born 5 May 1938 in Wolnzach, Pfaffenhofen.
The answer to your letter of 30 April 1941 Dr. H/M "The child Anna Marie Thalmaier was in our institution from 17 March 1940 until 11 June 1940.
At that time she was under observation in the children's house and on the latter date was given to her father who declared him.
If ready to take the child, who was greatly in need of nursing, to the Associated Institution Schoenbraun, post-office Roehrmoos near Dachau. The special psychiatrist in our children's ward who had treated the child has been drafted. From our files, however, it can definitely be ascertained that the girl is suffering from feeblemindedness together with Paroxysmic disturbances. (loss of tonus) due to an attack of meningoencephalitis in February 1939. The child evinces a spastic collapse on the right side, but no other neurological findings except for a diverse strabism. She can sit and stand but not walk not even if assisted: she does not speak and has here learned to eat with the spoon. She is very much in need of care and suited for the Institution Schoenbrunn. In my opinion the child is one of those we observe and treat in our institution according to the regulations of Reich Committee for Scientific Research of Hereditary and Constitutional Serious Diseases. The special ward of the children's house was not yet opened at the time we transferred the child.
"Heil Hitler! (signature) B."
The Tribunal will now turn to the next document page 154, of the Document Book. I offer this in evidence as Document No. 1140, Prosecution Exhibit 350. This document consists of several letters from Pfannmueller to the General Patients Transport, G.m.b.H., concerning inquiries by relatives.
"D r a f t !
"To the General Patients Transport G.m.b.H.
Eglfing, 2 May 1941.
"Subject: Buchbinder Hilde Sara, born 1 August 1894 With 1 enclosure.
"Attached we are sending you a letter concerning Hilda Sara Buchbinder with the request that you handle this there. Buchbinder was transferred by you to another institution on 20 September 1940 in a collective transport of Jewish institution patients according to a decision of the State Ministry of the Interior.
Heil Hitler!"
On the next page we have a similar letter dated 3 May 1941, Subject: Schwarz Heinrich Israel.
Page 156 of the Document Book is an interesting document which I now offer in evidence as Document No. 1137, which will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 351. This is a document concerning the entry of children into mental institutions.
"Ministerial Gazette of the Reich and Prussian Ministry of the Interior.
No. 23 of 4 June 1941.
Recognition of the need for institutional care of children with severe congenital afflictions.
Circular of the Reich Minister of the Interior of 30 May 1941 IV W I 9/41-7805.
"With reference to the circular of 18 June and 1 July 1940 (Reich Ministerial Gazette IV, Page 1205, 1437) I request the social welfare associations to recognize in indigent cases the necessity for institutional care in the institution determined by the Reich Committee in those cases in which the Reich Committee for the scientific survey of severe afflictions through heredity or predisposition approaches the district physician for commitment of a child to an institution; this applies especially to the state (Iandes) welfare associations insofar as they have to administer the institutional care in the sphere of the so-called extraordinary welfare burden (for instance, in accordance with Par. 6 Pruss. Regulatory Decree to the FV) (See GS 1932 Page 207; 1937 Page 103) or pay the expenses.
"To the social welfare associations and their supervising authorities.
"Reich Ministerial Gazette IV Page 100."
The next document begins on Page 157 of the Document Book and I now offer in evidence Document 1145, as Prosecution Exhibit No. 352. On Page 157 translated for the heading "List of reported children according to the Circular of the Reich Minister of Interior about disposition of deformed (and similarly afflicted) new born babies."
Pages 157 to page 162 consist of six of these lists.
The Tribunal will now turn to Page 164, You will notice that Number 95 "Schnirer Walter, in the institu-- Authorization."
The word "authorization" in these lists of patients would seem to mean that the patient had been marked for death; that is for a mercy killing.
On Page 165 you will notice Patients 103 and 104. Again in the next column we have the feature mark, "authorization."
THE PRESIDENT: You say that is true in regard to the persons appearing on Page 163, as well?
