that is in your hands."[6]

On August 14, 1947, Katzenellenbogen was sentenced to life in prison. He did not receive the death sentence he requested since military prosecutors failed to prove that he committed murder. Katzenellenbogen was instead only found guilty of committing non-fatal abuse.

Katzenellenbogen's sentence was later commuted to 12 years.[7] He was released from prison on September 26, 1953.[8] He returned to the U.S. and resumed practice as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst until at least the end of 1955.[9] He died some time after that.

References

  1. ^ a b c Black, Edwin. "The Story of the New Jersey Doctor Who Helped Kill Prisoners at Buchenwald in the Name of Eugenics". Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. The George Washington University. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. .
  3. .
  4. ^ "Katzenellenbogen, Buchenwald Doctor, Denies Cruelty at War Crimes Trial". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  5. ^ "Der letzte von fünfundvierzig". Weltpresse - Unabhängige Nachrichten und Stimmen aus aller Welt. September 18, 1945.
  6. .
  7. ^ Buchenwald-Hauptprozess: Deputy Judge Advocate's Office 7708 War Crimes Group European Command APO 407 (United States of America v. Josias Prince zu Waldeck u. a. – Case 000-50-9), November 1947, pp. 58. (PDF[permanent dead link])
  8. ^ "Nazi Doctors (mostly SS) - Axis History Forum". forum.axishistory.com. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  9. ^ Charet, F. X. (1993). Spiritualism and the foundations of C.G. Jung's psychology. State University of New York Press.

External links

Media related to Edwin Katzenellenbogen at Wikimedia Commons