A Yes.
Q When the experiments started, did Prof. Gebhardt or another doctor tell you what were the problems of these experiments and how the experiments should be carried out in detail?
A No.
Q Did you yourself have any scientific interest or any other interest in the carrying out of experiments which came up?
A It was not in my field of interest.
Q I once again come bank to your position in the camp. You were not independent, you told us before?
A No.
QQuite obviously you were under the Post doctor, and there was perhaps a second camp doctor, is that correct?
A Yes, I was under the Post physician, but he left me a great deal of freedom in my own field.
Q Now what was your activity on the sulfonamide experiments?
AActually I was only at work as the station doctor. I had to see that the patients would be given their medicine regularly, and that they were nursed. I was present when the dressings were changed, and in general I conducted myself according to what Professor Gebhardt had told me: "Nurse according to our directions and do not worry about anything else", and I tried to do so.
Q How were the operations prepared which became necessary for the experiments?
AAs I already said, as my duty as ward physician, I received a list of the patients from the camp administration, and I examined them, as is customary before many operation in which an anesthetic is necessary, I looked at the skin, and examined the heart and lungs. I also saw to it that the patients were bathed; that they were shaved before the operation; that the temperature was checked, and that they wore given morphine before the operation.
Q Did any experimental persons complain to you or resist you?
A No, I had the feeling that they were satisfied with my treatment. I was working under a clinic chief, and all the drugs, and so forth, necessary was brought from Hohenlychen. One could really work in the clinic here.
Q Did you yourself carry out operations in connection with experiments?
A No, I was a Dermatologist.
Q You never carried out any operations yourself?
A No.
Q What were your tasks after the operations?
A May I ask you to repeat your question.
Q What was your task after the operation, and what did you do during the operation?
A I had no special task here. Sometimes I administer the anesthetic, and in general when a patient was operated upon I saw to it that the next patient was given anesthesia. This always had to be done very quickly, since the operation was a very short one. Then I helped to apply a dressing, or a plastic cast, and sometimes I put on a lamp. The method of the operation was pointed out to me so that if necessary I would be able to loosen the dressing, and not to get into the area of the wound. Of course, the physician said I was merely an assistant.
Q What were your activities after the operation?
A I had to see to it that the medicine was administered at the proper time, and I had to act carefully according to instructions of Professor Gebhardt and Doctor Fischer. I also checked the dressings for pressure and congestion. I supervised the nursing, I saw to it that the legs wore in a proper position. I also watched over the patient clinically and I saw to it that the blood tests and urine tests were taken.
I also made charts, and I was present when the dressings were changed. I had the feeling that the patients liked it if I was present when the dressing was changed.
Q Did you work independently on those occasions, or were you here again dependent on Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer's orders?
A I never worked independently. I always adhered strictly to instructions of Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer.
Q How were the women treated who in connection with the experiments were housed in the sick bay of the camp?
A They were in small rooms. They had single beds with sheets, and they were given clothing. They were given better food, and as I said at the beginning, they were cared for by prisoner nurses, mostly Poles and Czechs; and there was a night guard. The treatment was a clinical one. They lacked nothing. It they needed vitamins, the vitamins were brought from Hohenlychen. Whatever they needed was brought.
Q The witness Wladzka said that women operated on were treated only on the first days after the operation, and that afterwards they were neglected. What would you like to say about that?
A They were under a constant medical control. Regular reports were sent to Hohenlychen. When there were any minor changes in the case, a report was sent to Hohenlychen, and Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer came. I remember that it even very frequently happened on Sunday. I for my part saw to it that the drugs and medicines were administered at the proper time. Also there was a regular change of dressings, and I also had nursed; medicines which had to be given intravenously, I administered myself and did not leave this for a nurse.
The general care was under prisoner nurses, primarily Palish prisoners.
Q What do you know of the clinical progress in the various groups of experiments, and what can you say about the deaths?
A I can not judge the results in the individual cases. I know only from cases from August until October there were no special developments. Progress was like in the case of an obscess. I November the situation changed a little. I was rather frightened. Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer immediately stopped all the experiments, and took a great interest in the sick patients. They were operated on. They were given the necessary drugs. They were immobilized in plaster casts. They were given blood gransfusions. They were given gangerous serum. Everything possible was done. Unfortunately, there were three deaths, although these people had been given exactly the same treatment, and everything possible had been done for them. Unfortunately they died. I was called when they died. This was not a quick death. Directly following the operation were convulsions. In my work at the same time I had a number of other seriously ill patients, and it is possible that some of them died.