MR. SHILLER: There is one, No. 44, on Page 163.
Then under "released to", "x in the institution" and "authorization".
Turning to Page 167 of the Document Book you will note the large number of patients after whose name is written the word "authorized".
In the first column it says, "x in the institution", and the next word "authorized".
Now, I would like to turn to Page 174; the Prosecution introduces in evidence Prosecution Exhibit No. 353. This is one of the documents referred to by Dr. Servatius, obviously which we have given in photostat form. This document is a list of mentally ill children, who were wilfully put to death.
I should like now to turn to Page 177, where the Tribunal can notice the last number is 171, that is 171 of such children.
The Tribunal will turn to Page 179 of the Document Book. I should like to introduce in evidence Document No. 1129, as Prosecution Exhibit No. 354. This document consists of a number of letters, I believe about nine letters from Pfannmueller to the Hospital and Nursing Establishments, concerning questionnaires.
Page 179 is a letter dated Eglfing, 19 November 1940.
It is addressed "To the Reich Association Hospital and Nursing Establishments. Berlin, W.9, attention: Party comrade Prof. Dr. Heyde."
"Subject: 102nd shipment of registration forms -300 pieces.
Nos. 129.501 to 129.800 re:
letter of 12 November 1940.
Dear party comrade Prof. Dr. Heyde, Enclosed, I am returning to you the 102nd shipment of 300 registration forms, nos.
129.501 - 129.800 after examination.
Heil Hitler! Dr. Pfannmueller."
On Page 180, a similar letter dated "Eglfing, 22 November 1940."
The Court will notice opposite the word "Subject;" 106th Shipment of registration forms, 258 pieces."
Page 181 a similar letter refers to the 104th shipment of 300 pieces.
On Page 182 another letter refers to the 105th shipment of registration forms, 300 pieces.
On Page 183 another letter from Eglfing from Dr. Pfannmueller to Dr. Heyde, refers to the 107th shipment of registration forms, 300 pieces.
On Page 184 still another refers to the 108th shipment of registration forms, 300 pieces.
The Tribunal will now turn to Page 187. This is the last letter in this document and refers to the 158th shipment of registration forms, 200 pieces, Nos. 181.001.
On Page 188 the next document No. 1130, which I should now like to offer in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit No. 355. This document consists of 19 letters from hospitals concerning questionnaires.
"Reich Association Hospital and Nursing Establishments.
To the Member of the Committee of Exports Director Dr. Pfannmueller Eglfing-Harr near Munich.
Subject: Shipment of Questionnaire Photostats Nos. 129.501 to 129.800 Enclosed I am sending you 300 questionnaires from the institutions.
Duren and Warsteiin.
with the request for examination.
Prepaid postage label is enclosed, to be used for return shipment.
Heil Hitler.
Prof. Dr. Heyde."
This illustrates the practice of sending the questionnaires to customers of other mental institutions. So the Director of Eglfing-Haar did not pass upon -- pass judgment upon the patients of Eglfing-Haar.
The Tribunal will now turn to Page 195. You will notice a letter to Dr. Pfannmueller, and that page is signed "Heil Hitler, By order: Nietsche "one of those experts in the euthanasia program.
Now, omitting reading a large number of these letters to Dr. Pfannmueller from the different hospitals, and from Nietsche and Heyde concerning shipment of questionnaire photostats.
If the Tribunal will now turn to Page 207, which is the last page of this document, I should merely like to call the attention of the Tribunal to the high numbers now represented; under "Subject:" "Shipment of Questionnaire Photostats Nos. 183 851 - 184 050." Signed "Heyde."
The next document No. 826, on Page 208 of the Document Book, which the Prosecution wishes to offer in evidence as Exhibit No. 356:
"Copy "The Reich Defense Commissioner for the Service Command III To the Mental Institutions located in Wehrikreis III.
Subject: Transfer of inmates of the Mental Institutions.
