"Obersturmbannfuehrer "By order of the Reichsfuehrer SS, I have been conducting freezing experiments on human beings in the Dachau Concentration Camp for more than a year.
Today I learned from an experimental subject that I was not the only one conducting those experiments, but that, on the contrary, already in october-November, 1938 similar experiments had been conducted in the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. SS-Kauptsturnfuehrer Dr. Samenstrang is said to have frozen experimental subjects - that is prisoners - in cold water, and subsequently revived them by means of warm water or hot compresses. As I was to work out and have worked out a prescription for the Waffen SS for the resuscitation of frozen persons(for the campaign in the East), knowledge of all preliminary experiments in my field of work is of great importance for me. I therefore request that if possible you let me know what kind of experiments were conducted in your camp, and, if possible, what results were obtained in connection with these experiments.
"As you might not know anything about me, please make inquiries about me, if necessary, either at the personal Staff of the Reichsfuehrer SS (Obersturmbannfuehrer Baumert) or from the Commander of the Dachau Concentration Camp, SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Weiss.
"Yours sincerely."
Now, we come to Document No. 230, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit No. 115. And, this is, in fact, a short statement of the work performed by Doctor Rascher, and it was apparently prepared by him to aid in his habilitation of acedemic leaders.
THE RESIDENT: Mr. McHaney, I will ask you to read that slowly because our photostatic copy here is in a very bad condition.
MR. MC HANEY: Yes, sir.
This document is dated 17 May 1943. The heading of it is:"Course of Medical Training" "After, my state examination I became voluntary assistant at the surgical clinic of the Munich University from 1935-36 "From 1936-39 I was an unpaid assistant in the surgical department of the Schwabing Hospital in Munich.
"Since May 1939 till to-day i have been in military service with the Airforce.
"From 1939 till December 1942, I was attached to the Bureau of the Antiaircraft artillery school IV. During the whole summer 1941 I was detached to "Tranagerma" with the front command, station Bonina-Derna.
"Subsequently I repeatedly hold prolonged commands abroad, (Scandinavia, Italy).
"From 1939 till February 1942 I regularly acted as an assistant surgeon and repeatedly held the position of an independent chief physician of hospitals.
"From 1933 till 1938(up to the invasion of the Sudenteland, after which date I entered the military service) I worked, with the assistance of the emergency Society for German Science, and in-cooperation with the University Professor Dr. Trump in the Pathological Institute of Munich University, on the subject:'Is it possible to influence different media of crystallization by addition of organic compounds to such a degree, that the thus obtained changes can be utilized for diagnostic purposes?'
From this originated the following treatises :'Attempt of a crystallographic diagnosis of pregnancy; examination of E. Pfeigum's statement about the possibility of a crystallographic cancer diagnosis', published in the Munich Medical Weekly Journal 1936, and 'Provisional report on attempts of a crystallographic Cancer-diagnoses', Munich Medical Weekly Journal 1938. The research work of Li esegang, Hackel. E. Pfeigum and others, who were able to show the influence on the crystallization by means of addition of organic compounds, induced me to conduct these experiments. The fact that the tumor tissue during its growth secretes heterogenous albuman into the body fluids, which is one of the causes for cachexia, induced me to investigate whether these albuman were also in a position to produce a typical effect on the crystallization in a saturated solution (e.g.copper sulfate). In fact in the further course of these investigations typical changes in the crystallization appeared, which seemed, to justify further researches an this field. Experiments to influence the crystallization with small dosages - 1 to 1/10 milligram - of the different amino acids had a positive result.
Also the crystallization of the blood of white rats and mice of the animal form for tumor-research in Berlin, implemented with carzinomae or sarcomas showed a definite change in comparison with the blood of healthy animals.
"As to the blood of tumor infected human beings, the experiments conducted are not yet sufficient to make any report on them.
"By military order, I started in 1939 in co-operation with the University Professor Dr. G.D. Fischer, Marburg, to work out a "Medical method of selecting soldiers fit for stereoscopic vision" (Selection of range-finder operators).
