Walter Greite
Germany- Early Life and Education
- Rise within the Nazi Regime
- Scientific and Editorial Roles
- Involvement in Nazi Atrocities
- Post-War Career
Early Life and Education
Born in Germany, the distinguished biologist and ornithologist pursued academic endeavors at the University of Göttingen, delving into the fields of biology, zoology, and ornithology. His particular research focus was on the pigmentation of avian plumage. Culminating his studies in 1932, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation and became an associate professor.
Rise within the Nazi Regime
As a member of both the Nazi Party (NSDAP) and the Schutzstaffel (SS), he gained prominence during the Nazi era. From 1937 to 1938, he served as the head of the Hereditary Biology Department of the Imperial Department of Health, holding the rank of Oberregierungsrat.
Scientific and Editorial Roles
Throughout his career, he played a significant role in various scientific and editorial endeavors. He notably served as the editor-in-chief of the journal "Biolog" under the auspices of the National Socialist Teachers' Union (NSLB). He also held positions as deputy head and later director of the Imperial Union of Biology, contributing to the field of psychiatry as a scientific researcher at the German Research Institute for Psychiatry.
Involvement in Nazi Atrocities
In 1939, commissioned by Heinrich Himmler, he conducted anthropological examinations of "foreign races and descendants of mixed marriages" at the Central Office for the Deportation of Jews in Vienna. That same year, he participated in the "Sonderaktion Krakau," an operation aimed at exterminating Polish university professors and intellectuals.
Post-War Career
Following his involvement in the Nazi regime, he worked as a research officer in the Ahnenerbe from 1938 to 1942, leading its Biological Research Department. He maintained close ties with Ernst Schäfer, a renowned explorer and protector of Tibetan culture. In the 1960s and 1970s, he held the position of director at a rural school in Feldafing.
