Doctors played a significant role within Nazi concentration camps. SS Physicians held a large amount of power; They decided who lived, who died, and who would endure terrible pain.
Responsibilities of An SS Physician
- Separated the Jews when they first arrived at the camps based on their abilities. Those who were found to be ill, weak, or of no use were put to death immediately and stronger individuals were used for labor.
- Monitored the number of individuals who were in the camp.
- Performed unethical experiments on non-Aryan races.
- Found solutions to camp problems. For example, if the camp was overcrowded, SS Physicians would select individuals to be exterminated in order to make space for new inmates.
Why Blame The SS Physicians for The Holocaust?
While SS physicians did not necessarily cause the Holocaust to begin, they did play a significant role in the concentration camps. These doctors decided who would be put to work, who would endure testing, and who would die. They performed cruel, painful, and unethical experiments on the prisoners, nearly all of which they knew would be unsuccessful. These experiments were typically done without pain medication, thus ensuring that the patients would suffer. After testing, the prisoners were either killed or died as a result of a failed experiment. The "curiosity" of the SS doctors contributed greatly to the number of deaths during the Holocaust. If the SS doctors possessed the slightest bit of compassion and morality, they could have prevented the deaths of millions. The question remains; Are these "doctors" to blame for the horrible events that occurred during the Holocaust? |
To see some of the heinous acts that were performed on non-Aryan races by SS doctors, watch the video above.
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