HERMANN BEEKHUIS (1941 – 1941)

Hermann Beekhuis lived for only a few months. He was born on 18 March 1941 in Weener (Leer). His parents were Hinderikus, a labourer, and Hilke Beekhuis (née Behrends). At the time of his birth, his father was serving as a soldier in the war. Hermann was born with malformations. Among other things, he had a cleft lip and palate. For this reason, he was reported to the »Reich Committee« by the medical officer in Leer. Hilke Beekhuis had to admit her son to the »children’s ward« at the Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Children’s Hospital. He was admitted on 25 June 1941 as a so-called »Reich Committee child with severe malformations«. His malformations were photographed and his development was recorded.

Hermann Beekhuis' medical records are slightly yellowed. The paper is torn on the left side. It is handwritten in dark ink. Various dates are listed on the left, with the corresponding entries on the right. In the entry for 2 September, the words »Decision received from the Reich Committee« are underlined in red.

Medical history of Hermann Beekhuis.

Hamburg State Archives 352-8/7 Langenhorn State Hospital No. 86294.

Due to bomb damage, Hermann Beekhuis was temporarily placed in a home on 30 June 1941. On 8 August, he returned to the Rothenburgsort »children’s ward«. Three days later, he was transferred to Wentorf due to a lack of space caused by construction work. From there, he returned to the Rothenburgsort »children’s ward« for a second time on 2 September. Since the »Reich Committee« had meanwhile issued a treatment authorisation, he was murdered the following day by the doctor Helene Sonnemann.

It is a black-and-white photograph. Helene Sonnemann and Harriet Stoltenberg are standing in front of a white door with glass panes. Helene Sonnenberg is wearing a white doctor's coat and laughing. Her dark hair is wavy. She is carrying a kind of open envelope under her arm. She is looking to the right. Harriet Stoltenberg is wearing a nurse's uniform with a white cap. She has her arm linked through Helene Sonnemann's and is smiling in her direction. She seems to have just said something amusing.

Helene Sonnemann (left) with head nurse Harriet Stoltenberg in front of the Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Children’s Hospital, before September 1943.

Private property of Margaretha Veth.

After his death, Hermann’s body was opened and his brain examined. The dead child was then transferred to the harbour hospital to be buried from there.

His death certificate, bearing the incorrect date of death of 4 September 1941, was only issued ten days later upon request.

In 1943, Helene Sonnemann brought around 300 children, 70 nurses and six female doctors from bombed-out Hamburg to Celle. She received a medal for her efforts, remained in Celle and pursued a career at the General Hospital. In 1976, she retired as chief physician of the paediatric clinic and deputy medical director of the General Hospital in Celle. Until the end of her professional career, she also headed the nursing school and trained young nurses. She died in 1998 without ever having been held accountable for her involvement in the murders in the »children’s ward« in Rothenburgsort.

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