Selbsthilfebund der Körperbehinderten

German organization

Also known as: Otto Perl Alliance, Self-Help Alliance of the Physically Handicapped(Show More)

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

The Selbsthilfebund der Körperbehinderten (Self-Help Alliance of the Physically Handicapped) was founded in Germany in 1919 by Otto Perl and others. It was the first organization of its kind in Germany to represent the interests of the physically disabled and advocate for their emancipation.1

Otto Perl, who himself suffered from a stiffening of joints, was a key figure in the organization. He studied philosophy and economics and published writings that fought against institutionalization and demanded self-determination for the physically handicapped. However, his views later aligned alarmingly with Nazi ideology regarding selective care and the separation of the "mentally sound" from the "mentally degenerate".1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Otto Perl
…author and cofounder of the Selbsthilfebund der Körperbehinderten (Self-Help Alliance of the Physically Handicapped, or Otto Perl Alliance; 1919–31), the first emancipatory self-help organization representing the interests of the physically disabled in Germany.
Read More
…author and cofounder of the Selbsthilfebund der Körperbehinderten (Self-Help Alliance of the Physically Handicapped, or Otto Perl Alliance; 1919–31), the first emancipatory self-help organization representing the interests of the physically disabled in Germany.
Read More