"In order to simplify the administration, in the course of reorganization of Mental Institutions, I shall order the transfer of a greater number of inmates of the Mental Institutions in the near future. I shall order the transfers from case to case as they become necessary. The patients will be transferred in concentrated transport groups accompanied by their records. The dispatching in institution will not incur any expenditures for the transport. The case records will be returned after examination by the receiving institution. The relatives will also be informed by the receiving Institutions. Those who pay for the inmates support are to be advised that further payments are to be interrupted temporarily from the time of transfer until their signed:
Stuertz."
Page 209 of the Document Book is another document, that is Document No. 1696-PS, which the Prosecution offers in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit No. 357. This is a letter from Dr. Conti to the Minister of the Interior, concerning questionnaires. It also has attached to it a form of questionnaire, and a document on procedure.
"The Reichminister of the Interior. 16 November 1939.
To the Head of the Hospital (for mental cases) Kaufbeuren or his Deputy in Kaufbeuren.
With regard to the necessity for a systemized economic plan for Hospitals and Nursing Institutions, I request you to fill out---" This is a typographical error.
It should be "out." --"the attached Registration Forms immediately, in accordance with the attached instructional leaflet, and to return them to me. If you yourself are not a doctor the Registration Forms for the individual patients are to be filled in by the superintending doctor. The filling up of the questionnaires is, if possible, to be done on a typewriter. In the column "Diagnosis" I request a statement as exact as possible, also a short description of the condition if feasible.
"In order to expedite the work, the registration forms for the individual patients can be dispatched here in several parts. The last consignment must, however, in any case have arrived at this Ministry at the latest on 1 January 1940. I reserve for myself the right, should occasion arise, to institute further official inquiries on the spot through my representative.
(sd) Dr. Conti."
On Page 210 of the Document Book, Your Honors, about the middle of the page, on the right hand side, is a notation for an answer. The notation says "Race" with an asterisk. At the bottom of the page the asterisk is repeated, and it says:
"*German or of similar blood (of German blood), Jew, Jewish mixed breed Grades I or II, Negro (mixed breed)."
This obviously shows the racial connotation of the euthanasia program. In the middle of the page it also says: "Nationality," leaving a blank for the nationality to be put in.
Near the bottom of the page is says:
"Regular visit and by whom (address) "Guardian or nurse (Name, address) "Responsible for payment:
...... Since when in that Institution."
It might be questioned as to whether individuals for whom no one was responsible for payment retained a fair chance or any chance of continued life.
On Page 211 of the Document Book, near the bottom of the page, about the fourth line up:
"Manner of employment (detailed description of work) "Permanent Employment, independent worker," and "yes" or "no."
"Value of work (if possible compared with average performance of healthy person)."
Again this shows that where the individual would result in some economic benefit to the Reich or to the Reich Government, that this was not purely a matter of medical and scientific interest.
On Page 212 of the Document book, "Public Utility, Ambulance Transportation G.m.b.H., Dept. II/d, H/K ---"
THE PRESIDENT: Before continuing with this document the Tribunal will recess until 1:30.
(A recess was taken until 1330 hours.)
AFTERNOON SESSION (The hearing reconvened at 1330 hours, 13 January 1947.)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
MR. SCHILLER: If the Tribunal please, I should now like to continue reading Document 1696-PS. That is on page 212 of the document book, page 4 of said document. Dated 12 May 1941, Public Utility, Ambulance Transportation G.m.b.H. to the Director of the Hospital of the District Association of Swabia, Kaufbeuren, Bavaria.
"Dear Director: By order of the Reich Defense Commissioner I must remove mental cases from your institution and from the Branch at Irrsee to another institution. A total of 140 persons are to be transported, 70 on 4th June and 70 on 5th June. I forward you herewith Transport Lists Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 in triplicate. The additional names on the lists are intended for possible deficits (discharged meanwhile, died, etc.)
