The first racial-hygienic measure of the NS-regime was the state-ordered sterili-zation of the »hereditarily diseased.« After the registration of the potential victims by the health authorities and heads of the psychiatric institutions, pseudo-proceedings followed before the »hereditary health court« consisting of NS-physicians and -lawyers. Medical diagnoses frequently were based on social value judgements. The sterilizations took place in specially authorized public hospitals. In Austria, about 5000 individuals were affected by these measures.