Race Hygiene

In this chapter, the origins of ‘race hygieneRace hygiene’ are outlined. Prior to the Third Reich, the concept of ‘Social Darwinism’ became popular throughout Europe. It generated the idea that the human race might be improved by selective breeding, i.e., eugenicsEugenics. These assumptions were adopted by the Nazis, amalgamated with antisemitism, and developed into race hygiene. The German medical profession was deeply involved in creating, promoting, and eventually enacting race hygiene.