"The marking of the patients is most suitably done by means of a strip of adhesive tape, on which the name is written in ink-pencil, to be pasted between the shoulder blades. At the same time the name is to be put on an article of clothing.
"The hospital reports and personal histories are to be prepared for the transportation and handed to our Director of Transport, Herr Kupper, in the same way the personal possessions of the patients, as well as money and articles of value.
"I enclose property information cards and information cards as to the defrayer of the expenses, which, accurately filled out, must be handed in at the time of transportation. Money and articles of value, besides being noted on the property information cards, must also be noted on separate special lists (in duplicate). Transportation takes place: On 4th June, 8:46 a.m. from Kaufbeuren - 70 patients: on 5th June, 8:46 a.m. from Kaufbeuren - 70 patients. Our director of transport, Herr Kupper, will visit you the previous day in order to discuss further details with you.
"I further request you to provide the patients with food (2 to 3 slices of bread and butter each and some cans of coffee). Heil Hitler! Signature.
illegible, Public Utility Ambulance Transportation G.m.b.H."
On page 214: "Provincial Association for Social Welfare, Swabia; Address, Augsburg 1, P.O. Box Regierungspresident, addressed to Director Dr. Faltlhauser of the Hospital, Kaufbeuren. Your reference: 2080. Your letter of 13.11.40 Augsburg, 6.5.1941, concerning the transfer of patients.
"I have the honor to inform you that the female patients transferred from your institution on 8.11.1940 to the institutions in Grafeneck, Bernburg, Sonnenstein and Harthein all died in November of last year. Signature, illegible."
Page 215. "Copy. Ministry of State of the Interior, Oberregierungsrat Gaum, dated Munich, 24 November 1942, to the Director of the Hospital, Kaufbeuren, Doctor of Medicine, Dr. Faltlhauser. To Head Physician Dr. W. Leinisch, Guenzburg. Re letter of 13.11. 1942.
"Dear Doctor: In your letter of 13.11.1942 you requested me to send suitable epileptics for the carrying out of your research work. I had an opportunity of discussing this with the Obermedizinalraten Dr. Faltlhauser and Dr. Pfannmueller. Both will willingly deliver you suitable patients. For various reasons patients from the Institution at Kaufbeuren are primarily to be chosen. If this institution has no suitable material, I agree to the transfer of patients from Eglfing-Haar to Guenzburg for your research work. I request you to get into touch with Dr. Falthausen. Heil Hitler, signature, Gaum."
Now turn to page 216 of the document book and I offer in evidence Document Number NO-825 as Prosecution Exhibit Number 358. This would seem to be form letter from Conti to administrators of various mental institutions.
"Copy. The Reich Minister of the Interior, Berlin, 24 October 1939, to the Chief of Blank or official deputy at Blank. With regard to the necessity of coordinating the mental institutions through planned economy I request you to fill out the attached questionnaires immediately according to the enclose instruction leaflet and to return them to me." This is signed by order, Dr. Conti.
On page 217, 218 and 219 we see the different pages of the enclosed leaflet.
On page 219, the first paragraph, "All patients are to be enumerated who, (l) are suffering from the following illnesses and cannot be employed, or for mechanical work only (plucking and similar work), in the institution." Dropping to number 3, "are interned as criminally insane persons, or (4) are not of German nationality or are not of German or German-related blood, indicating the race and nationality."
On page 220 we find a page headed: Explanations; that is, explanations of the leaflet. The last paragraph reads as follows:
"In cases of patients being newly admitted after the deadline date, questionnaires are to be filled out as well and to be sent to me collectively every year on 1 February (for the deadline date of 1 January) and 1 August (for the deadline date of 1 July)."
In view of this paragraph it may be questioned whether the authorities cared as to whether or not the doctors could perform a good diagnosis in a few days for the patients newly admitted after the deadline.
This completes Document Book 14, part II. My associate, Mr. Robbins, will now continue with the presentation of evidence in Document Book 14, Part III.