"The results of things research work can be found in a secret military document, as well as in an aviation regulation (see also the plastic instructional film on the training or range-finder operators, published by the German Air Ministry). Basing on this method the range-finder operators of the optical system are being selected at the Anti-ai kcraft Artillery School IV for the air force, the Waf on-SS, the army and also in part for the navy. In the years 1940-41 I held lectures on the subject'Selection of range-finder operators" in the anti-aircraft artillery school of the navy end conducted also regularly selection courses with lectures at the anti-air-craft artillery school".
I suppose that is IV - yes.
"Since February 1942 I have been conducting experiments in the Dachau Concentration Camp: first, By order of the Reichsfuehrer-SS and the Surgeon General (Generaleberstabsarzt) Prof. Dr. Hippke, I conducted "Experiments with Dr. med. habil. S. Ruff and Dr. Romberg of the German Experimental Institute for aviation (DVL) Berlin. The results of those experiments are described in a secret military document and in * we big experimental films,Second, By order of the Reichsfuchrer-SS and the Surgeon General)Generaleberstabsarzt) Prof. Dr. Hippke, I conducted "Experiments for the rescue of frozen persons (started on 15 August 1942) in cooperation -for four months with the University Prof. Dr. Holzloechner, Kiel and Dr. Finke of the Kiel University.
"Since the results of our common researches partly due to the lack of time, were not exhaustive enough, and since the newly acquired scientific findings were not utilized, I continued to work with four or five chemists on the solution of the physiological-chemical problems with regard to frozen persons. Examined were amongst others the changes of the heart action, the blood status, the nonprotein nitrogen, the MG-1 blood level, the blood sugar, the lactic acid, the blood oxygen and 002 (arterially and veneously), the plasma and serum viscosity, the hemolysis, the speed of the blood circulation, and the size of the blood corpus useles. Still completely missing are the exploration of the changes of the respiration capacity (because of the lack of an appropriate instrument, the Krogh spirometer), the graphic record of the change of the blood pressure (because of the lack of a hymograph, as well as the proper instruments for a surgical method for taking the blood pressure), and the examination of the adrenaline changes in the blood (for this purpose are missing:
a Pulfrich photometer, a Hanau quartz-lamp for analysis with darfilter, a mixing bowl, Schott glass filter GG14 and a Schott glass filter GG13).
"The Reichsfuehrer-SS ordered that on basis of one of these two researches I should apply for admission as a qualified academic teacher. The total completion and the critical evaluation of the observations with regard to frozen human beings will take about four to five months more. In order to conduc those experiments, it is absolutely necessary that the instruments mentioned in the previous paragraph be placed at my disposal.
"For the time being, the staff of co-workers at my disposal, is sufficient.
"After conclusion of this research work I intend, as agreed upon, to return to the university Institute for Aviation Medicine and Hygiene (Prof. Dr. Pfannenstiel, Marburg) for my further scientific training. With Prof. Dr. Pfannenstiel a schedule as to further research in his institute has already been worked out. The research work, shich I personally chose, concerns:
1) High altitude
2) Elucidation of freezing injuries in the scope of critical research.
"I am Chief of Department of the "Ahnenerbe" and in this capacity I have been conducting, my scientific research work until now; the 'Ahnenerbe' has always assisted me in every respect".
(Signature) SIGMUND RASCHER.
The next document is No.231, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit 116 and here was get a little further insight into the activities of the defendant Gebhardt. This letter is from Sigmund Rascher to the defendant Sievers as Reich business Manager of the "Ahnenerbe" Society from Dachau. Dr. Rascher is still working there. The date is 17 May 1943.
"Deal Standartenfuehrer: The following contains a short account of my report to SS-Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. GEBHART.
"On 14 May 1943 I reported to SS-Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. Gebhardt at Hohenlychen. I had hardly arrived, when SS-Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. Gebhardt asked me to account in a very loud voice, how I dared to submit specialist medical reports directly to the Reichsfuehrer SS (he was referring to the treatise on 'The Cooling of Human Beings Outdoors'). I actually did not even got a chance to speak and, practically, couldn't reply anything.
