Ludwig Guttmann

Ludwig Guttmann

Sir Ludwig GuttmannCBEFRS(3 July 1899 – 18 March 1980) was aGermanneurologistwho started theStoke Mandeville Games.That was a sporting event for people withdisabilities.It developed into theParalympic Games.He was aJewishdoctor who fled Nazi Germany just before the start of the Second World War., Guttmann was one of the first people who organized physical activities for people with disabilities.

1933, Guttmann was working in Breslau (nowWrocław,Poland) as aneurosurgeonand lecturing at theUniversity of Breslau.in 1933 under theNuremberg Lawshe was stopped. He was sent to work at theBreslau Jewish Hospital,where he became medical director in 1937.In early 1939, Guttmann and his family left Germany because of theNazipersecution of the Jews. He was sent toPortugalto treat a friend of the Portuguese dictatorAntónio de Oliveira Salazar.TheCouncil for Assisting Refugee Academicshelped him to move toOxfordin March 1939. He did research at the Nuffield Department of Neurosurgery in theRadcliffe Infirmary.

In September 1943, theBritish governmentasked Guttmann to establish the National Spinal Injuries Centre atStoke Mandeville Hospital.TheRoyal Air Forcewas worried about the treatment and rehabilitation ofpilotswith spine injuries. It was the first specialist unit for treatingspinalinjuries in the United Kingdom. Guttman was the director until 1966. He organised the firstStoke Mandeville Gamesfor disabled warveterans, which was held at the hospital on 29 July 1948, the same day as the opening of theLondon Olympics.They all had spinal cord injuries and competed inwheelchairs.

In 1961, he setup the International Medical Society of Paraplegia, now theInternational Spinal Cord Society.