E320: Friedrich Zawrel (part II)

E320: Friedrich Zawrel (part II)

From Fresh Hell Podcast by freshhellpodcast

March 13, 2026 · 60 min

About this episode

This episode explores the roles of Dr. Ernst Illing and Dr. Heinrich Gross in the Nazi medical system at the Spiegelgrund institution.

In Part 2 of Friedrich Zawrel’s story, we meet the doctors of Spiegelgrund. Dr. Ernst Illing and Dr. Heinrich Gross were psychiatrists working inside Vienna’s infamous children’s institution during the Nazi period. Under the banner of “racial hygiene,” they helped run a system that targeted children considered disabled, difficult, or socially undesirable. In this episode we look at their backgrounds, their roles within the Nazi medical system, and how ordinary medical careers became intertwined with one of the regime’s most disturbing programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics covered

  • Friedrich Zawrel
  • Spiegelgrund
  • Nazi medical system
  • psychiatry
  • racial hygiene

Keywords

  • children's institution
  • disabled children
  • medical ethics
  • history

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Vienna

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