Then, when I tried to reply, Prof. DR. GEBHARDT said that, if I wanted to defy him, my train would be leaving for Berlin at 3 o'clock. When I was finally given opportunity to speak, I could point out to Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT that the report in question was not meant to be a stricktly scientific work, but simply was a short information for the Reichsfuehrer SS on the results of the experiments conducted up to now. Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT had taken the view that the report was unscientific, and if a student of the second term dared to submit a treatise of that kind, he would throw him out. Latcr on I could toll him that of course all the physiologicalchemical experiments that could be carried out in Dachau with the available instruments had indeed been conducted. Where upon Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT replied:
I can imagine that you did a lot of work, one can tell it from this job. If I had not believed that you did a lot of work, I would not have asked you to come at all.
"In addition, Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT said that he intended to merge all the groups of physicians working independently within the SS, since that would suit the Reichsfuehrer SS much better than individual people working on their own. Besides that, I somehow ought to learn university methods by working somehow, since very likely I did not yet have the proper training. SS-Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT suggested that it was necessary for me to get out of Dachau, since there I was quite left to myself and had no guidance whatsoever once I intended to enter upon a university career, I would by all means have to complete the training of a university assistant first. He further said that all those SS-physicians who were qualified to enter upon a university career, had the duty to do so. Upon my reply that for that reason I was already in touch with Prof. PFANNENSTIEL, Prof. GEBHART replied that these matters ought to be processed by a centralized angeney. In future it would not do that I send reports directly to the Reichsfuchrer SS, but further reports to serve their purpose would have to be transmitted through him to the Reishsfuehrer. If the report had reaches a suitable stage, he would first inform tho Reichsfuehrer SS, go and see the Reichsfuehrer SS together with me. Finally Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT Court No lasked me to give him data on my personal and scientific career, to enable him to make further arrangements.
He requested me to call again in the afternoon. When I called in the afternoon, I was, as already in the morning, accompanied by SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. FISCHER".
I would like to say hypothetically, Your Honor, that it is the defendant Fischer, but since I am not sure of it, I will not say it.
"This time, Prof. Dr. GEBHARDT was extremely amiable. He asked me, whether I now agreed with his arrangements; it would be by far the best I could do, if I joined him. I should not worry, but just continue my work in Dachau, until I had finished my jobs. Later one would see, what was to be done for the future. Upon my question, what it was all about, and who was my superior, whether the Reichsarzt SS, SS-Gruppenfuehrer Dr. GRAWITZ, who had come for an inspection several days age, the Reichsfuehrer SS, as he personally had promised me, or the 'Ahnenerbe', of which I had been a member for years, Prof, Dr. GEBHARDT suggested, all that will be straightened out. Just trust it to me. But I'll need your curriculum vitae soon, since I have to report to the Reichsfuchrer SS on 23 May.
May I ask you, Standartenfuehrer, under whom I am actually working? Under the Reichsfuehrer SS, the Ahnenerbe, the Reich Physician or Prof. Dr. GEBHART Prof. Dr. GEBHART has already asked me, why I was no a member of the Waffen-SS. Upon my answer that Dr. HIPPKE does not like to let me go, he declared, you are too able for him to let you go. Standartenfuehrer. If the same tug of war starts in the Waffen SS as has been going on between the Luftwaffe and SS, I'd rather do without a transfer to the Waffen-SS. I was promised, that I would continue to work under the Reichsfuehrer SS, under the 'Ahnenerbe'. But, I cannot serve several masters at the same time. Of course, I am convened that SS Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. GEBHART had the best of intentions. His assistants are enthusiastic about him. If I am compelled to ask Prof. Dr. GEBHART's advice each time I am going to start a new experiment, I will get so much involved in the academical routine that I won't even be allowed to experiment such a method as rapid resuscitation that overthrows all the established clinical expedience, because they contradict Prof. Dr. GEBHART's methods, which are based upon centuries old clinical experiences. Also the cooperation with Prof. v.Luetzelburg would thus come to an end, as those experiments are from the very start contradictory to the hither to recognized clinical experiences.
I think, think arrangement would stop everything that really ought to be experimented.
