Post-War Medicine and Abortion in Vienna: Navigating Legal and Ethical Challenges for Rape Victims Exhibition

This exhibition delves into the complex medical and diplomatic challenges surrounding post-war abortion practices, specifically addressing cases of rape by occupying soldiers in 1945. It explores how medical professionals and politicians navigated legal restrictions to provide aid while protecting themselves.

The exhibition "Nachkriegsmedizin zwischen Hilfsbereitschaft und Diplomatie, zwischen Rechtskonformität und Schutz der Akteure: Inoffiziell legalisierter Schwangerschaftsabbruch nach Vergewaltigungen durch Besatzungssoldaten" examines the profound ethical and legal quandaries faced in the immediate aftermath of World War II, particularly in Vienna following the Soviet invasion in May 1945. With an alarming number of rapes reported, medical professionals and politicians grappled with the prohibition of abortion, seeking ways to assist affected women while avoiding legal repercussions. The exhibition reveals how, through unofficial directives and carefully worded medical justifications like 'patient is admitted for termination of pregnancy for health reasons and due to war-related emergency,' procedures were facilitated in public hospitals. Archival research uncovered the clandestine methods used, including the crucial requirement to omit specific terms like 'Russian' or 'rape' from medical records. It also details the collaborative efforts between doctors, the judicial system, and social administrators, such as the meeting on July 3, 1945, which established a consensus on the phrasing for medical indications. The text further highlights the logistical challenges of accommodating the high demand for these procedures within existing hospital capacities and the extension of these programs to various institutions. Additionally, it touches upon the role of district medical officers in issuing certificates for public welfare services and similar measures taken in other regions like Styria, showcasing a complex interplay of compassion, legal maneuvering, and the protection of practitioners during a period of immense societal upheaval.

Visitor information regarding opening hours and tickets can be found via the museum's website. Specific ticketing details for this exhibition are not provided on this page, but general museum access information is available under 'Opening Hours and Tickets'.