Non-Academic Eugenics

Dresden: Deutscher Verlag für Volkswohlfahrt, [1925?]. 215 by 140mm (8½ by 5½ inches). Orig. paper wrappers; 80, [4 ads] pp. Book 4 in a series on ​“Leben und Gesundheit” [Life and Health] distributed by the German Hygiene Museum, Dresden. In German.

Contains 36 illustrations. 

Merely Good. Significant wear to spine; library label and label protector to spine; 1st page loose; paper browned; 1.5 cm hole in page 58 (no text loss). 

Dr. Rainer Fetscher (1895–1945) was a well-known eugenics researcher who led the marriage and sexual counseling department of the German Hygiene Museum. The Hygiene Museum in Dresden was formed in 1912 for the betterment of health and hygiene, but quickly shifted to emphasize ​“racial hygiene” — a direction that was furthered by the Nazis. After World War II, East Germany altered the emphasis of the museum towards sexual freedom. Today, the museum again covers general health and nutrition along with sexual hygiene. 

This booklet is a ​“racial hygiene” guide for the casual museum visitor. The copious illustrations cover topics such as: number of children by occupation and marital status; rates of abortion; rate of child death by married and unmarried parents; rates of syphilis, etcetera. ​“Racial hygiene” as used in this book does not concern ​“race”, but rather warns of marriage and children in cases of low intelligence, alcoholism, and psychological afflictions thought to be genetic. On page 5 Dr. Fetscher states that the guidelines apply regardless of race. 

Provides insight into 1920’s and 1930’s German populist views on eugenics. 

Per OCLC in the United States only at BYU. At the time of cataloguing, no other copy for sale. 

Ex lib. Psychiatric University Clinic of Basel stamped ​“ausgesondert” [withdrawn].