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Citation |
Gross D, Kaiser S, Sziranyi J. Pathol. Res. Pract. 2019; 215(3): 611-618. |
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Affiliation |
Institute for History, Theory and Ethics of Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Germany. Electronic address: janina.sziranyi@rwth-aachen.de. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
30455126 |
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Abstract |
There is no doubt that Walter Pagel (1898-1983) is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of pathology. Not only his fundamental research on tuberculosis and various other fields of pathology but also his historicomedical publications set international standards and earned him numerous honors throughout the scientific world. Far less known is the fact that Pagel, as a German Jew, was one of the victims of the "Third Reich": He was dismissed from his job in Heidelberg, felt forced to emigrate in 1933 and fought for reparation after 1945. Accordingly, this article deals with Pagel's role and fate as a politically persecuted and disenfranchised Jew. It focuses on the general circumstances of his dismissal and forced emigration, but also on Pagel's treatment in post-war Germany. In addition, the influences of this biographical break on Pagel's further research career are investigated. The study is based on archival sources and on a re-analysis of the relevant research literature. It points out that Pagel's emigration took place under difficult circumstances and without clear job prospects. Enormous discipline and mental strength as well as successful networking with supporting mentors allowed Pagel to continue his career in his exile country of England despite poor health. The way in which Pagel was treated in post-war Germany, on the other hand, was less satisfactory: the University of Heidelberg did not offer him any prospect of employment and the "reparation procedure" ("Wiedergutmachungsverfahren") resulted in only small pension payments. Instead, Pagel was awarded an honorary doctorate at his home university in 1966. Of the numerous "stumbling blocks" (n = 183) laid in Heidelberg, not one reminds us of Walter Pagel to date. Language: en |
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Keywords |
Deprivation of rights; Pathology and national socialism; Reappraisal project; Rehabilitation; Tuberculosis research |