- Remains of the well-known "Blechschmidt Fetus" interred
Fourteen Fetal Remains from the University Medical Center Göttingen's collection were laid to rest. The urn containing these remains, dating back from 1952 to 1969, was buried at the Parkfriedhof Junkerberg in Göttingen, as per a statement from the University Medical Center's spokesperson. These remains are part of the renowned Blechschmidt collection, which has gained international recognition. Additional burials are planned.
Were the fetuses from the Nazi era?
Researchers had examined the origins of all 430 prenatal specimens at the Göttingen Center for Anatomy between August 2017 and July 2019. Led by Michael Markert and his team, they suggested a review of all embryos and fetuses for research and teaching purposes, and burial if necessary. It's not ruled out that the human remains within the collection might have been the result of enforced abortions during the Nazi era.
"It was crucial for us to uncover as much as we could regarding the background of the embryos and fetuses," stated the University Medical Center's spokesperson. Though anatomist Erich Blechschmidt, who led the Anatomical Institute in Göttingen from 1942 to 1973 and built the collection, seldom referred to the specimens' origins in his publications, his work in Göttingen fell under the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945.
"Significant advancement in scientific understanding"
Based on the outcomes of the two-year research, comprehensive investigations into the individual specimens were conducted today at the Center for Anatomy of the University Medical Center, as per the spokesperson. "Numerous embryos and fetuses have significantly contributed to scientific advancement over the past few decades," she said. "Now, we aim to provide a secure resting place for 14 of these individuals, enabling them to find their final rest."
The researchers examined the origins of numerous children, or embryos and fetuses, in the Göttingen Center for Anatomy. It's important to note that Erich Blechschmidt, who led the Anatomical Institute in Göttingen during the Nazi regime, was responsible for building the collection.
