Hermann Werner Siemens (August 20, 1891 (Charlottenberg) -1969)[1] was a German dermatologist who first described multiple skin diseases and was one of the inventors of the twin study.
Siemens retired in 1964 and was succeeded by his formal pupil, M. K. Polano, who had been head of the Dermatology Department at the Municipal Hospital in the Hague.
[5] Siemens' research into hereditary diseases at this time gained criticism within the Nazis for not exploring far enough into the racial aspects of genetics.
As a result, the Commission on Higher Education forced the appointment of a different researcher who belonged to the NSDAP, Brodo Spiethoff, and the position was taken away from Siemens.
Hermann Werner Siemens was the first researcher to attempt to determine the roles of genetics and environment in the specific case of naevi, which are moles or birthmarks.
Within Siemens' research, he reported monozygotic twins having a higher concordance in naevus counts compared with siblings.
In 1916, Siemens published a book called Grundzuge Der Vererbungslehre, Rassenhygiene and Bevolkerungspolitik, or "Foundations of Genetics, Racial Hygiene and Population Policy".
After World War II ended, his works were edited to remove his endorsement of Hitler, but not of his advocation of racial hygiene.
Siemens wrote in 1937,"Since the National Socialist seizure of power the political goals that we, the racial hygienists, are in favor of, have now become a part—and not the least important one—of the German government program.