Pernkopf starts working as an Anatomist
In 1920, Pernkopf starts working as an assistant to Ferdinand Hochstetter. Hochstetter and Carl Toldt published Anatomischen Atlas für Studierende und Ärzte – an anatomical atlas. Hochstetter was chair of Anatomical Institute II at the University of Vienna medical school. The Anatomy Department at University of Vienna was actually two separate institutes in the early 1900s and one of the main delineations was political affiliation. Anatomical Institute I was run by more progressive, clinically-oriented faculty and was chaired by a Jewish faculty member, Julius Tandler, until 1936. Anatomy II featured nationalist faculty members*.
* Hildebrandt, S. (2006). How the Pernkopf Controversy Facilitated a Historical and Ethical Analysis of the Anatomical Sciences in Austria and Germany. Clin. Anat. 19:91–100.
Dachau opens as a prison camp
In late March, 1933, Dachau – a former munitions factory – is repurposed as a prison camp. By April, rumors of executions emerge but investigations are suppressed by the SS. An estimated 41,500 people died or were executed at Dachau by its summer 1944 liberation.
Eduard Pernkopf signs a contract with Urban and Schwarzenberg
In 1933, Urban and Schwarzenberg sign a contract for three volumes of an Anatomical Atlas that Eduard Pernkopf is to produce. At the time, U&S is a Vienna based publisher. The atlaas will be named Topographische Anatomie des Menschen.
Pernkopf joins the Sturmabteilung
In 1934, Pernkopf joins the Sturmabteilung, also know as the SA or Brown Shirts. In 1934, the SA was banned in Austria. The SA acts as a paramilitary branch of the Nazi party by intimidating opposing political parties. The SA was crucial in supporting Hitler’s rise to power.
SA-Propagandamarsch in Spandau
First Volumes of Topographische Anatomie des Menschen Published
In 1937, the first first volume (Ester Band) of Topographische Anatomie des Menschen (Topographic Anatomy of Man) is released in two 2 parts. Despite Nazi displays being illegal in Austria at the time, several Nazi icons are still embedded in artist signatures in these first editions.
Pernkopf is appointed Dean of University of Vienna Medical School
The day after Anschluss, Pernkopf is appointed Dean of the University of Vienna Medical School. Around April 6th, he gives a speech to the faculty (pictured below) in full Nazi uniform. He promotes rassenhygiene – racial hygiene – and eugenics. He enforces Aryanization and expels as many as 77% of the faculty in the medical school for not meeting his definition of Aryan. Finally, he unifies the two anatomical institutes at the Vienna Medical School.
‘Cleansing’ of the Faculty and Students at the University of Vienna
As previously noted, post-Anchluss in Austria many faculty were expelled from the University of Vienna. Around 175 professors have been accounted for as expelled from the University of Vienna during this Aryanization period. Jewish students were allowed to finish their training, however they were graduated with non-Aryan medical degrees and were never allowed to practice. Jewish doctors had their medical degrees revoked in 1938.
At the University of Vienna, interviews of faculty were carried out by members of the NS-Dozentenbund like Alexander Pichler. Some faculty saw what was coming and fled Austria. Those who stayed risked persecution and prison. Members of the faculty who refused to leave were imprisoned at Dachau prison camp.
Second Volume of Topographische Anatomie des Menschen Published
In 1941, the second volume (Zweiter Band) of Topographische Anatomie des Menschen (Topographic Anatomy of Man) is released in two 2 parts.
The First Two Volumes are Reprinted
In 1943, the first two volumes (Erster and Zweiter Band) of the atlas are reprinted. This is the first time that edits of the Nazi iconography in artist signatures can be noticed. The image above shows an example from Ester Band. The top image is from the first printing. In the bottom image, it is likely that this signature was edited in the printing house by a worker who scraped part of the K (of the CMYK) plate.
Allied Bombing of Vienna
From June 16th, 1944 until April 16th, 1945, Allied air forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union conduct regular bombing missions in Vienna, Austria. Damage to the main University building pictured below is from April 1945.
The Anatomical Institute at the University of Vienna is bombed by Allied forces
On February 5th, 1945, the University of Vienna Anatomical Institute is damaged by Allied forces bombing.
In the future, this bombing will prove problematic for fully understanding the nature of the bodies used in the Pernkopf atlases. When the University of Vienna studies the creation of the atlas, records of bodies accepted at the University of Vienna Anatomical Institute have to be recreated using court and cemetery records. The body log was reportedly lost during the bombing.
Medical students campaign for Pernkopf’s reinstatement
In March 1951, Medical students campaign to have Pernkopf reinstated. There were nächtliche Schmieraktionen – grafitti campaigns. Despite these efforts, he is not reinstated.
Dritter Band, the 3rd Volume of the Atlas, Is Published
In 1957, Dritter Band (also called Der Haals) is published. This is the 3rd volume of the atlas. It is the only original volume that is printed in only 1 part. This is also the last volume where new images with Nazi iconography in the artist signatures.