ABSTRACT
The pathologist Rudolf Jaffé (1885-1975) is considered one of the most important specialists of his time - even though he had to flee from the Nazis and attempt a professional restart in South America. The article examines the concrete background of his emigration to South America and the factors that enabled Jaffé to establish pathology as a scientific discipline in Venezuela. Various archival documents and materials from the private archives of Jaffé's descendants serve as sources. These documents are supplemented by relevant secondary literature. Jaffé's career can be divided into four phases: (1) Jaffé's broad education, which qualified him for his later work in Venezuela. (2) Jaffé's professional activity at the Senckenberg Institute of Pathology in Frankfurt. (3) His career peak in Germany as head of the Institute of Pathology in Berlin-Moabit, and finally (4) his forced emigration to Venezuela, where he became the doyen of the field of pathology. It can be shown that Jaffé's great scientific success, even after his emigration, was based on three factors: his exceptional personality, his broad, multifaceted training, and the special conditions in Venezuela.
Subject(s)
Jews , Pathologists , Humans , History, 20th Century , Venezuela , Germany , National SocialismABSTRACT
Walter Büngeler is one of the best known German pathologists of the 20th century. He became internationally known for his basic research on leukaemia and the pathology of tumours. In 1936 he left Europe for Brazil but returned in 1942. After 1945, he staged himself as a political victim who had been expelled first by the National Socialists and later from Brazil. In fact, with this portrayal he succeeded in passing the denazification procedure without any damage and in continuing and considerably expanding his university career. Until the recent past, Büngeler was described in the relevant literature as a Nazi critic or victim. But does the presentation handed down by Büngeler stand up to a critical examination of the facts?On the basis of contemporary sources, the article reveals serious differences between Büngeler's statements and historical facts. It can be shown that Büngeler's allegations in denazification were incorrect in all relevant aspects.
Subject(s)
National Socialism , Pathologists , Brazil , Europe , Germany , History, 20th Century , Humans , Pathologists/history , UniversitiesABSTRACT
One of the most wellknown German pathologists of the twentieth century, Walter Büngeler became internationally known for his elemental research on leukemia and the pathology of tumors. In 1936, Büngeler left Nazi Germany for Brazil, but returned to Germany in 1942. After the war ended in 1945, Büngeler portrayed himself as a political victim who had been expelled first by the National Socialists and later by the Brazilian government, and in fact, he was able to successfully perpetuate this image and emerged unscathed from his de-Nazification procedure, continuing on to a successful university career with stations in Kiel and Munich as both professor and dean, as well as a term as DGP president. Up until very recently, Büngeler was portrayed in literature as a victim and critic of Nazism. Does this self-portrayal stand up to a critical examination of the facts? It is precisely this question that is the focus of this article. The analysis draws upon primary sources; namely, Büngeler's own claims from a curriculum vitae filled out in 1943 as well as his de-Nazification file from the post-war period. This article exposes significant contradictions between these two sources. The statements Büngeler made in his de-Nazification file can be verified as false in all relevant aspects. Nevertheless, Büngeler managed to create a wide-reaching and successful version of himself; a picture which persisted until only very recently.
Subject(s)
National Socialism/history , Pathologists/history , Brazil , Germany , History, 20th Century , HumansABSTRACT
The US American pathologist and microbiologist Howard Taylor Ricketts died 100 years ago. He is renowned for discovering the causative organism and the transmission route of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and of tabardillo--an epidemic louse-borne typhus occurring especially in Mexico. He also found that both diseases were caused by related infectious agents (Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia prowazekii). The scientific community therefore named both a taxonomic family (Rickettsiaceae) and an order (Rickettsiales) after the scientist. Ricketts' work on immunity and serums became the basis for further advances in vaccine development.