The long shadow of history. The building at Ihne Strasse 22 currently houses part of the Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science. From 1927 to 1945 it was the main building of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics, where scientists did research that in turn provided the basis for the policies of the Nazi government that were racist, antisemitic, and inhuman toward people with disabilities. In their work they crossed ethical borders and benefited from crimes. This is still evidenced by human remains found during construction work in 2014 and subsequent scientific excavations. A research project based at Freie Universität is investigating activities conducted in the building at Ihne Strasse 22 in the name of science and is preparing an exhibit about the history of the building.

Sources and additional information

On March 23, 2023, the human remains found on the grounds of Freie Universität Berlin since 2015 were buried at the Waldfriedhof cemetery in Dahlem. The steps and measures taken by Freie Universität after the first bones were found during construction in 2014, the subsequent scientific excavations and evaluations, and reports on discussions with representatives of those affected up to the burial are documented in a box underneath the article about the burial.

• Article in Featured Stories, “We must remain vigilant,” posted April 21, 2023
• Website of the Project “History of Ihne Strasse 22” at the Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin