Urologie in der Oberpfalz – Was uns Archäologie, historische Forschung und Geschichtsschreibung verraten

Since 1924, it has been possible to qualify as a specialist in urology in Germany. The first hospital departments for the treatment of urological conditions were established as early as the end of the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. However, the beginning of specialist medical care in the Bavarian administrative district of Upper Palatinate, often known as the “poorhouse” of Germany until the second half of the last century, was much later. Nevertheless, the lineage of “urological” activity here can be traced back to much earlier eras. Of course, it must be accepted that the evidence from times long past is weak. This is especially applicable when it comes to a topic such as the treatment of the sick and the preservation of health, which is not only considered a science but also often a central focus of life for us today, because in history it was often only mentioned in the fight against epidemics and in anecdotal descriptions. This is a circumstance which, when looking at the history of urology, gives rise to the hope of finding one or two interesting sources. This article not only aims to trace the history of the development of urology in a rural area from contemporary history to the present day, but also to explore the treatment of urological diseases in this region since late antiquity. Furthermore, we invite readers to look at other places of urological remembrance in a similar way.