"The experiments in Dachau were carried out there because no one was held responsible for the injury or death of the available people. Every attempt by prisoners, to avoid the experiments, also resulted in death. Therefore, even in the cases which did not result in permanent injuries, it was a matter of exploiting the hopeless position of the prisoners to carry out these criminal experiments."
"(Signature) JOSEF TSCHOFENIG" Police Main Office, Vienna State Police, Dep.
III I, Deutschmeisterplatz Vienna, 13 March 1946 Protocal Re: Seawater Research Mr. Fritz Pillwein, born 11 May 1919 in Vienna, a citizen of Vienna, single, no religion, student, residence:
Baumgasse 31/10, Vienna, states as follows:
Concerning the seawater research at the Luftwaffe Experimental Station at Dachau, I can say the following:
The experimentation station was in Block 5; however, the patients belonging to this station were in Block 1/1. The head of this experimentation station, Dr. Beigelbock, was known to me from Vienna, 9. I remember that gypsies of different nationalities from other concentration camps were used for these experiments. Forty-five of these were used directly in the experiments. Besides Dr. Beigelbock, an Unterarzt of North German descent, three chemists, as well as one French, 2 Alsatian, and one or two Spanish prisoners as laboratory assistants, were present at these experiments. The experiments were carried out from the middle of August until the end of September, 1944. I, myself, came to the station as a nurse about 10 days after the beginning of the experiments and remained there until the end of same. At the same time I was able to bring a second prisoner with me into the experimental station as an assistant nurse. His name is Joseph Worlicek and lives at the present time in Vienna, 18, Geymullergasse 2 4. He himself will surely be able to give further details about the experiments.
I cannot remember that there were any kind of visits from prominent personalities at the station at the time of my activity as nurse.
The experiments themselves were carried out in the following way: in the first three days the experimental subjects received sea distress care, consisting of one coco cola leaf, some Dextropur, several pieces of Zweiback (about 10-12 little pieces). From the first to the last day, the participants were given, besides this, salt water 4-5 times a day, in a total amount of 1/2 to 1 liter. The 44 people were sub-divided into 5 or 6 groups. Two groups received pure sea water, 2 other groups pure sea water with an added salt preparation, the remaining group received distilled sea water without addition. From the beginning, daily samples of blood tests were taken from the participants. With individual patients, the attacks of weakness and especially the thirst produced such crass effects that they could not leave their beds after only several days; I can remember one who broke into convulsive screaming. On several occasions these patients drank dirty water out of the pails of the attendants, as well as taking it in unguarded moments from the pails placed in the halls for air raids. While the floors were being washed, several patients sucked up the water that had been poured out on the floor. I had to weigh the participants daily and established the fact that the daily loss in weight amounted to as much as one kilo. After Dr. Beigelbock determined one day that several patients had drunk other liquids, the attendant nurse (a prisoner also) was put out of the infirmary. (This was a Jugoslavian who was doing night duty at the time).
When the people were chosen for these experiments, they were also promised better care for some time. In reality, this care was only accorded patients in the first group; all the others received water and skimmed milk for two days after the end of the experiment and about the third day were placed on the normal camp diet. The first group received some sausage, bread, butter, cheese, marmalade, and 2 cigaretts for 4 or 5 days.
I remember that disagreements arose between the camp administration and the competent authorities of the Luftwaffe since the Luftwaffe did not make sufficient provisions available for the diet. The ones who bore the brunt of this were naturally the participants.
We prisoners all knew that we would be used for such experiments also, just like other animals, for by such experiments the authorities at that time showed that they considered human beings at least on the same level as animals.
I know from hearsay from other experimental stations that many sacrifices of life were complained of. In most cases, the following measures were practiced: the patients were put back into the regular infirmary, in a very weakened and damaged condition, where they died after a short time. Further information can be given on this by a former fellow prisoner, Heinrich Stohr (Sudoten-German) who, to the best of my knowledge, has already been taken to the Nurnberg court.
read, approved & signed (V.g.g.)"
MR. HARDY: Signed by the Interrogator. At this time, we have completed the presentation of sea water experiments. On another occasion, at a later date, we will ask permission to call witness Fritz Pillwein. At present he is not available; we have been informed that he is in Munich, and that he will be here in a few days.
MR. McHANEY: Is the Tribunal prepared at this time to make a ruling with respect to the testimony of the witness Walter NEFF. It might be expedient to call him at this time.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal is not prepared to rule upon the question of the testimony of the witness WALTER NEFF at this time.
