Berthold Epstein
Encyclopedia
Berthold Epstein was a Czechoslovakia
n pediatrician, professor, and scientist
who worked as a doctor in the Auschwitz concentration camp
during World War II.
family. He rose to become professor and director at a Kinderklinik ("Children's Clinic") affiliated with the German Hospital in Prague prior to World War II
. He was married to Ottilie née Eckstein.
He travelled to Norway
on March 15, 1940 and was accepted on the recommendation of the Norwegian pediatric association, one of the few physician refugees who was licensed to practice medicine in Norway. As it turned out, he arrived just before the German invasion
on April 9, 1940. He was encouraged to apply for the position as the head of the pediatric clinic at Rikshospitalet
, but the Nazi persecution of Jews put an end to such ambitions.
Instead, Dr. Epstein conducted research on tuberculosis
until he was arrested on October 27, 1942 and deported
on the D/S Donau on November 26 the same year.
of Sweden—to liberate him from the camp, but he was not allowed to leave.
Dr. Epstein was assigned to the Gypsy Camp in Auschwitz, where he and Josef Mengele
conducted research on treating noma
, a deadly form of malnutrition-induced gangrene
, among Gypsy children, and made useful discoveries in the causes and treatment of the illness.
. During communism
he was a chair of the pediatric clinic (1949–1962). He died in 1962.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n pediatrician, professor, and scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
who worked as a doctor in the Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
during World War II.
Early life
Born into a JewishJews in Czechoslovakia
*History of the Jews in the Czech Republic*History of the Jews in Slovakia*History of the Jews in Carpathian Ruthenia...
family. He rose to become professor and director at a Kinderklinik ("Children's Clinic") affiliated with the German Hospital in Prague prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was married to Ottilie née Eckstein.
He travelled to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on March 15, 1940 and was accepted on the recommendation of the Norwegian pediatric association, one of the few physician refugees who was licensed to practice medicine in Norway. As it turned out, he arrived just before the German invasion
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
on April 9, 1940. He was encouraged to apply for the position as the head of the pediatric clinic at Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet is located in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of Oslo University Hospital....
, but the Nazi persecution of Jews put an end to such ambitions.
Instead, Dr. Epstein conducted research on tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
until he was arrested on October 27, 1942 and deported
Jewish deportees from Norway during World War II
During the Nazi occupation of Norway, German authorities deported about 768 individuals of Jewish background to concentration camps outside of Norway. 28 of these survived World War Two.-Deportation:The deportation schedule for the major transports was:...
on the D/S Donau on November 26 the same year.
In Auschwitz
Epstein's family died at Auschwitz whilst he was assigned as a camp physician. Several efforts were made—among others by Prince CarlPrince Carl, Duke of Västergötland
Prince Carl of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Västergötland , was the third son of King Oscar II of Sweden-Norway and Sophia of Nassau.-History:...
of Sweden—to liberate him from the camp, but he was not allowed to leave.
Dr. Epstein was assigned to the Gypsy Camp in Auschwitz, where he and Josef Mengele
Josef Mengele
Josef Rudolf Mengele , also known as the Angel of Death was a German SS officer and a physician in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. He earned doctorates in anthropology from Munich University and in medicine from Frankfurt University...
conducted research on treating noma
Noma (disease)
Noma also known as cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis, is a gangrenous disease leading to tissue destruction of the face, especially the mouth and cheek.-Causes:...
, a deadly form of malnutrition-induced gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
, among Gypsy children, and made useful discoveries in the causes and treatment of the illness.
Post war
Epstein remained in the camps and survived the war. He returned to his native Prague and testified in the Soviet war crimes trials on genocideGenocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
. During communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
he was a chair of the pediatric clinic (1949–1962). He died in 1962.