Karl Leonhard’s Life (1904–1988)

Abstract

Karl Leonhard was born on 21 March 1904 in Edelsfeld, Bavaria, son of a Protestant minister. He went to high school (Humanistisches Gymnasium) in Weiden, Oberpfalz, and then studied medicine in Erlangen, Berlin and Munich. After having finished his studies he became assistant physician for a short period of time at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Erlangen, under Specht. Then in 1931 he moved to the Psychiatric Hospital (Heil- und Pflegeanstalt) Gabersee, Upper Bavaria. A year later he was appointed senior physician and commenced pioneer investigations of the clinical pictures of defect-schizophrenics (”Defektschizophrene Krankheitsbilder”), attracting the attention of Karl Kleist. In 1936 Kleist called him to Frankfurt/ Main as senior physician, where a year later he was given an academic appointment in recognition of his work.