Family MÜNZER

The entire Münzer family was targeted by racial hygiene. Out of a total of nine siblings, four were sterilized against their will. The decisive factor was not only their Romno background, but also the fact that they had illegitimate children and a criminal record. The Münzer siblings are thus representative of the systematic approach to families with cultural differences.

The family was checked for »racial-biological purity« using »clan questionnaires« and »clan charts«. »At least two cases of moral immorality« were documented on the clan chart of the youngest sister Charlotte. Criminality and »feeblemindedness« were also noted. However, the number of family members marked as »feebleminded« differed depending on the clan table.

Dora Münzer’s forced sterilization was justified on the grounds that she had two illegitimate children, that she was »feeble-minded« and »asocial«. On top of this, she was accused of being a completely incompetent housewife with »inferior children«.

Her brother Friedrich was released directly into prison after his sterilization. He had attracted the attention of the health authorities and the hereditary health court due to previous convictions for embezzlement and theft.

Albert Münzer’s application for sterilization was rejected at first instance. His intelligence test did not reveal sufficient deficits. The public health officer Hans Rohlfing lodged an appeal – with success. The Higher Hereditary Health Court in Celle overturned the Lüneburg »acquittal«. On 25 October 1937, Albert was also sterilized. The only reason given was that he came from a hereditarily »inferior« family.

Unlike her brother Albert, Charlotte Münzer succeeded in convincing the court that she did not have »congenital insanity«. The application for sterilization was rejected. She was not sterilized.

Frieda Gras, née Münzer, was forcibly sterilized nine days before her brother Friedrich.

After the end of the war, the deprivation of racial rights did not stop. In August 1945, he was denied the right to marry again and a second marriage to Lily G. was refused. The medical officer was still Hans Rohlfing, who had already reported and recommended his sterilization under National Socialism. Even the involvement of the British military authorities did not provide the necessary marriage license.