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The Hamburg “Heinrich Pette Institute”, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, no longer wants to use the name “Heinrich Pette” in the future.
The background is two reports on the role of the founding director Prof. Dr.
Heinrich Wilhelm Pette (1887-1964) during the Nazi era, announced the science authority on Friday.
According to this, the neurologist was an expert in so-called hereditary health procedures to prevent hereditary offspring and had spoken out in favor of the sterilization of people.
It was said that he was not involved in the murders of sick and disabled people, but knew about these “euthanasia” crimes.
A new name should be found by the end of 2022.
Pette joined the NSDAP in 1933 and signed the confession of German professors to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi state.
In addition to his work as director of the Neurological University Clinic in Eppendorfer Hospital, he was from 1935 second chairman of the Society of German Neurologists and Psychiatrists.
The institute has now published a corresponding report on Pette's work during the Nazi era.
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The institute was named after him in 1964 to honor his scientific achievements in the field of virology and especially in the field of polio research.
As before, Pette is considered a key player in the introduction of polio vaccination in Germany and an internationally recognized virologist, it said.
Hamburg's Senator for Science Katharina Fegebank (Greens) welcomes the institute's decision to deal with its namesake and its role in the Nazi state: “Dealing with the German past under National Socialism is of central importance in all areas of public life - and an important one Part of our democracy.
The fact that the institute decided to change its name with a large majority is an important basis for the name-finding process that has now started.
The new name will be representative of the continued excellent research achievements at the institute. "
According to the institute, the process of finding a new name should be completed by the end of 2022.
In the meantime, the institute is called after the second part of its name: “Leibnis Institute for Experimental Virology” (HPI).