Brain research at institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society in the context of National Socialist injustices
During the National Socialist era, tens of thousands of people fell victim to forced medical research. The research project "Brain research at institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society in the context of National Socialist injustice - brain preparations in institutes of the Max Planck Society and the identification of victims", funded by the Max Planck Society, was dedicated to investigating the history of brain tissue samples taken from people persecuted by the Nazi regime and at which research was carried out at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes for Brain Research (Berlin) and Psychiatry (Munich). As part of the project, an online database was set up that provides access to the names and biographical data of victims of unethical medical research under National Socialism.
Last edited: 18. March 2026
Under the direction of Paul J. Weindling ML (Oxford Brookes University), Herwig Czech (Medical University of Vienna) and Philipp Rauh (Technical University of Munich) and in collaboration with Volker Roelcke ML (University of Giessen) and Patricia Heberer Rice (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum), the historical contexts of the collection, preservation and research of these samples were comprehensively analysed. Particular attention was paid to the individuals concerned and their life stories, who were victims of Nazi persecution for a variety of reasons. These include people who were undergoing inpatient psychiatric treatment and were killed as part of the "euthanasia" murders, prisoners of war, civilians from German-occupied territories and those executed by the Nazi justice system.
The database "Victims of Biomedical Research under National Socialism"
An online database was published in June 2025 as a central result of the project. It was created on the basis of a research database by Paul Weindling ML and, in addition to the results of the MPG project, also contains comprehensive data on unethical medical research under National Socialism and its victims in general.
The database website is intended to inform the public about Nazi medical crimes and their victims. It also serves as a digital memorial for those affected and gives relatives the opportunity to identify their family members. Individual biographies of those affected, detailed website texts, an interactive map and links to standardised data records are intended to facilitate access to the database.
In addition to these functions, the database is also intended as a resource for further scientific research into Nazi medical crimes. As a reference database, it brings together references to relevant primary sources and secondary literature. In over 30,000 data records, it gathers information on individual experiments, the institutions involved and those responsible, as well as on the people who fell victim to them. Use of the online database is governed by a usage policy and supported by a Board for Ethical Use and Access.
Further Information
Funding
- Max Planck Society
Project duration
2017-2025, the online database is in operation since June 2025
Project management
- Paul J. Weindling ML (Oxford Brookes University)
- Herwig Czech (Medical University of Vienna)
- Philipp Rauh (Technical University of Munich)
- Gerrit Hohendorf † (Technical University of Munich)
In co-operation with
- Volker Roelcke ML (University of Giessen)
- Patricia Heberer Rice (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
Board for Ethical Use and Access
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Beddies
- Prof. Dr. Heiner Fangerau
- Prof. Dr. Michael Fuchs
- Prof. Dr. Sabine Hildebrandt
- Dr. Regina Müller
- Prof. Dr. Maike Rotzoll
- Dr. Martin Schmitt
- Prof. Dr. Christoph Sorge
- Prof. Dr. Brigitte Tag
- Prof. Dr. Klaus Tanner
Project team
- Lisa M. Gottschall
- Salina Grünwald
- Aleksandra Loewenau
- Oliver Mahrle
- Aisling Shalvey