Eugenics in Switzerland before and after 1945 - a Continuum?

Abstract

Eugenics in Switzerland before and after 1945 - a Continuum?

1945 cannot be considered as a turning point for Switzerland's history of eugenics. Quite unnoticed, Swiss eugenical measures – including sterilisations, abortions, (marriage-) counselling, marriage prohibitions and naturalisations – remained effective even after 1945. This is also due to the fact that sterilisations could only be realized with the formal authorisation of the concerned subjects. They were considered as individual or rather medical decisions taken by the «patient» and the doctor without any governmental instructions or legal regulations. Nevertheless, some of these authorisations were extorted. However, they were not identified as eugenical in Switzerland because Nazi Germany's compulsory sterilisations and mass murders were considered as «standards» for eugenical measures.