"I pray you with all my heart, Standartenfuehrer, to handle this affair in such a way that Prof. Dr. GEBHART, who is a very close friend of the Reichsfuehrer SS does not turn my enemy. I think that Prof. Dr. GEBHART can and will be an extremely disagreeable adversary. Or I get into trouble with him, I would rather resign my job and risk for an immediate transfer to the Luftwaffe for combat service. I, therefore ask you again to deal with this affair with as much circumspection as it actually requires, because in addition I am convinced that Prof. Dr. GEBHART (apart from his personal ambition) really has good intentions".
There are some inserts noted here:
"NEFF, who, as you know, is a farm manager by trade, asked me whether there was no possibility for him to return to his old job. Having been promised last year by the Reichsfuehrer SS on the occasion of his inspection of the experimental station in Dachau on 1 May, that he could return to his old job after a time of probation, I think that I can recommend NEFF's request for giving him a chance to return to his old job as a farm manager. There are many SS farms, where a good manager, who really understands his job is badly needed. I believe that considering the present situation, I do much better to release NEFF to his job as a farmer, rather than keeping him here for the only reason of 'boarding' one more worker. NEFF is a good and industrious worker, but I am convinced that he is more efficient as a farmer, because he will be heart and soul in his job. I once had a talk with Herr LITTERT, Dachau Medicinal Plant Garden, about NEFF, Lippert said that specialists like NEFF were looked for like pins in a hay stack, he did not have one but plenty of openings for farm managers, where he could place DEFF immediately. I certainly regret to let NEFF go, because I dm!t know, whether I will find again such an honest and active assistant for general tasks, but on the other hand, I can see the importance of agriculture and therefore I am keeping NEFF ready for this purpose. Please think it over, whether anything can be done in this matter" (Signature) S. RASCHER.
A copy was sent to the defendant Sievers.
This letter demonstrates very well, I think, the extreme power of the defendant Gebhardt. As a matter of fact, it can be seen that Rascher also was afraid of him and he was ready to go to the front as a fighter for the Luftwaffe. It moreover indicates that the defendant Gebhardt was at this time anxious to manage all the group of physicians working independently with the SS. I will recall to the Tribunal that the reorganization of the medical service of the Waffen-SS occurred in August of 1933 and this letter is dated 17 May, 1943
THE PRESIDENT: The cOurt willnow recess until 9.30 tomorrow morning.
(The Tribunal adjourned until 13 December 1946, at 0930 hours).
Official Transcript of the American military Tribunal in the matter of the United States of American, against Karl Brandt, et al, defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, on 13 December 1946, 0930-1430, Justice Beals, presiding.
THE MARSHAL: The Honorable Judges of Military Tribunal 1. military Tribunal 1 is now in session. God save the United States of America and this Honorable Tribunal. There will be order in the courtroom.
THE PRESIDENT: The Marshal will ascertain if the defendants are present.
TEE MARSHAL: May it please Your Honor, all the defendants are present in the courtroom.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary General will note for the record the presence of the defendants in the courtroom.
MR. HARDY: May it please the Tribunal, the prosecution respectfully requests a 15 minute recess due to the fact we have had mechanical difficulties with the safe in which we have the exhibits secured. We assure you we will be ready in another 15 minutes.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will be in recess until we are informed the mechanical difficulties have been overcome.
MR. HARDY: Thank you.
(At recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the courtroom will find their seats. The Tribunal is again in session.
MR. McHANEY: May it please the Tribunal, at the recess yesterday evening, we had completed the introduction of Document NO-231 as Prosecution Exhibit 116, which the Tribunal will recall was tie letter by Dr. Rascher to the Defendant Sievers discussing a conference which ho had had with the Defendant Gebhardt.
I come now to Document NO-267 which will be Prosecution Exhibit 117. This is a letter from the Defendant Sievers to the Defendant Rudolf Brandt, dated May 22, 1943.
THE PRESIDENT: The last exhibit I have marked is 116. Did I miss one?
