Doctor Herta Oberheuser and her medical work in relation of testimony given by witnesses and experiments victims in Ravensbrück concentration camp

Abstract

Herta Oberheuser was the only woman convicted in Doctor’s trails in Nurnberg. When she was working with other doctors (for example Karl Gebhardt or Fritz Fischer) in Ravensbrück concentration camp she made many medical experiments on women prisoners. The experiments consisted of bones transplantations and also injecting bacteria and shrapnels into wounds to simulate battleground conditions. German doctors tried to work out way to inhibit and cure gas gangrene. This bacterial infection was very common under field conditions. Motive for unhuman experiments in Ravensbrück was attempt to kill Reinhard Heydrich, the head of Reich Main Security Office (RSHA). Attempt took place in 1942 and was unsuccessful, Heydrich died in the same year, due to gas gangrene infection. Article is based on Nurnberg trails witnesses and operated women prisoners memories. People who had known Herta Oberheuser described her as ruthless, cruel, Nazi fanatic and devoided of any human feels and empathy. She was dreaded among prisoners, they were terrified to meet the assistant of doctor Gebhardt.