HANS-GEORG WITT (1937 – 1946)

Hans-Georg Witt was born in Velgen and lived with his single father in Bohlsen (Uelzen) at the time of his admission. Together with his sister, Hans-Georg was admitted to St. Viti Hospital in Uelzen in August 1945 on suspicion of typhoid fever. This suspicion was not confirmed in Hans-Georg’s case. However, as he had mental impairment as a result of meningitis, the hospital transferred him to the Lüneburg institution and nursing home. He was taken there by an administrative employee of the Uelzen hospital. He was admitted on 13 August 1945. The Nazi era was long over by then, but the »children’s ward« in Lüneburg remained unchanged.

Upon admission, Hans-Georg was carefully examined and described in detail. The entries in his medical records fill several pages. He remained independent and did not stand out in the ward. He understood everything, even though he had not spoken since the beginning of his hospital stay. In September 1945, his father attempted to bring him home, but ultimately decided against it and did not take him with him.

From spring 1946 onwards, Hans-Georg’s health deteriorated. He was confined to bed and required full-time care. From May 1946 onwards, he was given Luminal, which had severe side effects.

Hans-Georg Witt did not survive the »children’s ward« in Lüneburg. He died on 1 August 1946 in the »children’s department,« as the Lüneburg paediatric ward was called after the end of the war. The official cause of death was malnutrition. He had starved to death.