Forgotten Crimes: The Holocaust and People with Disabilities

by Susanne E. Evans

Between 1939 and 1945 the Nazi regime systematically murdered hundreds of thousands of children and adults with disabilities as part of its "euthanasia" programs. These programs were designed to eliminate all persons with disabilities who, according to Nazi ideology, threatened the health and purity of the German race. Forgotten Crimes explores the development and workings of this nightmarish process, a relatively neglected aspect of the Holocaust. Suzanne Evans's account draws on the rich historical record as well as scores of exclusive interviews with disabled Holocaust survivors. It begins with a description of the Nazis' Children's Killing Program, in which tens of thousands of children with mental and physical disabilities were murdered by their physicians, usually by starvation or lethal injection. The book goes on to recount the T4 euthanasia program, in which adults with disabilities were disposed of in six official centers, and the development of the Sterilization Law that allowed the forced sterilization of at least a half-million young adults with disabilities. Ms. Evans provides portraits of the perpetrators and accomplices of the killing programs, and investigates the curious role of Switzerland's rarely discussed exclusionary immigration and racially eugenic policies. Finally, Forgotten Crimes notes the inescapable implications of these Nazi medical practices for our present-day controversies over eugenics, euthanasia, genetic engineering, medical experimentation, and rationed health care.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Disability, Holocaust, Eugenics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 25, 2004

Reviews

[Aurélien Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy to distance ourselves from the abominable crimes committed by the Nazis, branded as evil behaviours rooted in hate and prejudice. And yet... When it comes to the mentally ill and disabled, their views were not far from the views of many still going around nowadays. Prejudice and stigma never die, and, disabled people, then as now, have been more often than not degradingly perceived as objects of pity deserving our sympathy. It's shameful, but here we are: the (wrong) ideas that some disabilities imply a life of pain and misery, not worth living, and, anyway, a costly burden for society since such people can only be cared for without being productive, are still pretty much prevalent. Of course, we no longer are obsessed with eugenics policies in order to preserve racial purity! Yet, are our mindset, still pretty much all about charitable pity for people deemed incurable and dependent, any different?

Suzanne Evans offers here a brilliant book on a delicate topic, that has, sadly, been too often ignored by historians. She retells how the T4 program came about; and how it was ended with even worse consequences for its targeted victims. She offers a chilling glimpse at the psyche of the Nazis doctors - their ethos, beliefs, horrifying deeds, and demise. She recounts the appalling and deeply moving fate of the so-called 'feebleminded' (of which the Nazis had a very broad definition, since it included even alcoholics, deaf, blinds, and epileptics!). She retraces, above all, the disturbing history behind those euthanasia programs and 'mercy killings' that is, the history of eugenics itself. The Nazis were not isolated murderers. Theirs was a view of mental and physical disabilities which was en vogue at the time, from Switzerland to the USA, a country they actually look up to for such matters. Obsessed with racism and degeneration theories they just ran with it all, implementing programs that would, ultimately, pave the way for the Holocaust.

Here's a disturbing and chilling read, deeply moving, but which at long last does justice to too many forgotten victims.

'Discrimination against people with disabilities did not begin with the Holocaust. Nor did it end with the defeat of the Nazis.'

Indeed. And at a time when we have to face the massive potentials offered by genetics, while trying to embrace diversity and equal opportunities, such a deep and cold look at our shameful past is very much needed. An essential read!

[Ayala Levinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read

[Ellery · Rating 4 out of 5]

of course this book is hard to read but how could i not read it? i can't remember the exact number but i think it was 750,000 people with disabilities that were killed or experimented on during the nazi holocaust. this book gives a detailed history of how that horror played itself out. gruesome, but important to know what our history is.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was a difficult subject to read about, Forgotten Crimes was incredibly well-written and researched.

[Glenn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely powerful and horrible in the same breath. Passionate and compelling history of an almost universally overlooked part of the Holocaust. So important today to remember what happened and that burning injustice when Evans reminds us how disabled victims who survived the war continued to be mistreated by the state and society long after the war. Super history. Completely recommend.

[Joseph Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Something that is never really talked about when you hear about the Holocaust.

Went on a trip to Washington D.C. and visited the Holocaust Museum. As soon as I heard about the T4 program that killed thousands of children and adults, with disabilities I had to read more on it.

This is going to send me down a rabbit hole.

When we forget history that is when it can repeat itself!

[Bruce Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgotten Crimes: The Holocaust and People with Disabilities, by Suzanne E. Evans (2004, 168). This is a tough read, not just because of the horrific stories of senseless brutality against persons with disabilities, but because of the broader context that shows the underlying devaluation of life stretched far beyond Germany and persists to this day. Preceding Nazi atrocities were sterilization laws targeting persons with disabilities elsewhere in Europe and in the United States (!), and actually continued in post-war Germany. This aspect of the holocaust has been underreported, under-appreciated, and largely ignored when known. Discrimination against people with disabilities continues to this day virtually everywhere. It is estimated that 750,000 people with disabilities were murdered during this part of the holocaust, not just in Germany but in many German-occupied areas. There was an explicit attempt to “purify” the German race by eliminating the disabled, not to mention a wider effort to kill those with disabilities regardless of race or nationality. Thousands of otherwise normal people were directly involved in killings and sterilizations, the vast majority of whom were not held accountable, many of them not admitting guilt and in many instances defending their actions. Support was found not just within the medical fields, but even some religious leaders were supportive. This is a sobering account of history, noting problematic actions happening even today, and a warning about what can easily happen again.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is thoughtfully written and well-researched. The writing is easy to read and follow, while still being intensely informative. The author describes the events targeting the disabled community during the Nazi era, a subject I had only a brief knowledge of and did not learn about in school. I greatly appreciated that she discusses the loss of disability culture, as well. Not just numbers on a page, but the people who were affected and their contributions, and the contributions our world has lost because their lives were snuffed out. She never loses sight of why this topic is relevant to today, not just history.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good primer for persecution of people with disabilities during the Holocaust. It is consistent in using people-first language and explains historical-cultural context for why this happened and also why this is still a problem, with discrimination, continued forced sterilization, overlooking this segment of the Holocaust, and inaccessibility for people withh disabilities. I also appreciated how they talked about the near extermination of deaf culture in the countries affected. If anything, I would want to see more specific stories from or about people with disabilities; however, this gives me a great place for me to start doing my own research with ample context.

[Jacy]

Still processing

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little too scholarly and not written for the average reader. I skimmed a lot of the book but it is very well researched.

[Jesse Freedom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hard to get through, because it was very upsetting to read, but it was very informative and I'm glad I read it.

[Caitlin Theroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for every person in 11th and 12th grade.

Actually, you know what? This should be required reading for every single person. Period.

[Mills College Library]

940.5318 E9292 2004