use of executed Nazi victims in anatomy: findings from the Institute of Anatomy of Giessen University, pre- and post- 1945

There is increasing evidence that both during the time of National Socialism, and in the post World War II period, the corpses of executed victims of the Nazi regime, as well as body parts taken from them were used for teaching and research purposes in German anatomical institutes. This paper addresses the related issues by looking at the case of Giessen University whose director is documented to have had certain political reservations towards the Nazi regime