MR. McHANEY: If the Tribunal please, we will at this time turn to the sterilization experiments, which are charged in Sub-Paragraph 6, "I" of Count 2, paragraph 11; and at Count 3 those who are charged with special responsibility for participation in the sterilization experiments are the defendants Karl Brandt, Gebhardt, Rudolph Brandt, Mrugowsky, Poppendick, Brack, Pokorny and Oberheuser.
The documents which will be produced at this time are contained in Document Book No. 6, before the Tribunal now.
I would like to make clear at the outset of this presentation, that we are here concerned with sterilizations which were carried out pursuant to German practice on that subject. It is true, that in Germany, a Statute did exist which permitted sterilizations of certain persons under certain circumstances: particularly, those persons infected with inheritable diseases. Some such statutes exist in other countries, as I understand it, and, indeed, in several states of the United States. At the end of the proof on the sterilization experiments, there will be no doubt in the Court's mind that the sterilizations with which we are now concerned had nothing whatsoever to do with the German Practice. These sterilizations were carried out against so-called "enemies" of the German State, especially Jewish, and people of the Eastern countries. The weapon of sterilization was in fact used to permit the Crime of Genicide, which is the mass extermination of an enemy people; and that was the purpose of the sterilizations with which we are here concerned.
The first document will be No. 430 -- no, pardon me -"No. 440, which will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 141. This is an affidavit by the defendant Rudolf Brandt, and it reads as follows:
(Reading) "I, Rudolf Emil Hermann Brandt, duly sworn do depose and state:
1. I am the same Rudolf BRANDT who already on 30 August 1946 furnished an affidavit concerning low pressure experiments which were conducted upon affidavit concerning low pressure experiments which were conducted upon inmates of the Dachau concentration camp. I further furnished certain other affidavits concerning medical experiments upon human beings.
2. For the same reasons, set forth in paragraph 1, 2 and 3 of my affidavit of 30 August 1946, I am in a position to draw up this affidavit concerning experiments on human beings.
Sterilization Experiments 3. HIMMLER was extremely interested in the development of a cheap and rapid sterilization method which could be used against enemies of Germany, such as the Russians, Poles and Jews.
One hoped, thereby not only to defeat the enemy but to exterminate him. The capacity for work of the sterilized persons could be exploited by Germany, while the danger of propagation would be eliminated. This mass sterilization was part of Himmler's racial theory; particular time and care were devoted to these sterilization experiments.
4. Surgical sterilization was of course known in Germany and applied. This includes castration. For mass application, however, this procedure was considered as too slow and too expensive. It was further desired that a procedure be found which would result in sterilization that was not immediately noticeable. Medical sterilization experiments were therefore conducted. Dr. MADAUS had discovered that the drug "caladium seguinum" extracted from a North-American plant (Schweigrohr) when taken or injected produced sterilization. Dr. Adolf POKORNY in late 1941 drew Himmler's attention to this scientific research and suggested that it be perfected and applied again Russian prisoners of war.
5. As a result of POKORNY's suggestion, experiments were conducted upon concentration camp prisoners in order to test the effect of the drug. Simultaneously, all efforts were made to cultivate the plant in large quantities. Oswald POHL, chief of the Economic and Administrative Main Office (WVHA) took a personal interest in this matter. Hothouses were used, with a certain amount of success, to cultivate this plant, and the experiments were continued. I don't believe, however, that it was possible to produce sufficient quantities of this drug to make a large-scale application possible.
6. Dr. GLAUBERG developed further a method for the sterilization of women. This method was based upon the injection of an irritating solution into tho uterus. GLAUBERG conducted widespread experiments on Jewish women and gypsies in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Several thousand women were sterilized by GLAUBERG in Auschwitz. Dr. Karl GEBHARDT apparently conducted surgical sterilization in the Ravensbrueck camp.
"7. Sterilization experiments were likewise conducted with X-rays. Dr. SCHUMANN applied this procedure in Auschwitz and sterilized a number of men.
"8. Dr. Karl BRANDT, Reich Physician SS Dr. GRAWITZ and Dr. GEBHARDT certainly were familiar with this sterilization matter. BLUMENREUTHER, POPPENDICK, and MRUGOWSKY probably had knowledge of it also.
(Signed) RUDOLF BRANDT".
