Helmut Machemer

Helmut Machemer (7 May 190318 May 1942) was a German ophthalmologist who served as "Truppenarzt" with the rank of "Unterarzt", corresponding to the rank of sergeant. He worked with Professor in Münster during the 1930s and, with him, pioneered an electrical treatment for retinal detachment.

After Nazi Germany passed the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, Machemer and his wife began experiencing more serious discrimination as, under these laws and due to her mother's Jewish ancestry, his wife was classified as a Mischling (or "mixed-race") and her rights were restricted. He joined the German army at the outbreak of the Second World War in the hope of winning a first class Iron Cross bravery medal. Machemer hoped this would allow his family to be reclassified as being of "German-blood". He fought in France and Russia, was wounded in action and won both the Iron Cross 1st Class and Iron Cross 2nd Class. Machemer was killed in action at the Second Battle of Kharkov on 18 May 1942, just four days after being notified of the first class award. His wife and children were granted German-blood status in March 1943. Machemer kept extensive written, photographic and film records of his wartime service and these have been published in a book and documentary film.

Early life and career Helmut Machemer was born on 7 May 1903 in Sprendlingen and spent much of his early life in Münster. Machemer joined the Sturmabteilung Nazi paramilitary in 1933 out of a sense of patriotism, he was expelled in 1937 due to his wife's ancestry.

Machemer was described by medical historian George Gorin as "a capable retinal surgeon". In 1934, he pioneered, with Szily, a method of treating retinal detachment by use of an electric current to form a chorioretinal scar.

Second World War Machemer was 36 years old when the Second World War began with the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939.

Machemer served during the 1940 invasion of France and the 1941 invasion of Russia, in which he served as an Unterarzt (medical officer aspirant) of the reconnaissance unit of the 16th Panzer Division. Helmut also wrote to Erna of his concern that he might be withdrawn from the front line and placed in a field hospital where he would be unlikely to be recommended for a bravery award. Machemer records that he celebrated this decision with champagne and, the next day had a hangover.

Machemer was killed at mid-day 18 May, while on a trip to screen the battlefield for wounded soldiers. Machemer was travelling in a car at the time, his companion was heavily wounded, but survived. This is believed to be the only known case of such an exemption. Hardinghaus also produced a novel based on the story (Ein Held dunkler Zeit) telling the story of Wilhelm Möckel, a doctor with the 16th Panzer Division, and his wife Annemarie.

Erna continued to live in Stadtlohn after the war, until she moved back to Münster in 1962. Erna died in 1970. Besides Hans the other sons were Peter and Robert Machemer (1933–2009), also an ophthalmologist and sometimes called the "father of modern retinal surgery".

Hans Machemer appeared in the BBC documentary "Lost home movies of Nazi Germany" explaining his father's self-sacrifice, through film footage taken by Helmut himself.