MR. McHANEY: The next exhibit will be Prosecution Exhibit 117. 116, your Honor, was introduced yesterday evening and was Document NO-231. Prosecution Exhibit 117 is on page 149 of the English Document Book. It concerns the report of SS Haupsturmfuehrer Dr. Sigmund Rascher to SS Gruppenfuehrer Professor Dr. Gebhardt.
"Dear Comrade Brandt, on May 17, 1943, I received an urgent call from SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher who wanted to give me an account of his conversation with SS Gruppenfuehrer Professor Dr. Gebhardt. The contents of that report induced me to request Dr. Rascher to submit the report in writing. I am sending you herewith that report and ask you to let me know whether the Reichsfuehrer SS has given any definite directive to SS Gruppenfuehrer Professor Dr. Gebhardt in regard to Dr. Rascher's sphere of action and work. I entrust you with this affair and ask you particularly to use it only for your strictly personal information as that Dr. Rascher does not encounter any difficulties with SS Gruppenfuehrer Professor Dr. Gebhardt. In the meantime Dr. Rascher has submitted his personal and scientific curriculum vitae to SS Gruppenfuehrer Professor Dr. Gebhardt in accordance with request.
Heil Hitler. Your Sievers".
The letter, of course, refers to the report which we have already offered in evidence. Oh, I beg your pardon, it refers to a report which is given in Prosecution Exhibit 116, and again it shows that the Defendant Gobhardt occupied a very influential and powerful position within the Medical Service of the SS. Both the Defendant Sievers and Rascher were very much afraid to do anything that might upset the Defendant Gebhardt, and of course, the curriculum vitae which is referred to in that letter has also been introduced in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 115.
We come now to Document NO-229 which is a letter of 27 September 1945 by the Defendant Sievers to the Defendant Rudolf Brandt. It concerns the appointment of SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher as a lecturer. Dr. Rascher, as the Court will see, from some of these exhibits, was assigned to be appointed as a lecturer to one of the universities in Germany.
"Dear comrade Brandt! I have taken up the matter of the appointment of Dr. Rascher as lecturer. I myself brought together Dr. Rascher with Profossor Dr. Blome as well as with SS-Brigadefuhrer Mentzel. The procedure and the possibilities were thoroughly discussed. Professor Blome talked with Professor Pfannonstiel at Marburg. So that the path toward effecting this appointment, which is to be a 'secret appointment' ('Gehein habilitation') and therefore causes some difficulty, is smoothed. Kind regards and Heil Hitler! Yours, Sievers."
And here we see the Defendant Blome entering the picture for the first time in our exhibits, at least. The Court will recall that the Defendant Blome was, from 1941, a member of that august body, the Reich Research Council, and without any question the Defendant Sievers, who by this time, was himself a member of the Reich Research Council, was in contact through that agency with the Defendant Blome.
You see here mentioned also SS Brigadefuehrer Mentzel, and you will recall that Mentzel was something in the nature of a chairman of the managing Committee of the Reich Research Council and Sievers was deputy to Mentzel. And here in this letter we see that the Defendant Blome has been contacted in an effort to qualify Rascher as an academic lecturer on the basis of his research in Dachau on high altitude problems and freezing problems.
I am sorry, Your Honor, apparently I did not offer this formally. This is Document NO-229, and will be Prosecution Exhibit 119.
The next document is NO-432 and will be Prosecution Exhibit 119, and this letter, too, makes a most interesting reference to the Reich Research Council on which the Defendant Blome was active, the defendant Karl Brandt was active, the defendant Sievers was active, and also the defendant Rostock as alternate for the defendant Karl Brandt. This is a letter from the deceased Rascher to Walter Noff who was the inmate assistant to Dr. Rascher in Dachau and helped him very materially with the high altitude, freezing, and other experiments carried out there by Rascher on concentration camp inmates.
