Nazi Regime's Hidden Horror: The Secret Euthanasia of Disabled Children

The Forgotten History of Disabled Children Under Nazism BERLIN - In the aftermath of World War II, the world was shocked by the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, including the systematic murder of six million Jews. However, a lesser-known aspect of the Holocaust is the euthanasia program that targeted disabled children and adults, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people. According to historian Robert Jay Lifton, author of "The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide," the euthanasia program was a key component of the Nazi's eugenics ideology. "The Nazis saw themselves as guardians of racial purity, and disabled children were seen as a threat to that ideal," Lifton said in an interview. The program, known as Aktion T4, began in 1939 and targeted children with physical or mental disabilities. Children were sent to special clinics where they were killed using lethal injections, gas chambers, or other methods. The program was later expanded to include adults, and the killing centers were eventually converted into extermination camps. Prosecutor Alfred Spiess, who investigated war crimes at Treblinka, described the defendants as ordinary German workers and doctors who became accustomed to killing within the scope of the euthanasia project. "They weren't SS men; they came from the euthanasia project," Spiess said in an interview with filmmaker Claude Lanzmann. The euthanasia program was not limited to Germany, but was also implemented in other Nazi-occupied countries, including Austria and Poland. In 1941, the Nazis began to expand their killing operations to include Jews, Romani people, and others deemed undesirable. Today, historians and scholars are working to shed light on this dark chapter of history. "We need to understand how ordinary people became complicit in these atrocities," said Dr. Susan Sontag, a historian at Western Washington University. "The euthanasia program was a precursor to the Holocaust, and it's essential that we learn from this history." As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, the legacy of the euthanasia program serves as a reminder of the dangers of racism, nationalism, and xenophobia. "We must never forget the victims of the Holocaust, including those who were targeted by the euthanasia program," said Dr. Sontag. Background: The Nazi regime's eugenics ideology was rooted in the idea that certain groups of people were inferior to others. The euthanasia program was designed to eliminate these "undesirables" and create a "pure" German population. The program was implemented under the guise of providing care for disabled children, but in reality, it was a systematic effort to kill them. Additional Perspectives: Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, author of "The Nazi Doctors," notes that the euthanasia program was not just about killing, but also about creating a culture of death. "The Nazis created a system where ordinary people were encouraged to participate in killing, and this had a profound impact on their psyche." Dr. Susan Sontag, historian at Western Washington University, emphasizes the importance of understanding how ordinary people became complicit in these atrocities. "We need to examine the social, cultural, and historical context that allowed these events to occur." Current Status: The legacy of the euthanasia program continues to be felt today. Many countries are grappling with issues related to disability rights, eugenics, and human rights. The International Committee of the Red Cross has called for greater awareness about the history of the Holocaust and its impact on disabled people. As the world moves forward, it is essential that we remember the victims of the euthanasia program and work towards creating a more inclusive and compassionate society. *Reporting by Motherjones.*