Hedwig von Goetzen

Hedwig Elisabeth von Goetzen (born November 27, 1893 in Mannheim as Hedwig (Elisabeth) Bensheim ; † July 31, 1976 in Rostock ) was a German doctor of Jewish descent. She was the first female doctor to work in Rostock.

Life

Hedwig von Goetzen, who is mainly known by her married name, was baptized as a Christian as a child. She studied medicine and received her doctorate in medicine in 1917.

In January 1918 she married the doctor Curt von Goetzen, with whom she moved from Mannheim to Rostock , where both worked in a private practice for obstetrics and gynecological problems. Hedwig von Goetzen was the first female doctor to work in Rostock. When her husband took over the chairmanship of the Rostock Adult Education Center, Hedwig von Goetzen founded her own private clinic for obstetrics, which soon after became a sought-after institution. Hedwig von Goetzen also gave lessons in the Froebel school for nannies. This was founded in 1910 by Marie Bloch in Paulstrasse.

Grave H. v. Goetzens at the New Cemetery in Rostock

After the Nazis came to power in 1933, her husband, who was close to the Social Democrats, was fired. The nursing school was closed in 1934 because Marie Bloch was herself of Jewish descent. In 1938, Hedwig von Goetzen was forced to use the first name Sara due to the name change ordinance and was banned from working. Her husband was threatened by the Rostock Gestapo and asked to divorce his Jewish wife. This would have meant an immediate deportation of his wife to a concentration camp. Curt von Goetzen rejected the demands. Hedwig von Goetzen survived and was able to reopen a practice as an obstetrician and gynecologist in the building of the former nursing school as early as 1945.

Hedwig von Goetzen practiced until she was 80.

Honors

Hedwig von Goetzen was awarded the titles of "Medical Councilor" and "Honored Doctor of the People" in the GDR. A street in Rostock bears her name.

literature

• Frank Schröder [and a.]: 100 Jewish personalities from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Ed .: Foundation meeting place for Jewish history and culture in Rostock. Rostock 2003.

Web links

• Literature about Hedwig von Goetzen in the state bibliography MV