The letter reads as follows:
"Dear Neff: Your letter dated 11.10 reached me here on the 15.10. First of all many thanks for your decision to write such a detailed letter. I really was very pleased about it. To come right away to the affair concerned: I am very sorry to hear that you are being bullied, especially as there exists no reason at all for it. Please let me know the name, rank, and address of your commanding officer, because I most certainly will take the matter up. There is no purpose at all in your getting stuck there. Finally I too know how the general condition of your health had been, when you were still here, and I also am able to judge that you cannot go through a heavy infantry training. I am glad that you became also accustomed to the ideals of the place and I am convinced that you would be glad to go to the front. But nevertheless: On the other hand, I believe that I need you more urgently than you are needed at the front. As a matter of fact I need you for the following: From the Reich research Council I got the order to carry out open-country freezing experiments, and I think they will take place on the Sudelfold. Now, I need urgently a most reliable man, acquainted with the material, and that is you in this case.
I will go in the next few days with Sievers to the Fuehrer's headquarter and report there in this sense and will let you know immediately.
"I received a copy of a letter according to which you have to rely on a family allowance during the time of your mobilization. If the amount of money you receive is considerably lower than the pay you drew up to now, I will be glad to give you or your wi*e 50 marks monthly out of my pocket. You can take it without being ashamed; I can afford it, and I am glad to do it. As a matter of fact, I do not like to see you getting into difficulties. I ask you, of course, to regard that as a comrade like private matter between the two of us. You know me too well to feel ashamed. I expect your frank answer to this matter without any inconvenience. My wife and myself are alright. The last air raid slightly damaged only the lightgiving appliances and the walls, that is to say, the bulbs were smashed.
"I expect you notice soon, and remain until then with sincerest comrade-like regards, your old chief, signature, Rascher."
In addition to seeing from this letter what the deceased, Dr. Rascher -- in addition to his other fine characteristics he was also an extraordinary generous individual. Put the important thing to note is that Rascher states here that he has received an assignment from the Reichs Research Council to continue his dry freezing experiments. Now, I call the Tribunal's attention to the date on this letter from Neff which is 21 October 1943, and ask you to compare it with the date on Prosecution. Exhibit 118, which is 27 September 1943; and from this Prosecution Exhibit 118, the Tribunal will see that the deceased, Rascher, had been in touch with Dr. Blome, a member of the Reich Research Council; and a matter of three weeks later, he reports that he has received an assignment from the Reichs Research Council.
And I suggest that that is not a matter of simple coincidence. Fortunately, however, the Prosecution does not have to rely upon this reasonable deduction from the documents. Document NO-690 -
THE PRESIDENT: Just a moment, counsel. I notice that the date of the letter for Exhibit 119 on this copy, at least, is 21 October 1946.
MR. McHANEY: You are right, Your Honor. One moment, please, I am sure that that is a mistake. Mr. Travis will you pass the Exhibit up to the Tribunal? This is the document going into evidence, Your Honor, as Prosecution Exhibit 119, an the date is 1943 and not 1946, which is a mistake on translation.
As I was observing, we need not rely upon this reasonable deduction to prove that the defendant Blome was instrumental in securing this freezing assignment from that great research body in Germany, the Reichs Research Council.
And I offer Document NO-690 as Prosecution Exhibit 120, and this, Your Honors, is a card taken from the files of the Reichs Research Council which shows the research assignments being worked on under the auspices of Professor Dr. K. Blome, who is the defendant Blome in this dock; and I call your particular attention to the research assignment listed third in order on page 154 of tho English Document Book. There you will see that the priority number which is listed as the SS number is 0328, requested by Rascher, Munich; topic: Rewarming after general freezing of the human body, healing after partial freezings, adjustment of the human body to low temperatures. Then comes the registration number 1879/15. This is noted as worked on by Professor Dr. K. Blome with his deputy being Dr. Breuer; and I submit that this document conclusively proves that the defendant Kurt Blome was also implicated in the horrible experiments that took place in Dachau.
As long as we are on this document -
THE TRIBUNAL (Judge Sebring): Will you point that out again, sir, that statement from which you draw that inference?
MR. McHANEY: The research item is noted on Page 154 of the English Document Book, and you will see that the third research assignment under the auspices of the defend ant Blome in listed as Rascher: Rewarding after general freezing of the human body, healing after partial freezing, adjustment of the human body to low temperatures. I construe that, Your Honor, to be a continuation under the auspices of the Reich Research Counsel of the freezing experiments in Dachau; and, of course, that is corroborated by Prosecution Exhibit 119, the letter to Neff in which Rascher is asking Neff to return to him in order to assist to carry out this research assignment from the Reichs Research Council.