Q The witness Daido, who has been here before this court, answered the questions of the Prosecution by saying that you had been quite a good doctor. I would like now to ask you, did you treat the witness Daido better than any other person?
A No. I treated them all in the same way, and I gave help first to the person who needed it most urgently.
Q. You saw the affidavit of the witness Margarete Mydla, which I read before. Are the statements by that witness correct, and did you perhaps gave particularly good treatment to that patient, preferring her to others?
A I can not remember this person. Of course, I would recognize her if I saw her.
Q But you gave no different treatment to her?
A No, I treated all patients in the same way.
Q One witness said that you hat her in the face when she woke up from her anesthesia, is that true? I would like to add here that Professor Gebhardt expressed his opinion on the general question here: that it is quite a frequent thing for a patient to wake up, and have a wrong impression, or form a wrong impression?
A I certainly did not mistreat any one, and certainly not any one under an anesthesia. But I have already said that I took great pain on behalf of a patient, and that it is possible that where a person had been operated upon, and was coming to again, that I pushed her lower jaw and perhaps shook her for her to breathe. It is a well known fact that a patient remembers that person and misinterprets what is being done to them.
Q Did Professor Gebhardt visit quite frequently in connection with the sulfonamide experiments; was he present when the dressing was changed, and the operations were carried out?
A Yes.
Q. And what was your impression regarding his attitude towards the experimental subjects?
A I frequently saw Professor Gebhardt when dressings were changed. He was very considerate, and quite instirred by the medical practice. He did not permit a patient to express pain, an anesthetic was immediately administered The face was covered. The wounds were carefully taken care of, and he was very careful about sterility.
The patients were pushed to the dressing room, that was the clinic style to which I was used to in Duesseldorf.
Q The operations themselves were usually carried out by Dr. Fischer, were they not?
A Yes.
Q How did he treat the patient? Do you know of any complaint on the part of the experimental subject so far as the patient was concerned?
A I know of no complaints on the part of tho experimental human persons and he was considerate towards the patients, and I had the impressions that it was very difficult for him for reasons of humanity to carry out those experiments. I never heard any complaint from the patient. He was always friendly, although he did not talk to the patient very much. Professor Gebhardt as well as Dr. Fischer afterwards were attentive on the patient, They wore not merely operated upon, but they were given proper attention until the healing was complete. If there was any danger, Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer came regularly. When we had these three deaths, and when some other patients were seriously ill they gave themselves. Then perhaps in December there wore three patients who were out of any danger, and I was given instructions of what further treatment they were to be given. This was a chronic separation. I went on leave, and I turned these three patients over to the post physician. In the Spring of 1943 those patients were still under ambulant treatment. I continued to treat them, but there was no necessity to ask for help from Hohenlychen, although I could have done so at any time. There was no general illness and no temperature.
In April 1943 I examined the patients once more and there was just a very small amount of supervision, and the patients were not suffering great pain any more. I informed Professor Gebhardt of this. There was no question of any further treatment, baths, or massage since this was infectious separation and the only treatment that could be given was ointment and dressing.
Q. Did you yourself have anything to do with the scientific evaluation of these experiments?
A. No.
Q. Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer said that on 24 May 1943 at the third meeting of the consulting specialists doctors reported on these experiments; that is to say, to the Military Doctors Academy in Berlin. Were you present at that time? Did you hear the reports and lectures?
A. No.
Q. In the course of this trial Dr. Stumpfegger was mentioned frequently. Did you yourself know Dr. Stumpfegger?
A. From about October 1942 until the Spring of 1943 he was in Ravensbruck repeatedly.
Q. Did you yourself have anything to do with Dr. Stumpfegger's experiments?
A. The experiments were quite different from the sulfonamide experiments. Dr. Stumpfegger came alone. He was not with Professor Gebhardt or Dr. Fischer. I, as a ward doctor, had virtually nothing to do with these experiments. Dr. Stumpfegger generally made the preparations himself; that is, he examined the patients before the operation, or it nay have been that I had examined some of them in the Summer for the sulfonamide experiments, but they were not operated upon. I cannot remember exactly. I did not assist him at the operation. In the ward I did not have much to do with these people since they were in plaster casts and were able to get up very soon. My duty was merely to see to it in the first few days whether there was pressure or congestion, and I also had to administer morphium in the first few days.
