Seminar: Breaking anonymity. Research on victims of the National Socialist “euthanasia” in Pirna-Sonnenstein and Großschweidnitz
We would like to invite you to another seminar of the Institute of Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences, which will take place on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at 16:00 in the study room of the Institute of Contemporary History (Vlašská 355/9).
The talk will deal with the Nazi “euthanasia” programme in Saxony. Central to the research into this complex of crimes are the memorial sites in Pirna-Sonnenstein (since 2000) and Großschweidnitz (since 2023) which were both established through civil engagement. The victims of the various “euthanasia” phases have been the focus of their work. At the beginning of the research process, not even the names of the victims were known at either site. Today their names are known and biographies of the victims are an important part of exhibitions, publications and educational work. The aim of the talk is to show how both memorial sites dealt with biographies and what information can be obtained from sources such as patient files beyond the individual fates of the victims. In addition, the biographies of the victims show that not only Germans were killed in Pirna-Sonnenstein and Großschweidnitz during the “euthanasia” programme. This will be illustrated by examples of Czechoslovakian patients.
Those interested in online connection can request a link to Zoom at hait@tu-dresden.de.
Speaker: Christoph Hanzig (TU Dresden)
Comments: Jaromír Mrňka (DHI/FHS UK) a Tereza Štěpková (Antikomplex)
Please note that an audio recording of the seminar will be made and will be available on the Institute’s website and Spotify.