This affidavit of the Defendant Rudolf Brandt gives us a short statement as to the broad scope of the program and we now proceed to the German document which give us more detailed information concerning it. Next will be Document Number NO-035 which will be Prosecution Exhibit 142. This is a letter sent by the Defendant POKORNY in October 1941 to Heinrich Himmler. It is addressed to the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Folkdom, SS Himmler, Chief of Police, Berlin:
"I beg you to turn your attention to the following arguments. I have requested Professor Hoehn to forward this letter to you. I have chosen this direct way to you in order to avoid the slower process through channels and the possibility of an indiscretion in regard to the eventually enormous importance of the ideas presented.
"Led by the idea that the enemy must not only be conquered but destroyed, I fell obliged to present to you, as the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Folkdom, the following:
"Dr. Madaus published the results of his research on a medicinal sterilization (both articles are enclosed). Reading these articles, the immense importance of this drug in the present fight of our people occurred to me. If, on the basis of this research, it were possible to produce a drug which after a relatively short time, effects an imperceptible sterilization on human beings, then we would have a new powerful weapon at our disposal. The thought alone that the 3 million Bolsheviks, at present German prisoners, could be sterilized so that they could be used as laborers but be prevented from reproduction, opens the most far reaching perspectives.
"Madaus found that the sap of the Schweigrohr (Caladium seguinum), when taken by mouth or given as injection to male but also to female animals, after a certain time produces permanent sterility. The illustrations accompanying the scientific article are convincing.
"If my ideas meet your approval the following course should be taken:
"1) Dr. Madaus must not publish any more such articles.
(The enemy listens!)
"2) Multiplying the plant (easily cultivated in greenhouses!)
"3) Immediate research on human beings (criminals!) in order to determine the dose and length of the treatment.
"4) Quick research of the constitutional formula of the effective chemical substance in order to "5) Produce it synthetically if possible.
"As German physician and Chief physician of the reserves of the German Wehrmacht, retired, I undertake to keep secret the purpose as suggested by me in this letter."
Heil Hitler!
(Signed) Dr. Pokorny Specialist for skin and venereal diseases."
The Defendant Pokorney will tell this Court a strange tale indeed with respect to this letter. I very much doubt that he will deny having written it and he, of course, cannot deny the subsequent proof that action was taken pursuant to his suggestion. He will, instead, insist that he was, in effect, doing the Russian prisoners of war and the Jews who were to be subjected to these abominable experiments, a good turn, that he had been told by SS men that these Russians and these Jews were to be exterminated and killed and that he, out of the goodness of his heart, conceived this idea of saving their lives. Instead of being annihilated they would be sterilized so that they could no longer produce children, be permitted to work in Germany and live out their lives.
That, in effect, will constitute the defense of Pokorney. I think if we put in no more evidence that surely the Defense could not get up and say that we are concerned in this case with sterilizations carried out pursuant to valid German Statute. But what happened as a result of this letter by the Defendant Pokorny? The subsequent documents give us an insight into that matter. Next will be Document Number NO-036, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 143. This is a letter from Heinrich Himmler to Oswald Pohl, dated 10 March 1942. Of course, as we have explained to the Tribunal, it is generally necessary to get in touch with Bear Pohl because he, after all was administratively in charge of the concentration camps; and so Himmler writes him this letter:
"Dear Pohl:
"I read Dr. Pokorny's very interesting memorandum and Dr. Madaus's publications on medicinal sterilization. I would ask you to get in touch with Dr. Madaus and to inform him, on my behalf, that he should not publish anything else on these questions of medicinal sterilization, and offer him possibilities of doing research -- in cooperation with the Reich Physician SS, on criminals, who would have to be sterilized in any case.
"The intended plan of research is, however, to be submitted to me by the office engaged on the subject."
"Heil Hitler!
Yours (signed) H. HIMMLER" A copy is sent to GRAWITZ and here we see the first stop taken in line with Pokorny's suggestion, first, that Madaus should be told not to publish any more articles and second, that research should begin and experiments be carried out on criminals.
We move along to Document Number NO-045, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 144. This is a letter dated 20 April 1942 from a member of Himmler's personal staff, the signature is illegible. It is to the Reich Physician SS care of SS Obersturmfuehrer Dr. SCHOPPER, Berlin:
"Dear Hubert:
"After a long search I finally found the particulars you desired. Since this matter is still being dealt with by another office I can merely tell you in which journals Dr. Madaus's articles appeared.
