Spiethoff, bodo

(¤ 1875, † 1948) Dermatologist, active in Jena, Leipzig. Dermatological training in Jena. Spiethoff headed the Jena Dermatology Clinic for 20 years from 1914 to 1934. In 1934, Spiethoff, who had been registered as an NSDAP party member since 1931 but was scientifically completely insignificant, was surprisingly appointed to the University Dermatology Clinic in Leipzig, the largest dermatology clinic at the time. This appointment was the result of an intervention by the "Reichsärzteführer" Gerhard Wagner. Spiethoff was a member of an expert commission for population and racial policy in the Reich Ministry of the Interior. He also became Reich Commissioner and Chairman of the German Society for the Control of Venereal Diseases. This was despite the fact that a board had only been elected one year previously. This included the two Jewish dermatologists Joseph Jadassohn and Felix Pinkus, as well as Leo v. Zumbusch. Here he stated unequivocally: "The state born of the national revolution is aware that not only hygienic, but also important national and ethical concerns are linked to the fight against venereal diseases." Spiethoff's attachment to the National Socialist idea was also evident in the fact that he published excerpts from Hitler's "Mein Kampf" in scientific communications in 1933 (Elsner P 2020).

His successor in Jena was Walter Schultze, also a former NSDAP member (joined the NSDAP before 1933) and loyal to the Hitler regime (Redderesen K et al. 2020).

1. Elsner P (2020) 95 years of the Jena University Dermatology Clinic - a personal reflection. Act Dermatol 46: 330-335
2. Reddersen K et al. (2020) 95 years of the University Dermatology Clinic Jena: history and present. Act Dermatol 46: 322-329
3. Spiethoff B (1936) Sense of responsibility in sexual life. MMW 83: 1621