Emma Timme came from Wohlde-Salzmoor in the district of Celle. She is said to have had seizures as a small child. She later worked as a farm helper. She was unmarried and had no children.
In 1943, she was reported for forced sterilization, even though she was already over 40 years old and pregnancy was unlikely. Nevertheless, the Lüneburg Hereditary Health Court ruled for her forced sterilization due to »congenital feeblemindedness«. As her mother had died of tuberculosis, Emma Timme lived alone at this time. She was not interested in politics and was therefore unable to answer the relevant questions in the intelligence test. She also remained silent when asked whether she would agree to an interruption of the pregnancy, as she was not pregnant.
Emma Timme died immediately after the forced sterilization procedure. The post-mortem examination revealed that the operation had caused a circulatory collapse.
