Clara Immerwahr

Overview

Clara Immerwahr born Polkendorff, Silesia, Germany June 21, 1840 (d. 1915). Pacifist; first German woman to obtain a PhD in chemistry, 1900. Killed herself after her chemist husband carried out first poison gas attack at Ypres.

Quotations

“[Chemical warfare is] the perversion of the ideals of science [and] a sign of barbarity, corrupting the very discipline which ought to bring new insights into life.” (quote & photo Jewish Women’s Archive: Immerwahr)