Aktion T4 Became the Model for the Holocaust

“Holocaust by Gas” was but radically scaled-up reincarnation of Aktion T4 (involuntary euthanasia program). Even the number of killing centers was the same – six. And all used the same tools – gas chambers (stationary or mobile).

Reincarnation indeed – the first death factory of the Shoah became operational almost exactly four months after Aktion T4 was officially terminated. It is important to note that key personnel of Aktion T4 were then transferred to its reincarnation where they served in pretty much the same capacity.

Hence, Aktion T4 became a major step on the Road to Holocaust as it was far easier to copy and scale up something (even by a factor of 35 or so) than to create something from scratch. Especially something of such magnitude.

Aktion T4 became a colossal slab in the “slab stack” that even before its official termination triggered the “Holocaust Avalanche” (killing four million Jews) because it was the first program of large-scale mass murder (in the tens of thousands) of the whole social group deemed to be an “unacceptable burden” on the Reich and the German people. Which made Holocaust much easier.

Carefully selected German physicians were authorized to select mental patients “deemed incurably sick, after most critical medical examination” and then administer to them a “mercy death” (mostly by poison gas or lethal injection).

Curiously, Aktion T4 was the only program of serial mass murder explicitly authorized by Adolf Hitler in writing. In October 1939, Adolf Hitler signed a “euthanasia note”, backdated to September 1st, which authorized his physician Karl Brandt and Philipp Bouhler (Chief of the Chancellery of the F;hrer of the NSDAP) to commence this murderous program. Thus, making it legal.

Initially, Aktion T4 was limited to children under 17 but later it was extended to adults. Six killing centers were established at psychiatric hospitals in Germany and Austria: Bernburg, Brandenburg, Grafeneck, Hadamar, Hartheim, and Sonnenstein.

Initially limited to Greater Germany (Germany + Austria), after the invasion of Poland Aktion T4 was extended to occupied Polish territories and then to other lands under German control. The total number of victims is difficult to estimate but the total death toll might be as high as 300,000 (1/10 of “Holocaust by Gas”).

Aktion T4 had to be canceled due to public outrage and (especially) harsh criticism from Lutheran and (mostly) Catholic Church. Which forced the Nazis to silence Pope Pius XII right after the decision was made to commence “Holocaust by Gas” – months before it was commenced in Chelmno killing center.