There was no temperature and the patients hardly needed any help. They were able to return to the block very soon. The X-ray checks and the removal of the plaster casts Dr. Stumpfegger took over himself. I know nothing about the operation in detail. Dr. Fischer and Professor Gebhardt I never saw here. Dr. Stumpfegger worked alone.
Q. As far as the experimental subjects were concerned which Dr. Stumpfegger used, were they Polish women who had been sentenced to death?
A. Yes.
Q. And it would appear that they were also pardoned?
A. Yes, at least as far as I was present.
Q. The witness Madzka said that you, as doctor in the camp, had the possibility of saving those six women who, it is alleged, were shot. Did you really have that possibility, provided, of course, that you had known about all this?
A. I had nothing to do with the regular X-ray control. Dr. Stumpfegger did that and I did not learn about the incident and I had no disciplinary authority.
Q. You never heard anything about this whole affair?
A. I learned of it only here.
Q. And, after the trial here, you thought all the persons who survived the experiments were really pardoned?
A. Yes.
Q. In various affidavits it is claimed that in the summer, August 1943, in the so-called shelter of the camp, operations had been carried out. Do you know anything of such operations in the so-called "Bunker"?
A. In June 1943 I left the camp. I learned nothing more about it. I learned of it only here in the courtroom.
Q. In the camp of Ravensbruck were there any sterilization experiments carried out, or did you ever hear anything of such experiments?
A. I know nothing about any.
Q. Now, you described to the court your activity as a doctor in Ravensbruck.
You described this activity; that you had to carry it out under difficult circumstances, but previously you said yourself once in an affidavit - that is, that in a few cases you gave injections in order to shorten the suffering of certain patients and in order to make death easier to them. Do you recall that?
A. Yes.
Q. I will now ask you to describe to the court under what circumstances you administered this easing of death casing of dying.
A. This matter, which was formulated so horribly in my affidavit, I discussed when I was interrogated in the British camp at Paderborn, and I spoke of it voluntarily myself. After I was questioned about the sulfonamide experiments, I was asked to speak about general conditions in the camp and particularly about the hygienic conditions in the hospital. I tried to represent things as they were, as I experienced them. I had to point out many things which seemed to me bad and inadequate. I expressed my criticism and opposition and I pointed out the special difficulties which confronted me, because in contrast to all the SS personnel I was quite isolated, and in the beginning I tried in cases of emergency to help the patients with the thought of the suffering women who were prisoners and sick. I also said that at that time - it would be in 1941 and the beginning of 1942 - I still believed that for the sake of these patients I could not leave the camp for selfish reasons but that I would fulfill my duty in a better manner if I stayed with these patients in the camp. The interrogating officer then asked me about sterilization measures and the deportation of prisoners. I was not able to give him any information on those subjects. Then he spoke about the care which was given them and the medical measures in the camp hospital. I described to him all the difficulties as far as I was able to observe them, and I told about my great work, the great amount of work in treating venereal diseases which endangered not only the prostitutes themselves but also the best elements, the political prisoners, and I told them about my efforts against the insect pests and the resulting skin diseases, and I also talked about my work in the wards.
I told them about the size of the ward and ay many worries in connection with the work here since it was impossible to send seriously ill patients to a hospital, so that in the two years there I was at first able to treat the patients there and later only to nurse them; the patients in the final stages of one of the worst diseases against which medicine is still powerless today - I mentioned the common form of syphilis and cancer in women.
These diseases I considered so terrible because I had no opportunity to give any real assistance to the patients there and because the patients were so completely helpless in their suffering. This will always remain one of my worst memories. These cases were much more frequent there than in any other hospital and I was alone against all this fuffering without being able to turn to a chief physician with confidence and I could not go to anyone for advice.
For the final stages of syphilis there was no medical care, the patients who were generally suffering from a complication with their nerves saw here an atonement for their former lives. They asked me repeatedly to help them and to release them from their suffering. The women suffering, from abdominal cancer in the final stages were in a coma suffering. I asked frequently whether they could not be sent to a larger hospital for the only possible therapy, radium treatment, but I was told that this was impossible. Therefore, I had to leave them with the prisoner nurses together with the rest of the patients.
A cancer led to malodorous secretions, which made the suffering of the patients even worse. I was much impressed with the pain and this was increased by an abhorance of the disease itself. Many of the patients in their physical and mental distress asked me and pleaded with me to give them an injection to release them from their suffering.
