A Perfect Madness by Frank H. Marsh

and
scientists, not his. So why would he even consider such a
ridiculous connection?
    Erich was shaken from his thoughts by
the entrance of Rector Mann onto the stage followed by a high Nazi
medical officer in full uniform, who had been kept hidden from the
students until now.
    “ Students and future
doctors of the Third Reich, be seated,” Mann ordered in a military
tone. “Those of you who will not become German doctors are excused,
unless you too wish to hear the good news being offered today by
Dr. Weber from the Health Ministry.”
    Extending his hand, Mann brought Weber
to the large lectern positioned boldly in the front-center of the
large hall, emblazoned with the ancient university crest. Erich
watched the short, squash-like medical officer move to the podium,
wearing tiny rimless spectacles that only emphasized his rotund
bald head. Though he was from the Health Ministry, he wore the
officer’s green ensemble of the German army, complete with a side
arm and Nazi insignia. Observing the man, Erich wondered if his own
father too had relinquished the sacred white coat for the Nazi
uniform when he succumbed to the call of the Nazi temptress, so
cleverly disguised behind the mask of eugenics. Years had passed
since he walked away from Berlin and his father in disgust at the
growing voices calling for the cleansing of the Aryan race. His
father’s voice had been one of the loudest and most influential in
the medical profession in supporting the virtues of sterilization.
What Erich did not know now was the full extent of his father’s
involvement in the Nazis’ medical ethos, the Nazification of the
medical profession. Nazi policies with regard to sterilizing or
killing people considered unfit for a society of the strong had
been subtly combined with a vigorous enthusiasm for extending
various forms of medical care to the entire German population. In
this way, his father and the other doctors could continue to view
themselves as authentic physicians, regardless of whatever evil
smell the Nazis showered on their profession. Later, Erich would
come to realize that a society of the strong did not include the
“pitiful” Jew.
    “ Good morning, future
healers and saviors of the glorious Third Reich,” were the most
understandable words Erich heard from Dr. Weber’s high, shrill
voice, as he began what would become to some, including Erich, a
very troublesome speech to follow. For thirty minutes he talked of
Germany’s awaited day in the sun, praising its righteous might that
all nations near and far trembled from. Then in an awkward gesture,
he flung his short arms open wide, which caused him to look even
more ridiculous to Erich, and made the pronouncement that the
students must be the new medical and biological warriors for the
state. Erich heard little else, his mind fixed on the words
“biological warriors,” until Dr. Weber spoke of a new shortened
curriculum for the medical school, one that would focus on military
medicine and population politics and racial biology, not that which
would ordinarily be expected of a well-trained German doctor. His
mind raced ahead to what this man was speaking in truth about, that
the students were to become involved in a holy synthesis of
marching boots and books. They were to engage in paramilitary
training as students with a commitment of their bodies and minds to
an all-out war against alleged enemies of Germany.
    Then they came, as Erich knew they
would—the only words that would give any rational meaning to what
Dr. Weber was saying. They had always been there, unhidden for many
years. But no one heard them as doctors except the likes of his
father, who saw only what the greatness of science could do when
combined with an ideology calling for racial purity.
    Pausing before he spoke, Dr. Weber
looked slowly around the room, staring at times at different
students until they became uncomfortable with the coldness in his
eyes.
    “ The Jews are our
misfortune, a grave