Sturmbannführer Erwin Ding-Schuler directed the division for spotted fever and viral research at the Hygiene Institut der Waffen-SS, overseeing the operations at Experimental Station Block 46 within the Buchenwald concentration camp. Between 1939 and 1945, his medical activities involved the direct use of infective agents and lethal chemicals upon approximately 1,000 imprisoned individuals.
Early Career and SS Integration
Born in 1912 in Bitterfeld, Germany, Ding-Schuler pursued a career in medicine, eventually joining the NSDAP in 1932. He entered the SS in 1936 and completed his medical degree and second state examination by 1937. By 1939, he transitioned into his role as a camp physician at Buchenwald, where he held the rank of Sturmbannführer.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Experiments at Buchenwald
As head of the department for spotted fever and viral research, Ding-Schuler utilized the facilities of Block 46 for experimental medical procedures. His work involved the application of cholera, typhus, gangrene, and yellow fever, alongside smallpox, as part of his research mandate. Records indicate that he additionally employed toxic substances including phenol and acridine on captives, resulting in numerous fatalities among the inmates under his supervision.
Actions and Death
Beyond his institutional research, Ding-Schuler was responsible for the death of the pastor Paul Schneider in July 1939 through a lethal dose of g-Strophanthin. Following his arrest by troops on 25 April 1945, he remained in custody until his death. He died by suicide in Freising on 11 August 1945 at the age of 33.
Fast facts
- Born: 1912, Bitterfeld
- Died: 11 August 1945, Freising
- Military Rank: Sturmbannführer
- Primary Affiliation: Hygiene Institut der Waffen-SS
- Site of Experiments: Buchenwald concentration camp
- Medical Focus: Typhus, cholera, and viral research
Questions readers ask
What medical research did Ding-Schuler conduct?
He led research into spotted fever, typhus, cholera, yellow fever, and smallpox using human subjects in Block 46.
How did Erwin Ding-Schuler die?
He committed suicide on 11 August 1945 following his arrest earlier that year.
Achievements
- Fields: medicine, phenol and typhus
