[The role of the "Heil- und Pflegeanstalt" (state hospital) Günzburg in the context of the "Aktion-T4"].
BACKGROUND
In the context of the national socialist "Aktion-T4" approximately 70,000 people with mental illness and mental handicap in Germany were killed. The "Heil- und Pflegeanstalt" (mental hospital) Günzburg was a so-called Bavarian "Sammelanstalt" during this period.


METHODS
The data evaluation is based on patient documents and annual reports of the archives of today's district hospital Günzburg and patient documents of content R 179 of the branch office of the federal archives in Berlin / Lichterfelde. Patient records were analysed with respect to the presence of ten variables considered relevant for selection.


RESULTS
Between January 1940 and August 1941 394 patients from Günzburg were displaced to killing facilities of "Aktion-T4" and killed. Age, diagnosis, hospitalisation-time, ability to work, social behavior of the patients and Jewish origin were found to be criteria relevant for selection.


CONCLUSIONS
This study was able to show the participation of the Günzburg mental hospital in the implementation of "Aktion-T4". However, only few sources regarding the attitudes and actions of hospital medical staff were identified. This question remains the subject of further historical research.
Steger
Florian
F
Institut für Geschichte der Medizin, LMU München, München, Germany. florian.steger@med.uni-muenchen.de
Görgl
Andreas
A
Strube
Wolfgang
W
Winckelmann
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Becker
Thomas
T
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005053:Eugenics / Q000266:history*; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history*; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000266:history*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000266:history*; D028683:National Socialism / Q000266:history*