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After 1939 and the commencement of World War II, the physically and mentally handicapped were persecuted in the same way the Jews were - they were exterminated.

The T-4 Euthanasia program was designed to remove "defective" genes from the German gene pool, and was another of Hitler's shocking atrocities. Established in 1939, its aim was to maintain the genetic purity of the German population by killing any citizens who suffered from physical deformity, disability, and mental illness or handicap.

At first, the victims were all children, but later the programme expanded to adults as well. Execution methods included gassing, suffocation, injection, poisoning, starvation, or overdose of medication.

The programme was finally suspended by Hitler in August 1841, but not before some 70,000 people were killed. The programme was not, unfortuantely, halted altogether. It continued in secret, amid protests from families of the victims and church groups.

It;s believed that a total of around 200,000 people were exterminated under the T-4 Euthanasia programme.

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Under Action T4 275,000 People were killed by medication, starvation, or in the gas chambers all had Physical or mental disabilities.

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Q: What happened to mentally ill and retarded people in Germany during World War 2?
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What was genocide of retarded people called in Germany during World War 2?

It was called euthanasia ('mercy killing') and code named T-4. The Nazis also continued to kill the mentally and physically handicapped along with Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals during World War 2. But they still used euthanasia to gas them


How were the mentally disabled chosen to die during the holocaust?

The mentally disabled were murdered in German extermination camps by various means (i.e. gassings, shootings, and by the spread of disease, such as Typhus, due to poor conditions throughout the camps) prior to and during WWII. This was due to the policy of "eugenics". Eugenics was a science (some would say pseudo-science), perpetuated in many places throughout the world at the time (including the United States), that advocated the extermination and forced sterilization of diseased and mentally retarded individuals in order to stop them from breeding and passing on their genes to future generations. This was done due to a number of reasons; for example, in Germany it was done in order to promote the Nazi ideal of a healthy, pure-blooded, Aryan race, but mainly because it was believed that by exterminating and/or sterilizing persons afflicted with the aforementioned deficiencies, certain diseases and mental retardation could be completely eradicated from society. But as we now know, that wasn't the case. Keep in mind, while America did not pursue eugenics on an extermination basis, many diseased, mentally retarded and mentally ill individuals were forcefully sterilized in order to keep them from procreating.


What were the 1972 summer Olympic games held and what major political event happened during the games?

Munich, West Germany.


What was Germany called during the holocaust?

Germany


Why were the olympic games in 1936 so important?

this was the Olympics during WWI! that means that Hitler was in power. what was even more dangerous was that the o,lympics happened in Germany that year!

Related questions

What happened to people that were mentally retarded during the holocaust?

It all depends. If they got in trouble with the law, frequently they were sent to mental hospitals rather than Prisons, and this was considered more humane than tossing them in with hardened criminals. Very often retarded people were sterilized to prevent them from committing sexual crimes. This was very controversial but it was done, and in fact was endorsed by such a famous judge as Oliver Wendell Holmes.


What has the author MyongJa Chung written?

MyongJa Chung has written A comparison of certain ECG interval times between mentally retarded and normal children at rest and during exercise, and during recovery.


What was genocide of retarded people called in Germany during World War 2?

It was called euthanasia ('mercy killing') and code named T-4. The Nazis also continued to kill the mentally and physically handicapped along with Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals during World War 2. But they still used euthanasia to gas them


What happened to Germany's nation during World War 2?

They were defeated.


What happened to Jews in Germany during world war 2?

They were exterminated by the Nazi regime.


What happened in stalingard during World War 2?

Russia won the battle over Germany and was a huge blow to Germany. This also was a major turning point during WW2.


How were the mentally disabled chosen to die during the holocaust?

The mentally disabled were murdered in German extermination camps by various means (i.e. gassings, shootings, and by the spread of disease, such as Typhus, due to poor conditions throughout the camps) prior to and during WWII. This was due to the policy of "eugenics". Eugenics was a science (some would say pseudo-science), perpetuated in many places throughout the world at the time (including the United States), that advocated the extermination and forced sterilization of diseased and mentally retarded individuals in order to stop them from breeding and passing on their genes to future generations. This was done due to a number of reasons; for example, in Germany it was done in order to promote the Nazi ideal of a healthy, pure-blooded, Aryan race, but mainly because it was believed that by exterminating and/or sterilizing persons afflicted with the aforementioned deficiencies, certain diseases and mental retardation could be completely eradicated from society. But as we now know, that wasn't the case. Keep in mind, while America did not pursue eugenics on an extermination basis, many diseased, mentally retarded and mentally ill individuals were forcefully sterilized in order to keep them from procreating.


What happened in England during the Holocaust?

Britain was at war with Germany from 1939-1945, and was not occupied by the Nazis.


What actress caught German Measles during her pregnancy and had a retarded child?

Gene Tierney


What were the 1972 summer Olympic games held and what major political event happened during the games?

Munich, West Germany.


What else happened during World War 2?

During world war II the holocaust was going on in Germany. In Italy and Japan had brought a new dictator up.


What important events happened during World War 2 in Germany?

well here lets just say this is a ? you are kinda unable to answer.