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Graphic Literature

Käte Frankenthal, an Activist Physician

By Elke R. Steiner
Translated from German by Edna McCown
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 2

KIEL - 1901

13 - Year - Old Kate Frankenthal Attends The Secondary School For Girls On Blocksberg .


Person 1: KÄTE !
Käte: No , Leave me alone !

Person 2: Your best friend isn't inviting you to her birthday - party ?

Käte: Because our papa is on the board of the jewish congregation

Person 2: Let her play by herself !

Caption throughout each page: Based on Jutta Buchin's Documentation "Women Physicians Of The German Empire", The Institute For The History Of Medical Science , Berlin .
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 3

KIEL - 1908
At 18 , Käte Frankenthal has one goal : earning her diploma . .


Parents: But a young girl can't live alone in Berlin !

Käte: But this is the only prep school that accepts women !


Father: Then you'll have to live with our relatives .


Käte: No ! I want to study in peace and quiet and not have to deal with anyone !


Mother: Why doesn't she just fall in love with somebody ?

A Few Weeks Later
Mother: Write as soon as d you get there , my dear .
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 4

1912
Erlangen is one of the many stops in Käte Frankenthal's medical education .

Käte: See you in the lecture hall !

Professor: You've seen many cases of tuberculosis . how would you judge this child's chances of recovery ?

Käte: Very good.

Professor: WRONG !

Professor: They're terrible . The parents are poor and can't afford proper food or care .
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 6

BERLIN - 1919
In the republic proclaimed in November , Dr . Käte Frankenthal works as an assistant physician . during the January uprising shots are fired in the streets .


Käte: We can do it !
Let's go ! - Let 's go!

War duty , once again .

Medic: What about your work at the charité ?

Käte: I'll go back there when things quiet down .
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 7

BERLIN - TIERGARTEN 1927
Käte Frankenthal's life is ruled by politics and her medical practice .

Person: The lady doctor ! Right on time just after 6:00 !

Person: You could set your watch by her !

Worker: 7:30 already ! I've got to leave for the clinic !

Käte: Be reasonable !
Käte: You're on sick leave ! Stay at home !

Worker: I'm fine!

Worker: I'm not going to jeopardize my job ...

Käte: I consider it impossible to separate consultation and treatment !

Audience 1: BUT ...

Audience 2: QUIET !

Käte: The needs of those on public health insurance

Audience 3: BUT MY DEAR COLLEAGUE !

Käte: Another short night !
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 8

BERLIN - NEUKÖLLN 1931

Dr . Käte Frankenthal , member of the social democratic party since 1914 works as a physician for the city .

Käte: Open your shirt .

Käte: I've got to do something against the Nazis . Their influence is growing .

Käte: I can no longer support the SPD's tolerance of them .

Käte: The communist party is out of the question

Käte: and I can't not belong to a party .
Well .

Käte: Only the socialist workers party remains

Comrade Frankenthal remains true to the movement .
Not to the party .
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 9

THE ARDENNES , FRANCE - 1934
Fired as city physician , her life in danger as a socialist and Jew , Dr . Käte Frankenthal turns her back on nazi Germany .

Driver: What are you doing here , madame ?

Käte: I'm on my way to Prague .

Driver: On foot ?

Käte: I have a good deal of time and no money .

Driver: Keep going in that direction, you'll reach the village by evening.

Käte: Thank you .

Käte: No money , no passport ...

Käte: but still better than sitting around in Paris .
Hopefully I'll make it over the border .

Käte: Luckily , it's warm for April .
KÄTE FRANKENTHAL
KIEL NEW YORK
AN ACTIVIST PHYSICIAN BY ELKE STEINER EPISODE 11

NEW YORK CITY - 1945

With other emigrant physicians , Dr. Käte Frankenthal develops a plan for a democratic health care system in Germany

The military defeat leads to the collapse of the existing system ...

... emergency measures ... gas , water , electricity ... ... food for the masses ... hospitals destroyed ... ... epidemics ...

All of the doctors accepted into the system since 1933 are suspected of being Nazis ..

... doctors who were let go or had their practices taken away will be fully reinstated ...

Man: Amazing , Käte - studying psychology at 56 !


Käte: I've got to leave for the lecture now !


Käte: For democracy to work , we must open medical schools to more people ...

Woman: Do you want to return to Germany ?

Käte: No , i'm an American citizen now and my name is Käte .

First published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Köln, 2003-4.
Based on Jutta Buchin’s documentation, “Women Physicians of the German Empire,” the Institute for the History of Medical Science, Berlin. Copyright 2003, 2004 by Elke Steiner. Translation copyright 2007 by Edna McCown. All rights reserved.

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