[Forced sterilization 1933-1945: an attempt at coming to terms with the past].

An evaluation of the operative ledgers of the years 1932 to 1945 revealed that 509 women aged 11 to 44 years underwent involuntary sterilization at the Women's Clinic of Frankfurt University. 156 were pregnant at the time of sterilization, all but eight were aborted. Sterilizations were carried out in 161 women because of "congenital mental deficiency", and in another 178 for a variety of other diagnosis. There was no likewise information on the remaining 176 women available. The records of 272/509 women showed that the sterilizations had been proscribed by special "Boards of Racial Hygiene". The number of sterilizations performed because of "congenital mental deficiency" reached its acme in the years 1936 and 1937, after having been negligible for the preceding years.