TIMOFEY THOMACHINKO (1905 – 1945)

Clarifying Timofey Thomachincko’s identity was not easy. In the burial register for the institution’s cemetery, the cemetery administrator had only handwritten the date of burial, »7 February 1945«, and the name »Schannchincko«. Apparently, there was already a transcription error in the first part of the name. When the war grave lists were compiled in 1954, the second »c« was also read as an »o«, so that »Schannchincko« became »Schannchinoko«. Only by evaluating the »Alphabetical List of Sick Men« from the sanatorium and nursing home and the death register extract, as well as by reconstructing the spelling errors, was it possible to confirm that »Timofey Thomachincko« and »Schannschinoko« were one and the same person.

He was born in Michailow, Russia, in 1889. Before his admission to the Lüneburg mental hospital on 26 January 1945, he was employed as an Eastern European labourer by a farmer named Luca in Ihlienworth near Otterndorf in the district of Hadeln. His admission was preceded by an examination by the public health officer, Dr. Liebering, who concluded that Timofey Thomachincko was a danger to the public due to alleged fits of rage.

In Lüneburg, he was examined by Dr Redepenning, head of the »foreigners‘ collection point«, who diagnosed him with acute mental illness but added a question mark to the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Timofey Thomachincko was admitted to House 15 and weighed only 60 kg at a height of 1.66 m. One day after his admission, Redepenning noted: »Clearly suffers from anxiety. […] Is very shy and defensive. Refuses food. Has not yet taken a sip of water, spits it out«. According to the file, verbal communication was not possible for various reasons. Despite the use of an interpreter, Timofey Thomachincko did not speak a word. Even in the days following his admission, there was no improvement.

On 1 February 1945, Redepenning noted: »Restlessness continues. Completely unresponsive – despite all efforts by the Russian-speaking Polish patients«. On 4 February, Redepenning noted »Fever. Weaker.« On 5 February 1945, the following entry was made: »Died at 1:30 p.m. Shortly before
death, doctor visited with interpreter. Nothing to be learned. Persecution and poisoning delusions? Schizo?« Timofey Thomachincko died of exhaustion at the age of 39.