Hans Fleischhacker
Encyclopedia
Hans Fleischhacker was a German
anthropologist with the Ahnenerbe
and a Schutzstaffel
Obersturmführer
.
After studying at the University of Jena and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Fleischhacker went to work at the Institute of Racial Research in Tübingen
in 1937, joining the SS at the same time. In 1940 he also joined both the Nazi Party and the Waffen-SS
.
Before long Fleischhacker saw service with the SS-Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt. Following the invasion
of Poland
he was sent to Litzmannstadt as part of this group in order to perform measurements on ethnic Germans and determine whether they were suitable for resettlement programmes in the east or simply for forced labour. His main base of operations was at Łódź.
In 1942 Fleischhacker was, along with Heinrich Rübel, chosen by Bruno Beger
to work with him in an SS project to determine the racial type applicable to the Mountain Jews
of the Caucasus
, a group that did not readily fit the Nazi's existing ethnic paradigms. Fleischhacker was chosen for this task due to a thesis he was preparing at the time dealing with skin colour amongst Jews
. The following year he worked again with Beger, this time at Auschwitz concentration camp
where again his duty was to measure physical features of the inmates in order to determine to which race they belonged.
After the Second World War Fleischhacker was held in various internment camps until appearing before the board of arbitration in 1948, where he was designated Mitläufer - not a fully committed Nazi but one who nonetheless went along with Nazism
. He was able to return to anthropological research at the Goethe University Frankfurt in November 1950 and subsequently also worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of El Salvador
, Tübingen Anthropology Institute and back at Frankfurt until 1968.
Along with Beger and Wolf-Dietrich Wolff Fleischhacker came under investigation for his time at Auschwitz. A case was not brought against the men until 1970. Ultimately the case against him was dismissed the following year as there was insufficient evidence to prove that he knew he was involved in extermination and only Beger was convicted.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
anthropologist with the Ahnenerbe
Ahnenerbe
The Ahnenerbe was a Nazi German think tank that promoted itself as a "study society for Intellectual Ancient History." Founded on July 1, 1935, by Heinrich Himmler, Herman Wirth, and Richard Walther Darré, the Ahnenerbe's goal was to research the anthropological and cultural history of the Aryan...
and a Schutzstaffel
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
.
After studying at the University of Jena and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Fleischhacker went to work at the Institute of Racial Research in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
in 1937, joining the SS at the same time. In 1940 he also joined both the Nazi Party and the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
.
Before long Fleischhacker saw service with the SS-Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt. Following the invasion
History of Poland (1939–1945)
The history of Poland from 1939 to 1945 encompasses the German invasion of Poland as well as the Soviet invasion of Poland through to the end of World War II. On 1 September 1939, without a formal declaration of war, Germany invaded Poland...
of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
he was sent to Litzmannstadt as part of this group in order to perform measurements on ethnic Germans and determine whether they were suitable for resettlement programmes in the east or simply for forced labour. His main base of operations was at Łódź.
In 1942 Fleischhacker was, along with Heinrich Rübel, chosen by Bruno Beger
Bruno Beger
Bruno Beger was a German Racial anthropologist who worked for the Ahnenerbe...
to work with him in an SS project to determine the racial type applicable to the Mountain Jews
Mountain Jews
Highland Jews, Mountain Jews or Kavkazi Jews also known as Juvuro or Juhuro, are Jews of the eastern Caucasus, mainly of Azerbaijan and Dagestan. They are also known as Caucasus Jews, Caucasian Jews, or less commonly East Caucasian Jews, because the majority of these Jews settled the eastern part...
of the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, a group that did not readily fit the Nazi's existing ethnic paradigms. Fleischhacker was chosen for this task due to a thesis he was preparing at the time dealing with skin colour amongst Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
. The following year he worked again with Beger, this time at Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
where again his duty was to measure physical features of the inmates in order to determine to which race they belonged.
After the Second World War Fleischhacker was held in various internment camps until appearing before the board of arbitration in 1948, where he was designated Mitläufer - not a fully committed Nazi but one who nonetheless went along with Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. He was able to return to anthropological research at the Goethe University Frankfurt in November 1950 and subsequently also worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of El Salvador
University of El Salvador
The University of El Salvador or Universidad de El Salvador is the oldest and one of the most prominent university institutions in El Salvador. It serves as the national university of the country...
, Tübingen Anthropology Institute and back at Frankfurt until 1968.
Along with Beger and Wolf-Dietrich Wolff Fleischhacker came under investigation for his time at Auschwitz. A case was not brought against the men until 1970. Ultimately the case against him was dismissed the following year as there was insufficient evidence to prove that he knew he was involved in extermination and only Beger was convicted.