The collection of gold dental fillings, dental caps and dentures extracted from the mouths of the victims of Aktion T4 and the Nazi concentration camps was a feature of the Holocaust. The practice originated with a 1940 order from Heinrich Himmler, and reinforced by a second order in 1942. The collection was done with the active and voluntary cooperation of German dentists. Dentists involved in the collection of gold included Martin Hellinger.
Collected gold was then melted down into gold bars. The disposition of the gold was an issue following the war's end.
Trials and prosecution With studies of the complicity of the medical profession in the crimes of the Third Reich on the rise, there is a question raised of the extent of justice brought down upon the doctors during the international trials after World War II. The trials led to 48 dentists standing trial. The archetypical accused dentist was male, lived in a traditional family, was a part of the National Socialist Workers' Party (NSDAP) and the Waffen-SS (Schutzstaffel), and belonged to the Kriegsjugendgeneration.
Results of trials 47 male dentists and one female dentist were identified in one of the studies. 27 of the accused dentists were born between 1900–1910, meaning they belonged to the Kriegsjugendgeneration. Fifteen were born before 1900, and six were born after 1910. Kriegsjugendgeneration members were influenced by National Socialism at a young age, and this generation was the most important generation for the National Socialists for recruitment.
Many of these dentists served in concentration camps and their administrative offices. Of the 48 identified dentists, 22 were stationed in at least one concentration camp. Of these 22, 19 were members of the Waffen-SS.
+Overview of Dentists' Jurisdictions and SentencesSurnameFirst NameJurisdictionSentenceAhlersHansSupreme Court British ZoneCustodial Sentence 5 MonthsAlfkenGottlob Adolph HermannFrench CourtForced Labor 5 Yearsaus dem BruchKurt OttoBritish CourtAcquittalBelgerEduardGerman CourtTermination of the ProceedingsBergeestWilly August HeinrichSupreme Court British ZoneTermination of the ProceedingsBrandt(Rud)OlfAmerican CourtCustodial Sentence 3 YearsBremmerWalter Konrad ChristianGerman CourtTermination of the ProceedingsDeneckePaulSupreme Court British ZoneunknownDeutschleKarlFrench CourtCustodial Sentence Length of pre-trial detentionErckmannHermannGerman CourtCustodial Sentence 6 MonthsFrankWillyGerman CourtCustodial Sentence 7 YearsGeilerFritzSoviet Military CourtDeath SentenceGrafGeorgFrench CourtCustodial Sentence 4 YearsHellingerMartinBritish CourtCustodial Sentence 15 YearsHellmuthKarlAmerican CourtCustodial Sentence 3 YearsHellmuthOttoAmerican CourtDeath SentenceHenkelWilhelmAmerican CourtDeath SentenceHoehneRudolf MaxAmerican CourtCustodial Sentence 5 YearsHoffmannWernerFrench CourtAcquittalHöhlerWalterAmerican CourtDeath SentenceJohstElisabethSoviet Military CourtDeath SentenceJudmannFranzVienna People's CourtTermination of the ProceedingsKörberPaulFrench CourtCustodial Sentence 10 YearsKorweslührHerbertSupreme Court British ZoneCustodial Sentence 9 MonthsKunzHelmutSoviet Military Court German CourtForced Labour 25 Years Termination of the ProceedingsLorenzFritzSoviet Military Court Death SentenceMüllerHeinrich TheodorGerman CourtCustodial Sentence 1 YearOetkenFriedrichSupreme Court British ZoneCustodial Sentence 3 MonthsPookHermannAmerican CourtCustodial Sentence 10 YearsPoupetFerdinand BenjaminFrench CourtDeath SentencePrechtElimarFrench CourtDeath SentenceReichmannFrantzFrench CourtForced Labor 15 YearsRohdeWernerBritish CourtsDeath SentenceRostWillyFrench CourtDeath SentenceSchäferKurtFrench CourtDeath SentenceSchatzWIlliGerman CourtAcquittalSchönigErichBritish CourtCustodial Sentence 5 YearsSchulteJosefSupreme Court British ZoneFine 500 DMSimonJosefPolish CourtCustodial Sentence 14 MonthsSonntagWalterBritish CourtDeath SentenceTeuberKarl-HeinzPolish CourtCustodial Sentence 4 YearsVogelsangKarlGerman CourtCustodial Sentence 5 MonthsWeckFranz ChristianGerman CourtCustodial Sentence 5,5 YearsWeinmannErnstMilitary Court BelgradeDeath SentenceWenzelHermannFrench CourtDeath SentenceWerlingHeinrichGerman CourtAcquittalZeinerKarl Friedrich JakobPolish CourtCustodial Sentence 6 YearsZerbesOtmar MartinAmerican CourtCustodial Sentence 18 Months
See also Nazi gold
References