Richard Jenne
Encyclopedia
Richard Jenne was the last victim to be murdered in Germany's Nazi Euthanasia
Program also known as Aktion T4 on 29 May 1945, in the children's ward of the Kaufbeuren
-Irsee
state hospital in Bavaria
, Germany
, more than three weeks after troops from the U.S. had occupied the town.The Nazi extermination machine had come full circle using German nationals. For it was in this institution and similar ones, that basic training was provided for those who would run the death camps.
On arrival at Kaufbeuren
the Americans had placed the state hospital at Irsee
'off limits' as it had a large sign warning of typhus
in the hospital. On July 2 1945 two medical officers inspected the premises where they found over 1500 neglected patients, one was 10 years old and his weight was 2 pounds. The morgue was filled with bodies.The hospital continued for weeks after World War II
as a 'wholesale extermination plant' until Allied forces became aware of it.
Dr. Valentin Faltlhauser was the doctor who directed the child euthanasia program at Kaufbauren. He was an advocate of eugenics and a believer in euthanasia as a measure to be undertaken for the "good" of some patients, Faltlhauser became a strong supporter of the Nazi euthanasia program and became a member of the committee T4. Falthaulser directed the killing by lethal injection, often administered by Faltlhauser himself when his staff refused to participate. After Faltlhauser presented his results at a medial conference, "E-Kost" starvation diets (containing no fats or vitamins) were introduced at all German euthanasia facilities in late November 1942.
Sister Wörle, head nurse of the childrens wards at the Kaufbeuren
-Irsee
mental institution near Munich
, killed Richard Jenne by lethal injection. Richard, classified as a feebleminded idiot
had been placed on a starvation diet. The death certificate gave was a false record of death, stating he died of typhus. The certificate was intended for dispatch to his parents at Ihringen
, Baden
.
At the war crimes trial at Wiesbaden, October 1945, in response to questions about the killing of those deemed 'not fit for work' due to physical illness those responsible for the killings repeated the arguments for euthanasia. Dr. Faltlhauser and Sister Wörle justified their actions later as Euthanasia
. The nurses of Kaufbeuren received 12 to 21 months imprisonment. Dr. Faltlhauser was imprisoned for 3 years. Sister Worle admitted killing at least 211 minors the same way.
The hospital site has a memorial with the words "In memory of the 2000 patients of the hospital Kaufbeuren-Irsee who were murdered between 1940 and 1945 as victims of Hitler's 'Euthanasia decree'"
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
Program also known as Aktion T4 on 29 May 1945, in the children's ward of the Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren is an independent city in the Regierungsbezirk of Schwaben, southern Bavaria. The city is completely enclaved within the district of Ostallgäu.- Culture and Objects of Interest :* Townhall * Crescentiakloster...
-Irsee
Irsee
Irsee is a village and municipality in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavaria in Germany.The centre of the village is dominated by a monastery , dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was founded in 1186 by Margrave Henry of Ronsberg to house a community that had grown up around a local hermit...
state hospital in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, more than three weeks after troops from the U.S. had occupied the town.The Nazi extermination machine had come full circle using German nationals. For it was in this institution and similar ones, that basic training was provided for those who would run the death camps.
On arrival at Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren is an independent city in the Regierungsbezirk of Schwaben, southern Bavaria. The city is completely enclaved within the district of Ostallgäu.- Culture and Objects of Interest :* Townhall * Crescentiakloster...
the Americans had placed the state hospital at Irsee
Irsee
Irsee is a village and municipality in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavaria in Germany.The centre of the village is dominated by a monastery , dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was founded in 1186 by Margrave Henry of Ronsberg to house a community that had grown up around a local hermit...
'off limits' as it had a large sign warning of typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
in the hospital. On July 2 1945 two medical officers inspected the premises where they found over 1500 neglected patients, one was 10 years old and his weight was 2 pounds. The morgue was filled with bodies.The hospital continued for weeks after 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...
as a 'wholesale extermination plant' until Allied forces became aware of it.
Dr. Valentin Faltlhauser was the doctor who directed the child euthanasia program at Kaufbauren. He was an advocate of eugenics and a believer in euthanasia as a measure to be undertaken for the "good" of some patients, Faltlhauser became a strong supporter of the Nazi euthanasia program and became a member of the committee T4. Falthaulser directed the killing by lethal injection, often administered by Faltlhauser himself when his staff refused to participate. After Faltlhauser presented his results at a medial conference, "E-Kost" starvation diets (containing no fats or vitamins) were introduced at all German euthanasia facilities in late November 1942.
Sister Wörle, head nurse of the childrens wards at the Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren is an independent city in the Regierungsbezirk of Schwaben, southern Bavaria. The city is completely enclaved within the district of Ostallgäu.- Culture and Objects of Interest :* Townhall * Crescentiakloster...
-Irsee
Irsee
Irsee is a village and municipality in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavaria in Germany.The centre of the village is dominated by a monastery , dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was founded in 1186 by Margrave Henry of Ronsberg to house a community that had grown up around a local hermit...
mental institution near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, killed Richard Jenne by lethal injection. Richard, classified as a feebleminded idiot
Idiot
An idiot, dolt, or dullard is a mentally deficient person, or someone who acts in a self-defeating or significantly counterproductive way. Archaically the word mome has also been used. The similar terms moron, imbecile, and cretin have all gained specialized meanings in modern times. An idiot is...
had been placed on a starvation diet. The death certificate gave was a false record of death, stating he died of typhus. The certificate was intended for dispatch to his parents at Ihringen
Ihringen
Ihringen is a town in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
, Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
.
At the war crimes trial at Wiesbaden, October 1945, in response to questions about the killing of those deemed 'not fit for work' due to physical illness those responsible for the killings repeated the arguments for euthanasia. Dr. Faltlhauser and Sister Wörle justified their actions later as Euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. The nurses of Kaufbeuren received 12 to 21 months imprisonment. Dr. Faltlhauser was imprisoned for 3 years. Sister Worle admitted killing at least 211 minors the same way.
The hospital site has a memorial with the words "In memory of the 2000 patients of the hospital Kaufbeuren-Irsee who were murdered between 1940 and 1945 as victims of Hitler's 'Euthanasia decree'"