"In the 'Journal for the Entire Experimental Medicine,' special print from Volume 109, 1st number, you will find an article 'Experimental Studies on Animals on the Question of Medicamental Sterilization. Another article headed 'Magic Plants in the Light of Experimental Research' appeared in the 'Umschau,' Frankfurt, vol. 25 of 21 September 1941. You will certainly get these journals in Berlin.
"I like this place out here very much and have already recovered from the Herlin hardships."
"Best regards, "Heil Hitler!"Here next is Document Number NO-047, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 145, a letter dated 23 April 1942, again from the personal staff of Himmler, This time to the Chief of the Security Police, and the Security Service, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer HEYDRICH, Berlin:
" "Enclosed I am transmitting copy of a report on the studies of experiments on animals regarding the question of sterilization by medicine with the request that it be duly noted."
Here we see that Himmler's Office Personal Staff is writing these letter to various other offices within the SS, advising them of the experiments to be carried out.
The next Document, Number NO-037, will be Prosecution Exhibit 146. This is from the Defendant Brandt, Rudolf Brandt, dated 20 April 1942 to the Reich Physician SS, Berlin.
"I am sending you enclosed a copy of a memorandum by Dr. Pokorny with a request to take note of it.
"Dr. Madaus' publication 'Experimental Study of the Question of Medicinal Sterilization of Animals' appeared in the 'Journal for the Entire Experimental Medicine,' special reprint from Volume 109, book 1, while the article 'Magic Plants in the Light of Experimental Research' was printed in the 'Umschau' (Review) of Frankfurt, 25th year, Book 38 of 21 September 1941."
"By order "(signed) B.R."Those are the initials of Rudolf Brandt.
The next document also still speaks of the Madaus publications. This is Document Number NO-038 and will be Prosecution Exhibit 147. The date on this letter is just given as June, 1942. This also is from the defendant Rudolf Brandt to SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl, Berlin.
"Dear Obergruppenfuehrer:
"On 10 March 1942 the Reichsfuehrer-SS sent you a memorandum written by Dr. Pokorny and the publication of Dr. Madaus on medical sterilization. In cooperation with the Reich Physician-SS experiments were to be made accordingly.
"The Reichsfuehrer-SS inquired today as to how the things were standing. I would appreciate getting information soon."
"Heil Hitler Your R. Brandt."
The next document is No. NO-046 a, and will be prosecution Exhibit No. 148, and this gives us Pohl's report on what is being done. It is dated June 3, 1942, from Oswald Pohl to Himmler, Subject "Sterilization by means of Drugs." It says, "Re: Your letter of 3 October 1942." Your Honor, that obviously must be 1941. It should read March 10, 1942. "To the Reichfuehrer SS. "Dear Reichfuehrer: In reference to the above matter I had a conversation today with the director of the Biological Institute of Dr. MADAUS & Co., at Radebaul/Dresden, Dr. phil. et med. Dr. E. KOCH.
I advised him of your desire to have publications on this subject discontinued for the time being. Dr. KOCH will comply with your request.
Furthermore, experiments have reached a dead point because the "Schweigrohr" grows only in North America and during the war cannot be exported in adequate quantities. Dr. KOCH's attempt to grow this plant from seed cultivated in hothouses have been successful, it is true; but the process is very slow and the yield is not sufficient to permit carrying on experiments on a large scale.
Dr. KOCH is hopeful that this will be remedied if it were possible for us to obtain permission for him to build a larger hothouse. I promised him this. For the time being this is the first and only practical step to promote the project.
I shall continue reports periodically.
Heil Hitler!
s/ Pohl."
JUDGE SEBRING: Mr. McHaney, will you refer again to the dates in your letter or document you have just read?
MR. McHANDY: The date, as I take it, is March 10.
JUDGE SEBRING: 1942?
MR. McHANDY: That is right, yes, sir.
JUDGE SEBRING: Then it refers to your letter of August 3, 1942; isn't that rather an impossible situation?
MR. McHANEY: I didn't understand the last, Your Honor.
JUDGE SEBRING: You say the letter is dated March 10, 1942?
MR. McHANEY: No, Your Honor, this letter is dated June 3, 1942.
JUDGE SEBRING: You say the correct date is 10 March 1942?
MR. McHANEY: No, the date I was correcting is contained in the reference within the letter itself. It originally read "Your letter of 3 October 1942." Do you find that, sir?
