Humiliated, dishonored, mutilated -"eugenic eradication" ("Ausmerze") of cleft lip and palate. Study on the situation of the victims and the position of doctors in the Third Reich. Part II: Genetic research as a vehicle for social degradation of persons affected with cleft lip and palate and the dispute between the German cleft surgeons for preservation of a humane idea of man. Rosenthal, Ernst, Axhausen, Wassmund

In the second part of this study the tendentious function of genetic research in the Third Rich and the position of the German cleft surgeons are described. The genetic research was determined to justify the compulsory sterilization of persons affected with cleft lip and palate. For that reason, a social and mental inferiority of the affected families was insinuated. As typical exampels the thesis of Josef Mengele and the thesis of Heinz Krebs are cited. Among the german cleft surgeons a violent dispute erupted about dealing with their patients. Wolfgang Rosenthal, Franz Ernst and Georg Axhausen supported a humane objective of surgical rehabilitation. Martin WaRmund promulgated uncompromissing the eugenic objective of eradication ("Ausmerze").