At the beginning of my work at Ravensbrueck, in 1941 and the beginning of 1942, when I as a young doctor saw clearly for the first time now difficult the medical profession is and which places a person before such difficult decisions. I felt so alone because I had no old experienced medical person here to ask for advise and I had had at the clinic in Dusselforf. I have a bad memory of figures, so I do not remember the number of patients who went through my ward, but I do remember that there were many of them there, for sure more then 100, but there were only a few of them who were suffering unimaginable things and who pleaded with me for Euthanasia.
As I have already said, this was generally patients in the final stages of syphilis or an extended cancer. The patients lay there without any possibility of aid and waited for their painful death. They were a picture of heart breaking misery. I can still hear their pleas for help. In my distress, I remembered what was done in a big clinic in such cases, I remembered that in seen cases, the wish of the hopeless sick person was complied with. I decided on my own responsibility, as a doctor, to act in the some way and then I asked my medical superior, the post physician and when I had his approval, I went back to the sick room, I stopped all the drugs and then increased the drugs alleviating pain. In a few cases, perhaps four or five, I sat down by the beds of patients who had asked for my help and in the presence of the prisoner nurse I I gave them an intravenous injection so that they would go go to sleep. I used morphium and a mixture I received from the post physician. In these four or five cases the patients were suffering from late stages of syphilis or the last stages of abdominal cancer. Those women had described their suffering and their pain to me exactly and they were Germans, who had expressly asked me to do this for them. In this hopeless situation, in view of the hopeless suffering, I did that and I had to act as I did.
A Here in this situation which is so difficult for me under oath, I can repeat about these few patients in 1941 and 1942 that this was merely a case of euthanasia which was necessary from a medical point of view; and the patients had asked me for it. They had been in my ward for a long time. They had asked me repeatedly to relieve them from their suffering. They were women to whom I could talk well in German; and I am certain that they were German citizens, I administered euthanasia after consulting my medical superior; the post physician and according to my own medical judgment; and I did so in the presence of the prisoner nurse at the time I thought it necessary to act in this way.
When in the course of time I became more and more opposed to the camp personnel at the end of 1942 and 1943; I no longer had performed euthanasia. Since the number of patients had increased because the number of inmates cf the camp had increased; I was not able to maintain the personal relationship with the individual patients which I consider a prerequisite for any action of this kind. At the same time my distrust of the camp set-up grew. I was not able to leave the camp since I had to serve here. I tried to treat the skin and venereal diseases and, in addition, to help in the therapy cf the internal clinic.
So it came about that I gave aid in only a few cases; but later when I did not know the patients well personally and no longer had confidence in the camp, I no longer did so.
Q My attention has been drawn to a wrong translation. If I understand you correctly; you wish to say at the beginning that prostitutes and other anti-social elements suffered from syphilis?
A Yes.
Q But not the political prisoners as such?
A No. They were merely endangered by the danger of contagion; and it was my duty to prevent contagion.
Q Witness; concerning this Count 1 of the indictment with which you are charged, I must ask you now which of the other defendants did you know at the beginning of sulfonamide experiments in the summer of 1942?
A I knew none of them.
Q You did not know Prof. Gebhardt or Dr. Fischer? You met Prof. Fischer and Prof. Gebhardt when they came to Ravensbruck for these experiments?
A Yes. I merely knew Prof. Gebhart by reputation. I met him personally only when he came to inspect the rooms.
Q Now, my final question. In 1943 you became assistant doctor to Prof. Gebhardt in Hohenlychen. How old that come about and what were your tasks in the Hohenlychen institution?
A The difficulties which I had in the concentration camp I have already described; and I was trying to change my place of work. Then I also said I asked Prof. Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer to help me; and I confined in Dr. Fischer and asked him to talk to Prof. Gebhardt about it. When he visited the camp, Prof. Gebhardt talked to me and considered that this was not the right place for me as a woman. And so it came about that with the aid of Prof. Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer I left Ravensbruck and went to Hohenlychen.
I worked there as an assistant doctor in the women's and children's ward. I was very glad to take over the children's ward because in Dusseldorf at the dermatology clinic I had worked in the children's ward. In addition to my activity in the clinic, I was also to care for the children of families of the personnel of Hohenlychen. Also, the female employees often asked me for advice. Then I helped in refugee transports and treated the sick children. Then I remember that I carried out a scabies drive in Hohenlychen and that Prof. Gebhardt helped me. I was able to take about two hundred children suffering from scabies into the clinic for treatment. In short, I helped everywhere where help was needed and where I was able to give it.
Couht No. 1
DR. SEIDL: Mr. President, I have no further questions at this point.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will now be in recess until 9:30 o'clock next Tuesday morning.
