Short Answer 
Nazi euthanasia policy aimed to eliminate individuals with disabilities, seen as societal burdens, through legal measures that included forced sterilizations and a push to remove them from society. This systematic extermination involved medical killings, justified as merciful, using methods like gas chambers and lethal injections in specialized centers.
Nazi Euthanasia Policy Overview
The term Euthanasia refers to the Nazi policy aimed at eliminating individuals with disabilities, which they viewed as a societal burden. The regime implemented this policy before World War II, reflecting a broader ideology that marginalized those considered unfit. This systematic extermination plan was underpinned by the belief that people with disabilities impeded national growth and purity.
Legal Foundations of the Policy
Before the widespread implementation of euthanasia, the Nazi government enacted the “Law for the Prevention of Progeny with Hereditary Diseases.” This law aimed to prevent the reproduction of individuals deemed genetically inferior. Key aspects of this law included:
- Forced sterilizations of people with hereditary conditions.
- Identification of individuals with disabilities for removal from society.
- Establishing a public perception that viewed disabled individuals as undesirable.
Implementation of Euthanasia
The actual practice of euthanasia involved the medical killing of those with disabilities under the guise of mercy. This was done through various methods and was rationalized as a means to alleviate suffering. The execution of this policy included:
- Setting up specialized killing centers.
- Utilizing gas chambers and lethal injections.
- Targeting infants, children, and adults with disabilities.