MR. ROBBINS: May it please the Tribunal, I now offer Document Number 3871-PS as Prosecution Exhibit 359. The first part of this document is a notice printed on green paper which accompanies the questionnaire and merely states that notification is to be made of all patients who fall in the following four categories:
"1. Those who suffer from communicable diseases", listed there; 2) those who have been inmates of the Institution for at least five years or 3) those who are confined as criminally insane persons; or it) those who do not possess German citizenship or who are not of German or related blood. State race and ..."
THE PRESIDENT: From what page of this document book are you reading, counsel?
MR. ROBBINS: "...citizenship." The footnote on the document ...
THE PRESIDENT: Counsel, from what page of this document book are you reading?
MR. ROBBINS: This is page 223, your Honor, of Document Book Number 3. The footnote at the bottom of the page defines race, several categories of race, as Germans and those of related blood, Jew, part Jew, first and second grade, negro, part negro, gypsy, part gypsy and so forth. I will merely refer to the last paragraph of the same green notice on page 224. of the document book. It reads as follows:
"Fresh cases of patients to be reported from your Institution after the date as specified are to be similarly reported on questionnaires and collected and sent to me by the 1st February (as of 1st January) or 1st August (as of 1st July) of each year."
I will omit reading the next part of the document which is similar to a document read by Mr. Schiller. The document that he read was 1695-PS. It merely contains instructions as to the filling out of the questionnaire and is signed by Dr. Conti as deputy.
The third part of the same document, 3871-PS, is found on page 225 of the document book. It is a letter signed by Linden. It is on the letterhead of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, dated Berlin, 10 November 1942, to the Director of the Dr. Hertz Private Clinic in Bonn, regarding the survey of the institutions for the care and treatment of the insane of all types.
"Supplementing my above mentioned letter, it is laid down that the Institutions for the Care and Treatment of the Insane are to notify me by the first of February (as of 1st January) and by the first of August (as of 1st July) of each year after the last notification, in other words, during the last six months what patients they have received.
"I take this opportunity of reiterating this directive. At the same time I note the following.
"For special reasons I now stress the necessity of making a complete report of all patients in the individual institutions.
"I, therefore, request that in future notification be made of all patients irrespective of the form or length of illness who have been received into the Institution since the last six months notices."
I especially extract here that "notification be made of all patients irrespective of the form or length of illness." Continuing reading the letter:
"In order to obviate certain difficulties which might arise in regard to patients received into the Institution a few days before the date as of which reported and on whom nothing can be said as yet. I am in agreement that a questionnaire be filled out especially for such patients who on the said date have been in the Institution for one month. In this way persons who have been received only temporarily can be eliminated.
" For the next date of notice, i.e., 1 February 1943, I request in addition that you include in your report also all these inmates of your Institution for whom hereto, in accordance with my earlier directive, forms have not been sent.
"The notifications should be made as before by completion of the questionnaire as prescribed and which can be obtained from me, and which are to be collected and forwarded to me as of the semi-annual date stipulated. Only the latest form of Questionnaire 1 with the printed reference 10407. 41.2 C is to be used (form enclosed). Any old questionnaire forms in your possession can be used for other purposes.
" I request the most careful completion of these forms with regard to all columns, as insufficient completion requiring necessary further inquiries will only involve additional work for you.
"In forwarding the questionnaires I am to be informed regularly of any changes which have taken place in the meantime in regard to patients already earlier reported, for instance, through death, discharge, transfer to other institutions, etc. This report can be made as of the dates in question on a list in duplicate, however, always giving the full name, date and place of birth, to which Institutions transferred, etc.
"Should it occur that such changes have not take place, then a notification to this effect should be made by the date in question.
"The supervising authorities of the Institutions have been notified. By Order, Seal of the Reichsminister of the Interior. (Signed) Linden."
