Biological Science under a Totalitarian Regime: The Case of the Third Reich

Abstract

The pursuit of scientific knowledge and discovery is often presumed to be a neutral and apolitical endeavour. However, the darker chapters of History reveal a more complex reality. Under the Third Reich of Hitler, the biological scientists were co-opted to serve the sinister goals of the Nazi State. Scientists and Researchers, often driven by ambition and Nationalism, became complicit in the perpetuation of heinous crimes against humanity. This essay delves into the chilling tale of how biological science was perverted to justify the atrocities of the Third Reich, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers of science unhinged from ethics, morality and humanity.