"Ach, So?"

Into action last week went the first of Germany's 1,700 new Sterilization Courts (TIME, Jan. 1). In Goerlitz one Georg Puegner, a stolid 54-year-old laborer was first to be sentenced.

"Puegner," said the Goerlitz judge, "you have contributed to the delinquency of a minor."

"Ach, so?" cried Georg Puegner, blinking at the big words.

"I sentence you to be sterilized," barked the judge, "and also to one year in jail."

German physicians who fail to report patients who ought to be sterilized were threatened last week with a fine of 150 marks ($56).

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.