Institute for Sexual Science (1919-1933)Online-Exhibition by the Magnus-Hirschfeld Society

Dr. med. et phil. Arthur Kronfeld

Portrait of Arthur Kronfeldvergrößern
Portrait of Arthur Kronfeld (1919) (Ingo-Wolf Kittel Collection)

1886-1941 – Psychiatrist, psychotherapist, socialist

After studying medicine and philosophy, he worked at a mental hospital. In 1912, he won international renown on account of his critique of psychoanalysis.

Kronfeld is one of the Institute’s three founders. His scientific cooperation was crucial to enhancing the Institute’s reputation among expert and professional circles.

He concerned himself with physiological and psychical aspects of sexuality and devoted himself to psychotherapy. He drew up expert reports and was involved in training courses for physicians and medical students.

Kronfeld lived together with his wife at the Institute. He was the only physician to be put on the Institute’s pay-roll.

Occasional Collaborators of Kronfeld

Photovergrößern
Arthur Kronfeld at the Institute for Sexual Sience (1919) (Ingo-Wolf Kittel Collection)

In 1926, he left the Institute, qualified for teaching at university, became a senior lecturer and then a professor at the University of Berlin in 1931.
From 1933, Jews were gradually banned from teaching. Kronfeld was forbidden to lecture in February 1935. He emigrated to Switzerland in 1935, but was refused asylum. In 1936, he went to Moscow, became a university professor there and was granted Soviet citizenship. In 1941, Kronfeld and his wife Lydia jointly committed suicide in Moscow.

Dr. med. et phil. Arthur Kronfeld
Magnus-Hirschfeld-Gesellschaft e.V. Forschungsstelle zur Geschichte der Sexualwissenschaft

Dr. med. et phil. Arthur Kronfeld

Portrait of Arthur Kronfeldvergrößern
Portrait of Arthur Kronfeld (1919) (Ingo-Wolf Kittel Collection)

1886-1941 – Psychiatrist, psychotherapist, socialist

After studying medicine and philosophy, he worked at a mental hospital. In 1912, he won international renown on account of his critique of psychoanalysis.

Kronfeld is one of the Institute’s three founders. His scientific cooperation was crucial to enhancing the Institute’s reputation among expert and professional circles.

He concerned himself with physiological and psychical aspects of sexuality and devoted himself to psychotherapy. He drew up expert reports and was involved in training courses for physicians and medical students.

Kronfeld lived together with his wife at the Institute. He was the only physician to be put on the Institute’s pay-roll.

Occasional Collaborators of Kronfeld

Photovergrößern
Arthur Kronfeld at the Institute for Sexual Sience (1919) (Ingo-Wolf Kittel Collection)

In 1926, he left the Institute, qualified for teaching at university, became a senior lecturer and then a professor at the University of Berlin in 1931.
From 1933, Jews were gradually banned from teaching. Kronfeld was forbidden to lecture in February 1935. He emigrated to Switzerland in 1935, but was refused asylum. In 1936, he went to Moscow, became a university professor there and was granted Soviet citizenship. In 1941, Kronfeld and his wife Lydia jointly committed suicide in Moscow.