Rudolf Karl

Rudolf Karl (born July 6, 1903 in Regensburg ; † June 1, 1964 ) was deputy director of the Karthaus-Prüll sanatorium and nursing home during the Nazi era , in particular he was the head of one of the hunger stations that the then director Paul Reiss had let set up.

Life

After studying medicine, Karl was a medical intern at the sanatorium and nursing home in Regensburg from 1934 to 1935, then he worked at the Munich University Clinic (1935). He obtained his license to practice medicine in 1935 and his doctorate in 1938. In 1939 he passed the state medical examination, then became a contract doctor and, from November 1, 1939, senior physician in Regensburg. Karl was married to Theresia Karl geb. Holz, the marriage had five children.

Conduct in the time of National Socialism

From 1936 to 1937 he was political leader (block leader) in the racial politics office of the NSDAP , he himself was a member of the NSDAP ( membership number 3.620.273) and belonged to the NS-Volkswohlfahrt since February 1, 1937 (membership number 7.006.409). Karl was called up for military service from August 26, 1939 to May 1, 1941. He was placed in the UK on May 27, 1944. He headed one of the hunger wards in Karthaus-Prüll, where the killing of patients was brought about through systematic food reduction. The transport of the patients to the Nazi killing center in Hartheim could not have remained hidden from him.

Coming up after the time of National Socialism

Karl was appointed acting director of Karthaus-Prüll after the impeachment of Reiss on July 25, 1945. A letter from the military government dated February 25, 1947 indicates that he, too, had been removed from his office, but he still exercised it. After the ruling chamber's decision , he was classified as a follower as part of the denazification process . From March 15, 1947, Karl received a “temporary revocable employment permit” because of the great shortage of doctors. As a politically unaffected doctor could not be found as a result, this exemption was extended several times. Between May and August 1948, Karl was able to continue his work as acting director until he was replaced by the new director Georg Bischof on October 1, 1948. From November 14, 1961, Karl finally became director of Karthaus-Prüll.

Karl died in 1964 before reaching the age limit.

literature

• Clemens Cording: The Regensburg sanatorium and nursing home Karthaus-Prüll in the “Third Reich” - a study on the history of National Socialism. 2000, Würzburg: Deutscher Wissenschaftsverlag, ISBN 3-9806424-4-5