Enno Freerksen (1910-2001) is one of the most prominent German anatomists of his time, as evidenced by numerous international awards. His political role in the Third Reich, however, remains controversial. While some authors describe him an avowed National Socialist, Karl-Werner Ratschko recently speculated about a late turn of Freerksen towards political resistance.

The present work takes these contradictions as an occasion for a comprehensive source-based analysis of Freerksen’s activities in the Third Reich. For the first time, a synoptic evaluation of primary sources from eight different archives is undertaken. The study is supplemented by a systematic re-analysis of all available research contributions on Freerksen.

The study demonstrates that Freerksen not only joined numerous Nazi organizations – partly even before Hitler came to power –, but also took on several important functions in the Nazi apparatus and worked on National Socialist research topics (e.g. racial hygiene). It can also be shown that his steep scientific career was closely linked to his political activities. The thesis that Freerksen opposed Nazi ideology towards the end of the war, on the other hand, must be clearly rejected. On the contrary: The sources show Freerksen as a National Socialist polyfunctionary, who did not self-critically reflect on his role in the Third Reich even after 1945.