Horst Schumann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horst Schumann
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| Born | 1 May 1906 Halle an der Saale, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 5 May 1983 (aged 77) Frankfurt am Main, West Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |
 Luftwaffe Schutzstaffel |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) |
| Unit | Auschwitz |
Horst Schumann (born May 1, 1906 – died May 5, 1983) was a German doctor who held the rank of SS-Sturmbannführer, which is similar to a major. He was involved in terrible events during World War II and later faced a trial for his actions.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Horst Schumann was born in Halle an der Saale, Germany, on May 1, 1906. His father, Paul Schumann, was also a doctor. In 1930, Horst Schumann joined the Nazi Party, a political group that later controlled Germany. He also joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1932. This was a group that supported the Nazi Party.
In 1933, Schumann finished his medical studies. He wrote a paper about how the body uses iodine. After becoming a doctor, he started working at the Surgical Clinic of Halle University.
His Role During World War II
From 1934, Schumann worked for the Public Health Office in Halle. When World War II began in 1939, he joined the German air force as a doctor.
At Auschwitz Concentration Camp
On July 28, 1941, Schumann arrived at Auschwitz concentration camp. This was a very large and terrible camp where many people were held captive and suffered greatly. At Auschwitz, Schumann worked in a special area for women. In 1942, he set up an X-ray station there.
While at Auschwitz, Schumann performed harmful experiments on people. For example, he conducted tests related to typhus, a serious disease. He left Auschwitz in September 1944. After that, he was sent to the Sonnenstein Clinic in Saxony, which had become a military hospital.
After the War
In January 1945, Schumann was working as a military doctor on the Western Front. He was captured by American forces. He was released from captivity in October 1945.
In April 1946, Schumann started working as a sports doctor in the city of Gladbeck. However, his identity was discovered in 1951 when he applied for a hunting gun license. The East German government (GDR) then issued a warrant for his arrest.
Schumann stated that he worked as a ship's doctor for three years. Because he did not have a German passport, he applied for one in Japan in 1954. He received the passport under his real name. Schumann then fled, first to Egypt and later to Khartoum in Sudan. In Sudan, he became the head of a hospital. However, an Auschwitz survivor recognized him in 1962, and he was forced to leave Sudan. He then went to Ghana, where the country's leader, Kwame Nkrumah, protected him until Nkrumah was removed from power.
Trial and Later Life
In 1966, Horst Schumann was sent from Ghana back to West Germany. His trial began in Frankfurt on September 23, 1970. He was accused of being responsible for the deaths of many people. Schumann admitted to his involvement in the atrocities, saying he had "no numbers" for the victims.
However, Schumann was released from prison on July 29, 1972. This was because he had a serious heart condition and his health was getting worse. He died on May 5, 1983, about 11 years after his release from prison.
Images for kids
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Remains of a building at Auschwitz II (Birkenau), where terrible medical acts took place.
