Births on April 27

Bruno Beger, German anthropologist and ethnologist (d. 2009)

Bruno Beger, whose life spanned from April 27, 1911, to October 12, 2009, was a German figure primarily known for his involvement in racial anthropology, ethnology, and exploration, activities he undertook under the auspices of the Nazi regime, particularly through the notorious Ahnenerbe organization. His career tragically illustrates the entanglement of pseudoscientific research with the darkest aspects of the Third Reich's genocidal policies.

The Ahnenerbe: Pseudo-Science for the Third Reich

To fully grasp Beger's trajectory, it's essential to understand the nature of the Ahnenerbe, an SS-affiliated research institute established by Heinrich Himmler in 1935. Its primary mission was to research the ancestral heritage of the "Aryan race," employing pseudoscientific methods to bolster Nazi racial ideologies and territorial claims. The Ahnenerbe sought to "prove" the racial superiority of the Germans and to identify ancient "Aryan" roots in various parts of the world, thereby providing a historical and scientific justification for the regime's expansionist and racial purification policies.

The 1938–39 German Expedition to Tibet

It was in this capacity as an ethnologist for the Ahnenerbe that Beger joined Ernst Schäfer's infamous German expedition to Tibet from 1938 to 1939. The expedition, officially a scientific venture, harbored significant political and ideological undertones. Beger's specific role involved taking craniometric measurements and studying the racial characteristics of the local population. He meticulously recorded physical attributes, aiming to identify connections to the supposed "Aryan" ancestry in the region, in line with the Ahnenerbe's objectives. The expedition also sought to uncover ancient spiritual wisdom or artifacts that could potentially aid the Nazi cause, reflecting a blend of pseudo-science, occult interests, and geopolitical ambition.

Complicity with the SS-Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt

Beyond his exploratory endeavors, Beger's involvement extended to direct complicity in the Nazi's horrific genocidal policies. He actively assisted the SS-Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt, or Race and Settlement Office of the SS. This powerful organization was responsible for implementing Nazi racial policies, including the identification and classification of individuals deemed "Jewish" or belonging to other "undesirable" groups. Beger’s contributions helped in creating the administrative and pseudoscientific framework that underpinned the systematic persecution and eventual extermination of millions. This office played a critical role in the vast bureaucratic system of racial classification and terror that led to the Holocaust across occupied Europe.

The Atrocity of the "Jewish Skeleton Collection"

Perhaps Beger's most infamous and horrifying contribution was his later direct involvement in the selection of human subjects for murder at the Auschwitz concentration camp. These individuals were chosen, not for medical treatment or labor, but for the express purpose of being killed to create an anatomical study collection of Jewish skeletons. This macabre project, spearheaded by Professor August Hirt at the Reich University of Strasbourg, aimed to create a "racial-anthropological" collection of "subhuman" Jewish skulls and skeletons. The grotesque intention was to preserve a physical representation of a race that the Nazis intended to completely eradicate, to serve as "proof" of their alleged inferiority for future generations of "scientists." Beger's direct participation in this selection process stands as a stark testament to the deeply unethical, criminal, and utterly dehumanizing nature of "racial science" under the Third Reich, making him complicit in one of the Holocaust's most chilling atrocities.

Post-War Life and Legal Accountability

After the collapse of the Third Reich, Beger was interned by the Allies but was later released. His actions during the war eventually led to legal proceedings in West Germany concerning his role in the "Jewish Skeleton Collection" project. While initially acquitted in some early proceedings, he was eventually convicted in 1971 of complicity in the deaths of 86 individuals. He received a three-year sentence, which was largely suspended due to time he had already served during his internment and a classification of his role as an accessory. Despite the conviction, Beger largely lived out his remaining years in relative obscurity until his death in 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bruno Beger

What was Bruno Beger's primary role during the Nazi era?

Bruno Beger was a German racial anthropologist, ethnologist, and explorer who worked for the SS-affiliated Ahnenerbe. His work involved pseudoscientific racial classification, participating in expeditions like the one to Tibet, and later became involved in the selection of victims for horrific anatomical studies.

What was the Ahnenerbe?

The Ahnenerbe was an SS-affiliated Nazi research institute established by Heinrich Himmler. Its main purpose was to conduct pseudoscientific research into the ancestral heritage of the "Aryan race," aiming to provide ideological and historical justification for Nazi racial policies and territorial expansion.

What was the purpose of the 1938–39 Tibet expedition Beger participated in?

The Ernst Schäfer expedition to Tibet, in which Beger served as an ethnologist, aimed to conduct racial-anthropological studies, including craniometric measurements of the local population, to find evidence supporting Nazi theories of "Aryan" origins. It also sought spiritual or ancient wisdom believed to be beneficial to the Nazi cause.

How was Beger involved with the SS-Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt?

Beger assisted the SS-Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt (Race and Settlement Office of the SS), an organization crucial to implementing Nazi racial policies. His involvement included helping to identify individuals classified as "Jewish," thereby contributing to the system of racial classification and persecution that led to the Holocaust.

What was the "Jewish Skeleton Collection" project, and what was Beger's role?

The "Jewish Skeleton Collection" was a monstrous project spearheaded by Professor August Hirt at the Reich University of Strasbourg. Its aim was to murder Jewish individuals and use their remains to create an anatomical collection of "subhuman" skeletons, intended to "prove" the alleged inferiority of the Jewish people. Bruno Beger's role was to help select human subjects at Auschwitz who were subsequently killed for this grotesque collection, making him directly complicit in these atrocities.