JUDGE SEBRING: Then it is the back of the letter, at the time it was received, 3 June 1942; is that correct?
MR. McHANEY: That is correct, sir. This letter, of course, indicated that difficulties are being experienced, and as we shall see happily enough the difficulties continued; but it does indicate they have been able to cultivate the plant on a small scale in hothouses, and that, in fact, they have carried out experiments, although, as stated, not on a large scale. And the subsequent documents show us they extended their efforts to close this plant by getting larger hothouses and they made efforts to produce the effective ingredients scientifically.
The next document, No. NO-046 b, will be prosecution Exhibit No. 149. This is a letter from the personal staff of Himmler, dated 11 June 1942. The translation notes the signature of sender illegible. It was sent to Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl. I think the letter is from Rudolf Brandt, since he was Obersturmbannfuehrer on the staff of Himmler, and the Court will also see his familiar initial "R" on this document.
Your Honors may wish to look at this document, which concerns medical sterilization.
"Dear Obergruppenfuehrer:
"I have informed the Reich Leader SS of your letter of 3 June 1942. He asks you to see to it without fail that a large hot-house is set up as soon as possible for Dr. KOCH. He considers the experiment extremely important.
"The Reich Leader SS asks you to continue to send in further reports.
Heil Hitler" and the signature is illegible.
The next exhibit, No. NO-044, which will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 150. This is a file memo written by defendant Rudolf Brandt, dated 22 June 1942. It is headed "Document reference."
"During a consultation of the Wewelsburg on 19 June 1942 with SS-Obergruppenfuehrer POHL, I mentioned, among other things, the desire of the Reichsfuehrer to investigate still more thoroughly what the ingredients are of the American plant SCHWEIGROHR which may be considered for sterilization. The Reichsfuehrer SS wished it to be determined if similar effective ingredients are contained in the plants which are to be found here or in any area accessible to us in Europe.
"The present support of the work of Dr. KOCH of the MADAUS Institute shall be continued to the fullest extent.
"The Reichsfuehrer SS also requests that with the ingredients of this plant on hand sterilization experiments should now in any case be carried out in the concentration camps.
SS Obergruppenfuehrer POHL agreed to take the necessary steps at once."
Signed "Brandt."
The next document will be No. 050. It is Prosecution Exhibit No. 151. This is a letter written by a man named Fischer, who is not the defendant Fischer in the dock. It is written to the Reich Main Security Office, that is the RSHA and is directed particularly - IV B 4, Attention of SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Guenther, dated July 4, 1942 "With reference to our telephone conversation of 1 July 1942, I am transmitting to you the enclosed photostats of Dr. MADAUS' work.
May I request you to work in closest collaboration with the agency of SS-Obergruppenfuehrer POHL in this matter."
Signed "Fischer."
I would like to call the Court's attention to the characters IV B 4. That refers to the attention of the department within the RSHA which was the Reich Main Security Office, the Chief, which at that time was Heydrich, who was assassinated in 1943 in Czechslovakia. This particular department, IV B 4 was headed up the missing Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann, in this department having to do with the so-called Jewish question, which meant the extermination of the Jewish population in Europe. This man Gerland, to whom the letter was addressed, one of the so-called subordinates in the department. The reason it was addressed to him, this method of sterilization would be a solution to the Jewish question.
The next document, No. 051 which is Prosecution Exhibit No. 152, is dated the same date, 4 July 1942, and is also a letter from Fischer to the defendant Rudolf Brandt in the headquarters of the Fuehrer.
"I am sending you the enclosed copy of my letter to SS Sturmbannfuehrer Guenther of 4 July 1942 for your attention."
The next document No. 039, which will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 153, and we see that approximately 9 months after the date of Pokorny's letter suggested this planning of medicinal sterilization, that another man by the name of Gerland has gotten the same idea, and is now translating it to Himmler.
This letter is from the Deputy Gauleiter of the Lower Danube, who is K. Gerland. Your Honor will find his name translated at the end of the document on Page 18 of the Document Book, as K. Gund. That is obviously a mistake, as you will see from the next document that will go in, which was a reply from Rudolf Brandt to the letter I am about to read, and which is addressed to K. Gerland.
Prosecution Exhibit No. 153 reads as follows:
24 August 1942 "Sir, At the order of Gauleiter Dr. JURY, his staff have hitherto busied themselves to a particular extent with problems of population and racial policy and problems of anti-social elements.
