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Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and his Nazi connections: victim or perpetrator?
J Hist Neurosci. 2014; 23(2):160-91.JH

Abstract

Walther Birkmayer, an Austrian neurologist, codiscovered the efficacy of levodopa therapy for Parkinsonism in 1961. However, little has been published regarding Birkmayer's ties to National Socialism. Through documentary review, we have determined that he was an early illegal member of the SS and the Nazi party, taking part in the "de-Jewification" of the Vienna University Clinic of Psychiatry and Neurology. He also was a leader in the Nazi racial policy office and was praised for his dedication and fanaticism despite being forced to later resign from the SS. He sought support from leading Viennese Nazis, and was able to maintain his professional status for the war's remainder. Postwar, he succeeded at reintegration personally and professionally into Austrian society, all but erasing any obvious ties to his Nazi past. His story reflects ethical transgressions regarding professional and personal behavior in response to a tyrannical regime and provides lessons for today's neuroscientists.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Czech H
a Recipient of an APART-fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Zeidman LA
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AustriaHistory, 20th CenturyHumansLevodopaNational SocialismNeurologyNobel PrizeParkinsonian DisordersPharmacologyWorld War II

Pub Type(s)

Biography
Historical Article
Journal Article
Portrait

Language

eng

PubMed ID

24697654

Citation

Czech, Herwig, and Lawrence A. Zeidman. "Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and His Nazi Connections: Victim or Perpetrator?" Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, vol. 23, no. 2, 2014, pp. 160-91.
Czech H, Zeidman LA. Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and his Nazi connections: victim or perpetrator? J Hist Neurosci. 2014;23(2):160-91.
Czech, H., & Zeidman, L. A. (2014). Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and his Nazi connections: victim or perpetrator? Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 23(2), 160-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964704X.2013.865427
Czech H, Zeidman LA. Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and His Nazi Connections: Victim or Perpetrator. J Hist Neurosci. 2014;23(2):160-91. PubMed PMID: 24697654.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and his Nazi connections: victim or perpetrator? AU - Czech,Herwig, AU - Zeidman,Lawrence A, Y1 - 2014/04/03/ PY - 2014/4/5/entrez PY - 2014/4/5/pubmed PY - 2015/2/20/medline KW - Austria KW - National Socialism KW - Parkinsonism KW - Walt(h)er Birkmayer KW - World War II SP - 160 EP - 91 JF - Journal of the history of the neurosciences JO - J Hist Neurosci VL - 23 IS - 2 N2 - Walther Birkmayer, an Austrian neurologist, codiscovered the efficacy of levodopa therapy for Parkinsonism in 1961. However, little has been published regarding Birkmayer's ties to National Socialism. Through documentary review, we have determined that he was an early illegal member of the SS and the Nazi party, taking part in the "de-Jewification" of the Vienna University Clinic of Psychiatry and Neurology. He also was a leader in the Nazi racial policy office and was praised for his dedication and fanaticism despite being forced to later resign from the SS. He sought support from leading Viennese Nazis, and was able to maintain his professional status for the war's remainder. Postwar, he succeeded at reintegration personally and professionally into Austrian society, all but erasing any obvious ties to his Nazi past. His story reflects ethical transgressions regarding professional and personal behavior in response to a tyrannical regime and provides lessons for today's neuroscientists. SN - 1744-5213 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/24697654/Walther_Birkmayer_Co_describer_of_L_Dopa_and_his_Nazi_connections:_victim_or_perpetrator DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -