“An angel of the poor” they called her. This plaque commemorates Martha Wygodzinski. Right here on Neue Schönhauser Strasse 13 in Pankow stands a testament to her life. It marks the site of a home she founded a haven for unwed mothers and their newborns.
Martha Wygodzinski was more than just a doctor. She was a pioneer. Born in Berlin in 1869 she became the first woman to join the Berlin Medical Society. She studied medicine in Zurich Switzerland one of the few European universities open to women at the time. She excelled graduating in 1898 with a doctorate in gynecology. She then worked tirelessly as a physician in Berlin’s poorest neighborhoods. She treated those who needed care most. Her compassion earned her the affectionate title “Angel of the Poor”.
Beyond medicine Martha was a committed social activist. She joined the Social Democratic Party (SPD). She served as a Berlin city councilor from 1919 to 1925. She fought for social justice particularly for women. She advocated for the repeal of paragraph 218 of the German Criminal Code which criminalized abortion. She believed in protecting mothers from prosecution. She urged for focusing on punishing those who performed illegal abortions.
She also worked to decriminalize prostitution proposing a “health police” rather than a morality police. Martha Wygodzinski understood the systemic injustices facing women and the poor. She didn’t just treat their symptoms she tackled the root causes of their suffering.
Tragically Martha’s life ended during the Nazi era. Her Jewish heritage led to her persecution. She lost her medical license in 1938. In July 1942 she was deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp. She died there in February 1943.
This plaque a small but powerful symbol reminds us of her remarkable life and legacy. Martha Wygodzinski’s story is one of courage compassion and unwavering dedication to social justice. It stands as an inspiration to us all. Let us remember her. Let us learn from her. Let us carry her spirit forward. The Martha Wygodzinski plaque is a place of remembrance and a call to action.