Max Flesch (1852-1943): Veterinary anatomist, physician and NS-victim

The Jewish physician Dr. med. Max Flesch, a student of the Wuerzburger anatomist Albert von Koelliker (1817-1905), was professor of anatomy, histology and embryology at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Bern from 1882-1887. He was the first at that school who unified the three anatomical fields in one hand. From his Institute came Oskar Rubeli (1861-1952) who was also his successor. From 1888 on Max Flesch was engaged as practitioner and later as gynaecologist. During the First World War he proved his worth as a hospital physician. After the war he most likely was working for another decade in his practice in Frankfurt before retiring in Hochwaldhausen at the Hessian Vogelsberg. During his retirement Flesch published his experiences as l nurse and hospital physician, respectively during the wars 1870/71 and 1914-1918. With the assumption of power by the National Socialists the living conditions for Jews in Germany radically changed; also Max Flesch became victim of the Nazi racism. Although very old he was carried off 1942 into the concentration camp Theresienstadt where he lost his life in May 1943. We owe Max Flesch honourable remembrance.