THE TRIBUNAL (Judge Sebring): I thought you drew some inference and made some statement to the Tribunal that the document tended to show that Dr. Blome had worked upon the matter, is that correct?
MR. McHANEY: Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that he actually experimented with Rascher. The burden of my argument is that the defendant Blome secured an assignment by the Reichs Research Council for the deceased Rascher in order that he could continue his experiments under their auspices and with their support, which proves a number of things, Your Honor, in addition to the fact that the defendant Blome has now become implicated in the dry freezing experiments at least. It also shows that the Reich Research Council as a whole has become involved in criminal experiments upon living human beings and to further support that, I call your attention to the research assignment immediately under the Rascher assignment which reads:
"SS number 0329, Hirt, Strassburg." The topic is "Changes in the living organism under the influence of poison gases." And that, if Your Honor please, is a reference to the Hustard gas experiments to which we will come at a later point in the trial and those experiments again will be proved to have been carried out upon living human beings in concentration camps; and these two were carried out under the auspices of Kurt Blome in the Reich Research Council.
We come now to Document NO-290 which will be Prosecution Exhibit 121. This letter again makes reference to the efforts of Rascher to obtain admittance as a lecturer to a university. This letter is from the defendant Sievers to the defendant Rudolf Brandt, dated 21 March 1944.
"Dear Comrade Brandt, My last letter to you on this subject was written on 27 November 1943. In spite of the intervention of SS Brigadefuehrer Professor Dr. Mentzel and the deputy Reichsaerztefuehrer (Chief of the Reich physicians league), Professor Dr. Blome, of which I informed you at the time, admission to the faculty with Professor Pfannenstiel at Harburg was not possible. On the 30th of November, Pfannenstiel wrote to Professor Blome on the subject as follows: "I tried to pave the way for admission to the faculty here since it was clear from personal discussions with Dr. Rascher that our spheres of work ran parallel to a great extent. The fact that Rascher's activities have to be kept secret makes the affair very difficult to handle. In these circumstances I was unable to persuade the Marburg medical faculty to admit Rascher. (Professor Pfannenstiel then recommends that an attempt be made to have him admitted to the faculty in Frankfurt or Munich). I am genuinely sorry that I cannot fulfill as I originally hoped to do, Dr. Rascher's justifiable desire to gain admission to the faculty in Marburg on the basis of his scientific work with which I am acquainted, and I ask him to consider my other proposals on the subject.
*o undertake such an attempt in Munich would serve no purpose, since, as you know, a similar attempt was already made with negative results. The director of the Institute for Aviation Medicine in Frankfurt, consented to take part in the presentation of the thesis in Marburg, would most certainly have been induced to favor admission to the faculty in Frankfurt. However, owing to the need for secrecy we would have been exposed to the same difficulties with the medical faculty in Frankfurt.
"A discussion with SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Hirt, who is thoroughly familiar with Dr. Rascher's work, revealed that the easiest thing would be to have him admitted to the Strassburg faculty. Here it is possible to have the work examined by SS Fuehrer's only and admission to the faculty carried out in secrecy."
Your Honor, the next two pages of the Document Book have been reversed. The letter continues on page 152 -- rather, 158 of the English Document Book. Page 157 is an attachment to the letter itself. The letter continues with the listing of the SS Professors at Strassburg who could help Rascher gain admittance, and these are:
"1.) The Dean of the medical faculty, Professor Dr. Stein.
"2.) The Assistant Dean, Professor Dr. Hirt.
"3.) The Professor of Physiological Chemistry, Professor Dr. Dyckerheff.
"4.) The Professor of Pharmacology, Dr. Gebhart.
"It would be advisable for you to forward a letter to the Dean of the medical faculty in order to initiate the procedure in the proper manner. I enclose a draft. Please inform me when the letter has been dispatched, so that Dr. Rascher may submit his work. Signed, Sievers."
