Der größte Betrüger Deutschlands

Summary

Gert Postel, a former postman from Bremen, deceived the German psychiatric system for over a decade by impersonating a renowned psychiatrist. Motivated by revenge after his mother's suicide, he falsified documents and forged medical credentials to secure high-ranking positions in psychiatric clinics. Despite his lack of qualifications, Postel became a trusted figure, writing court reports and making significant decisions regarding patients. His actions exposed major flaws in the psychiatric system, but his true motivations remain unclear. Postel’s story serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked manipulation and the vulnerabilities in institutional systems.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gert Postel, originally a trained postal worker, impersonated a psychiatrist and became one of the most notorious fraudsters in Germany.
• 😀 Postel forged multiple academic credentials, including doctorates and medical licenses, to gain employment in psychiatric clinics.
• 😀 His motivation was rooted in revenge against the psychiatric system, driven by his belief that his mother's suicide was caused by poor psychiatric care and medication.
• 😀 Postel worked in various psychiatric roles under fake identities, often gaining trust by mimicking real psychiatrists and using impressive rhetoric.
• 😀 He first became a court assistant and later used his forged credentials to get hired as an assistant doctor in a psychiatric hospital.
• 😀 Postel also served as a deputy medical director in a psychiatric clinic, where he implemented controversial policies like reducing forced patient admissions and avoiding physical restraints.
• 😀 His criminal activities were uncovered after he lost his wallet, containing multiple IDs with different names and the same photo. Despite the evidence, he continued his fraudulent career.
• 😀 After multiple arrests and convictions, Postel was sentenced to prison but gained fame in the media, writing books, appearing on talk shows, and being hailed as a 'cult figure'.
• 😀 Despite being a fraud, Postel's psychiatric assessments and reports were highly praised, with some even considered better than those from real professionals.
• 😀 Postel viewed the psychiatric profession as full of frauds, positioning himself as the 'greatest imposter' among impostors, despite the significant harm caused by his deception.

Q & A

Who was Dr. Dr. Clemens Bartholdy, and what was his background?

Dr. Dr. Clemens Bartholdy was presented as a successful psychiatrist with two doctoral degrees, a great deal of influence, and considerable wealth. He was portrayed as a highly regarded and intelligent professional, with a promising career in psychiatry. However, it was revealed that this persona did not exist, and the man who portrayed him was Gert Postel, a former postman from Bremen.

What motivated Gert Postel to impersonate a psychiatrist?

Postel was deeply affected by his mother's suicide in 1979, which he attributed to poor psychiatric treatment. This event sparked a desire for revenge against psychiatrists, and he decided to expose and undermine the system by faking his way into the profession.

How did Gert Postel begin his fraudulent activities?

Postel started his fraudulence by forging various documents, including school certificates, IDs, and signatures. He used these to apply for various jobs under false identities. His first attempt to impersonate a professional was as a court assistant in Bremen, but the fraud was quickly discovered.

What was Postel's strategy to further his career in the medical field?

Postel continued to forge credentials, including a medical license, police record, and tax card, to secure a job as an assistant physician in a psychiatric hospital. He further educated himself by attending psychology and sociology lectures, absorbing as much knowledge as possible to enhance his impersonation.

How did Postel secure a prominent position in the psychiatric field despite his lack of qualifications?

Postel's persistence led him to a position as deputy medical officer at the Health Office in Flensburg. He was able to deceive colleagues and patients for months, making diagnoses, prescribing medications, and gaining respect in the field. His ability to manipulate people with his rhetoric and charm was key to his success.

What were some of the controversial decisions made by Postel while working in psychiatry?

Postel was critical of certain psychiatric practices. He drastically reduced the number of involuntary hospitalizations and was against forced restraint. Instead, he implemented night shifts to monitor patients, believing that they should not be physically restrained but kept under constant observation.

How did Postel's fraud eventually get exposed?

In 1983, Postel lost his wallet, which contained multiple IDs under different names but with the same photo. This led to an investigation by the police, and Postel was apprehended, receiving a one-year probation sentence.

What happened to Postel after his first arrest and probation?

After his probation, Postel wasted no time applying for new jobs and managed to secure a position at a clinic in southern Bavaria. His career continued to advance, and he eventually became deputy director of a psychiatric hospital in Saxony, where he earned respect for his work.

What did Postel achieve in his later years after being released from prison?

After his early release in 2001, Postel became a media figure. He wrote a book, appeared on numerous talk shows and radio programs, and became a cult figure. His story highlighted the flaws of the psychiatric system, even as he admitted to manipulating it for his own gain.

What was Postel's view on the psychiatric profession, and how did he justify his actions?

Postel saw himself as the ultimate fraud, believing that psychiatrists were all frauds due to their reliance on complex language and jargon to convince people. He felt justified in his actions, believing that the psychiatric system needed to be exposed for its shortcomings, even though his motivations were driven by personal vengeance and narcissism.