Monument to the X-ray and Radium Martyrs of All Nations

The Monument to the X-ray and Radium Martyrs of All Nations stands in the grounds of the Asklepios Klinik St Georg in Hamburg. It is a columnar stone memorial with plaques listing the names of those who died from radiation exposure in early medical work. The hospital itself was once called St Georg Hospital where the monument was unveiled in 1936 by the German Röntgen Society. The memorial honours 359 individuals from fifteen nations who worked with X-rays and radium in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their names appear on the original column and four additional plaques added later. An accompanying book, the Ehrenbuch der Radiologen aller Nationen, provides biographies of those commemorated, with the latest edition published in 1992. Visitors find a quiet space beside the hospital building where the stone column and plaques stand. The names are arranged alphabetically, offering a place for reflection on the pioneers of radiology. The clinic’s grounds provide a peaceful setting for remembering their contributions and sacrifices.