Handicapped

Holocaust Memorial Museum Pamphlet

This brochure describes the Nazi treatment of handicaped people from 1933-1945.

Soon after Hiltler took power, the Nazis formulated policy based on their vision of biologically "pure" population, to create an "Aryan master race." The "Law for the Prevention of Progeny with Hereditary Diseases," proclaimed July 14, 1933, forced the sterilization of all persons who suffered from diseases considered hereditary, such as mental illness (schizophfrenia and manic depression), retardation ("congenital feeble-mindedness"), physical deformithy, epilepsy, blindness, deafness, and severe alcolholism.

Read the entire article on the Holocaust Museum website (new window will open).

Posted: 27-Mar-05