In 1938, the Steinhof Mental Hospital (today the Otto Wagner Hospital) became the central »euthanasia killing centre« of Vienna. Until 1941, 7,500 patients were systematically murdered at Steinhof as part of the so-called »Action T4«. After the program was officially disbanded, patients died through malnutrition and systematic neglect. Some 800 ill or handicapped children and youths were murdered by medical personnel in the so-called »Children's Ward«.
An exhibition and memorial site in the V Tract of the Otto Wagner Hospital were opened in May 2002.

Vienna, undated, Entrance building of the Steinhof Mental Hospital, Gedenkstätte Steinhof


Vienna, after 2002, View of the exhibition in the Otto Wagner Hospital, Gedenkstätte Steinhof

The mental hospital »Am Steinhof« was established in 1907 on Vienna's outskirts. Following the »Anschluss« (»annexation«) of Austria to National Socialist Germany in 1938, the institution was transformed into a central »euthanasia killing centre«. Together with the Viennese Health Department and the »Hereditary Health Courts«, doctors at Steinhof decided which lives were »worthy of life« and which were »unworthy of life«. Physically and mentally handicapped people, members of social marginal groups and »asocials« were most affected. In April 1940, the first forced sterilisations were conducted on patients. Systematic killing of Steinhof patients followed in the course of the »Action T4«. The aim of this campaign, which was centrally organised in Berlin, was to kill mentally handicapped people. In July 1940, T4 personnel began deporting around 3,200 Steinhof patients. Most of them were brought to Hartheim Castle near Linz, where they were asphyxiated with carbon monoxide.
Even after the program was officially disbanded, patients died in the institution due to malnutrition and systematic neglect.
There was also a »euthanasia killing centre« for children on the premises of the hospital between 1940 and 1945 named »Am Spiegelgrund«. Around 800 ill or handicapped children and youths were killed by doctors and nurses in the so-called »Children's Ward«.

Vienna, undated, Entrance building of the Steinhof Mental Hospital, Gedenkstätte Steinhof


Vienna, after 2002, View of the exhibition in the Otto Wagner Hospital, Gedenkstätte Steinhof

More than 7,500 patients of the Steinhof Mental Hospital perished between 1940 and 1945. Around 3,200 of them were deported to the extermination facility at Hartheim Castle near Linz and murdered there. Approximately 800 ill or handicapped children and youths were murdered in the institution's so-called »Children's Ward«.

Vienna, after 2002, View of the exhibition in the Otto Wagner Hospital, Gedenkstätte Steinhof

The exhibition and memorial in the V-Tract of the Otto Wagner Hospital were opened in May 2002. That same year, remains of the institution's victims were laid to rest in a grave of honour at Vienna's Central Cemetery. Until the 1980s, doctors had used the anatomical specimens stemming from victims for research purposes.
Centred around the history of events which took place at Steinhof, the exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of the background and consequences of crimes committed by National Socialist physicians in Vienna. The exhibition was conceptualised by the Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance.

Vienna, 1930s, Aerial photo of the Steinhof Mental Hospital complex, Gedenkstätte Steinhof

Name

Gedenkstätte Steinhof

Address

V-Gebäude, Otto-Wagner-Spital, Baumgartner Höhe 1
1145 Wien

Phone

+43 (0)1 228 946 931 9

Fax

+43 (0) 534 369 990 319

Web

http://www.gedenkstaettesteinhof.at/

E-Mail

office@doew.at

Open

Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Possibilities

Permanent exhibition, »The War Against the >Less Worthy Lives<: On the history of National Socialist Medicine in Vienna«, is housed in the V Tract of the Otto Wagner Hospital, guided tours and meetings with survivors, workshops