(The Tribunal adjourned until 8 April 1947 at 0930 hours.)
Official Transcript of the American Military Tribunal I in the matter of the United States of America, against Karl Brandt, et al, defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, on 8 April 1947, 0930, Justice Beals presiding.
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the court room will please find their seats.
The Honorable, the Judges of Military Tribunal I.
Military Tribunal I is now in session. God save the United States of America and this Honorable Tribunal.
There will be order in the court room.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Marshal, will you ascertain that the defendants are all present in court?
THE MARSHAL: May it please your Honor, all the defendants are present in the court.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary-General will note for the record the presence of all the defendants in court.
DR. HERTA OBERHAUSER - Resumed
THE PRESIDENT: Do any of the defense counsel have any examination of this witness? The witness is reminded that she is still under oath. Counsel may proceed.
DR. WEISGRUBER: (Counsel for the Defendant Sievers): Mr. President, I ask for approval for the Defendant Sievers to be absent from the session this afternoon. Like the other defense counsel, I was not able to talk to my client during the last three days, and to conclude the preparations for the case of my client, I need some time this afternoon.
THE PRESIDENT: On the request of counsel for the Defendant Sievers, Defendant Sievers will be excused from attendance at the Tribunal this afternoon for the purpose of consulting with his counsel.
Since there are no questions to be propounded of this witness by defense counsel, the prosecution may cross examine.
CROSS EXAMINATION BY MR. HARDY:
Q Miss Oberheuser, will you kindly tell the Tribunal how Professor Gebhardt happened to ask you to assist in the sulfamilomide experiments?
A Professor Gebhardt did not ask me. During the direct examination I have already said that a few days before the beginning of the experiments the post physician told me to clear a few rooms in my ward. He did not tell me the reason at the time. Then shortly before the beginning of the experiment Professor Gebhardt, Dr. Fischer, the post physician, and perhaps a few other gentlemen, came and looked at the room. Professor Gebhardt did not give me any assignment. It was just because the rooms were in my ward.
Q How was it - after the arrival of Professor Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer it was necessary that inmates be selected for use in the experiments. How was this selection program of inmates to be used outlined?
A I cannot give you any information about that. The women were sent to me by the camp administration, and then I examined them, as was done before every operation in which an anesthetic was used.
Q Did you ever actually select the inmates or victims yourself?
A No.
Q Do you know Miss Winkowska, one of the Polish girls?
A No.
Q That is spelled W-I-N-K-O-W-S-K-A. Do you know her?
A No, I can't remember her.
Q You may recall that Winkowska states in her affidavit, "Dr. Oberhauser would select the victims from among the prisoners"?
A Yes, I remember that but in the document book the testimony of Winkowska says that they were put on lists and the office sent them to me. I myself never selected anyone.
Q After they were sent to you was it necessary for you to examine those patients, or victims, to determine whether or not they were sufficiently healthy to undergo the sulfamilamide experiments?
A No, that is not true in that sense. They were not to be examined to determine whether they were capable or undergoing the sulfonamide experiments, but merely as in the case of any other operations when an anesthetic is necessary. For cases with weak hearts and lungs an anesthetic cannot be used. I did not know what the consequences of the sulfonamide experiments might be.
Q What examination did you give them? Did you give them the examination such as stated already in the evidence, merely a quick look, pass them on, and say, "They are suitable for this experiment"?
A I should like to point out that I did not examine them from the point of view of whether they were suitable for the experiments because I had no idea about that. I merely examined them to determine whether they could be given an anesthetic or not. I looked at their skin, listened to their heart and also tested their lungs, just as is done before any other operation when an anesthetic is necessary.
Q Well, now, you did assist during the operations and give the anesthetic to the victims, did you not?
A Sometimes I administered the anesthetic, but generally, as I said during my direct examination, the operations were very brief and I saw to it that one patient after the other was prepared for the operation.
Q Well, now, it was your duty, was it not, to care for the patient after the operation, that is, the post-operative care?
A No one told me to do this. The rooms were in my ward and then the patients were in my ward too.
Q You recall that you stated in your affidavit, Miss Oberheuser, Paragraph 4, that the operations were performed by Dr. Fritz Fischer, "sometimes I helped and assisted at these operations and had the duty to attend the patients after the operation." Now, was it or was it not your duty to care for these patients after the operations?
A I considered it my duty, and I hoped that as a woman I would be able to help because I saw a chance for the patients to be pardoned, and I thought I would be able to help them as a woman.