Since the prevention of reproduction by the congenitally unfit and racially inferior belongs among the duties of our National Socialist racial and demographic policy, the present Director of the District for Racial Policy, Gaunauptstellenleiter Dr. FEHRINGER, has examined the question of sterilization and found that the methods so far available, castration and sterilization, are not sufficient in themselves to meet expectations. Consequently, the obvious question occurred to him whether genital incapacity and sterility could not also be produced in both man and woman by the administration of medicine or injections. So he came to the studies of the Biological Institute of Dr. MADAUS in Radebeul-Dresden on animal experiments for medicinal sterilization which became accessible to him through the Madaus Annual Report, IVth year, 1940, and are of the highest interest for our demographic policy. MADAUS and KOCH found that caladium sequinum used in homaeopathic doses, that is, administered in infinitesimal quantities, favorably affects genital power, sterility and frigidity (sexual indifference), so that clinical and medicinal research should not proceed without regard to this fact. It was established by an extensive series of experiments on rats, rabbits and dogs that in the administration or injection of caladium extract male animals became genitally unfit and females unreceptive and it could thereby be determined what differences were manifest in the effects of the various methods of innoculation. From the animal experiments it seems that a permanent sterility is liable to result in male animals and a more temporary one in females.
"It is clear that these observations could be of tremendous importance if alterations of genital power of fecundity could also be successfully brought about in human beings by the administration of Schweigrohr extract. Research on human beings themselves would, of course, be necessary for this. Accordingly, the director of my Racial-Political Office points out that the the necessary research and human experiments could be undertaken by an appropriately selected medical staff basing their work on the Madaus animal experiments in cooperation with the pharmacological institute of the Faculty of Medicine of Vienna, on the persons of the inmates of the gypsy Camp of Lackenbach in the Lower Danube.
"It is quite clear that such research must be handled as a nationally important secret matter of the most dangerous character, because enemy propaganda could work tremendous harm all over the world by the knowledge of such research, should it come by such knowledge.
"Since these considerations are only a theory, the fundamental accuracy of which has already been established by animal experiments and the possibility of the application of which to human beings is highly probable, a mere indication can only be given of the prospects of the possibility of the sterilization of practically unlimited numbers of people in the shortest time and in the simplest way conceivable.
"In this connection, I may perhaps point out that it would surely be worth while to study the science, of the old cults and of their priestly castes bearing on the promotion and prevention of the human genital faculty and fecundity. Primitive, primeval populations which are close to nature also had and still have a very extensive knowledge of this subject without these things being known to Science. It is known, for instance, that the natives of South America attempted to bring the power of their enemies to extinction by administering Schweigrohr (caladium seguinum) to them.
"I should be particularly thankful to you if you would give me your opinion in this respect when the occasion arises, or even order a concrete working plan to be submitted to you. Gauleiter Dr. JURY would personally have approached you with his plan were he not at present away on a vacation. Heil Hitler! Yours faithfully" (Signed) K. Gund.
I think it is marvelous to note that two people so widely separated as Mr. Gerland and Pokorny came up with such identical ideas.
The next Document is No. 040 - that will be Prosecution Exhibit 154. This is dated 29 August 1942 and is a reply by the defendant Rudolf Brandt to the letter, which I have just read. It is to the Deputy Gauleiter in Lower Danube: 521 "Dear Sir:
On account of the absence of the Reichfuehrer SS, who at present undertakes a long official trip in the Altreich, I am acknowledging your letter of 24 August. I can inform you that the subject of your inquiry addressed to the Reichfuehrer has already been known since last March and dealt with.
SS-Obergruppenfuehrer POHL and SS-Gruppenfuehrer Dr. GRAWITZ are attending to it.
"There are difficulties insofar as the plant in question grows only in North America and on account of the war is no obtainable in sufficient quantities. The growing in hot houses is a very tedious process and the yield does not seem sufficient to carry out the planned experiments on a larger scale.
"I would be very thankful if you could inform me, whether the plant in question is possibly at the disposal of Dr. FEHRINGER and what he considers the possibility of obtaining it.
"On the return of the Reichfuehrer SS I shall submit your reply together with your letter, a copy of which I have already forwarded to the SS-Obergruppenfuehrer POHL and SS-Gruppenfuehrer Dr. GRAWITZ. Heil Hitler! by order of (Signed) Brandt."
He sends a copy to Pohl and Grawitz and a third copy for information as we see on the next page.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will now stand in recess for fifteen minutes.