I should next like to offer into evidence Document No. NO-841 as Prosecution's Exhibit 360. This is a form letter which was used to notify relatives of the transfer of patients from mental institutions. The original contains blanks as indicated in the translation. It is on the letterhead of the Director of the State Mental Institution, to the Attorney General in (blank), and it reads as follows:
"By virtue of a decree of the Reich Commissioner for the Defense the patient (blank) has been transferred today the (blank) to another institution, whose name and address is not yet known to me. The institution in which the patient shall be accepted will notify you accordingly. I ask you to resist from further inquiries.
"In case you should not receive any communication from the institution which has accepted the patient, I recommend to make inquires with the Patient Transport Corporation, Berlin W 9, Potsdamerplatz 1."
I next offer into evidence Document No. NO-828 as Prosecution Exhibit 361 which is a typical letter informing parents of the Death of their son. This particular letter being dated 20 February 1940, State Mental Institution Brandenburg on the Havel.
My dear Mr. Dr., Court.
No. 1 "We regret to inform you that your son, who in the meantime had to be transferred to our institution, has died here unexpectedly as a result of abcessed tonsils on 17 February.
We are sorry to say that all our medical efforts were in vain. He died softly and without any pain. With his serious and incurable disease death means relief for him.
"Due to the present danger of epidemic here, the body of the deceased had to be cremated immediately according to police request. We are asking you to inform us at your earliest convenience whether you want the urn with the ??rthly remains interred at any special cemetery. In that case we ask you to name the cemetery and give its correct address so that we can have the urn transferred to the administration of that cemetery. If you have no special wishes as to the burying or if you fail to inform us within a month, we will have the urn buried here free of charges. The belongings of the deceased had to be burned due to the danger of spread ing of disease.
"We enclose two copies of the death certificate which you will carefully keep in order to submit them eventually to the authorities.
Heil HITLER by order signed Dr. Meyer."
Evidence which I will present later show that letters such as this, identical letters, were mailed to several persons in the same locality. At times it was stated that the patient died from appendicitis when, as a matter of fact, the appendix had been removed as much as ten years previously.
The next document which I would like to offer into evidence is Document NO-828. I beg your pardon. This is still part of Document 828, and it is found on Page 229 of Document Book No. 111. This also a typical letter. I will not burden the Court with reading it since it is very similar to the previous letter.
The next document which is contained in the Document Book is No. NO-1190. I do not purport to offer this document in evidence at this time.
This document has been offered in evidence as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 321.
I should now like to offer into evidence Document 628-PS as Exhibit No. 362 found on Page 233 of Document Book No. 111. It is on the letterhead of the Country Asylum, Brandenburg on the Havel, and is another typical letter.
THE PRESIDENT: What number do you assign to this Exhibit?
MR. ROBBINS: This is No. 628-PS, your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: As an exhibit, what number do you assign it?
MR. ROBBINS: No. 363
THE PRESIDENT: Have you any 361?
MR. ROBBINS: The previous document, No. 828, was Exhibit No. 361, I believe.
This is typical of the other letters in the record. I will not read this document at this time. I should next like to offer in evidence Document NO-840 as Prosecution Exhibit 363. It is found on Page 235 of the Document Book. It is on the letterhead of the State Mental Institution, Grafeneck, dated 6 August 1940. It is addressed to Frau Barbara Schmidt and is signed by Dr. Keller. It read as follows:
"Dear Frau Schmidt:
We are very sorry to have to inform you that you daughter Franziska Schmidt who was moved on 26 July 1940 in the course of measures taken by the Reich Commissioner for Defense to this institution, suddenly and unexpectedly died here on 5 August 1940 due to a swelling of the brain. In view of the serious mental illness, the life of the deceased meant suffering. You will, therefore, have to accept her death as deliverance from her sufferings.
As there is at present danger of an epidemic -- "presuming a swelling of the brain--" at the local institution, the police authorities have ordered the immediate cremation of the body."
I will not read the next paragraph. The following paragraph reads: "Possible inquiries should be made in writing, as visits here are at present forbidden for reasons of the danger of an epidemic."