Judgment at Nuremberg
prev.
play.
mark.
next.

:36:02
From journals and books?
:36:08
I see.
:36:12
You referred to:
:36:14
"Novel National Socialist
measures introduced...

:36:16
"among them sexual sterilization. "
:36:20
Are you aware that sexual sterilization
was not invented by National Socialism...

:36:24
but had been advanced for years before
as a weapon...

:36:27
in dealing with the mentally incompetent
and the criminal?

:36:30
Yes. I am aware of that.
:36:32
Are you aware that it has advocates
among leading citizens in other countries?

:36:36
I am not an expert on such laws.
:36:39
Then permit me to read one to you.
:36:45
This is a High Court opinion...
:36:48
upholding such laws in existence
in another country.

:36:54
And I quote:
:37:00
"We have seen more than once
that the public welfare...

:37:03
"may call upon the best citizens
for their lives.

:37:05
"It would be strange indeed,
if it could not call upon those...

:37:09
"who already sapped the strength
of the state for these lesser sacrifices...

:37:13
"in order to prevent our being swamped
by incompetence.

:37:16
"It is better for all the world...
:37:18
"if, instead of waiting to execute
degenerate offsprings for crime...

:37:21
"or to let them starve for their imbecility,
society can prevent their propagation...

:37:25
"by medical means in the first place.
:37:31
"Three generations of imbeciles
are enough. "

:37:37
Do you recognize it now, Dr. Wieck?
:37:40
No, sir, I don't.
:37:42
Actually, there is no particular reason
you should...

:37:46
since the opinion upholds
the sterilization law...

:37:48
in the State of Virginia,
of the United States...

:37:52
and was written and delivered
by that great American jurist...

:37:55
Supreme Court Justice,
Oliver Wendell Holmes.


prev.
next.