1946-12-10, #2: Doctors' Trial (late morning)
Prosecution: documents, defendants, and organizations
BY MR. McHANEY: To clear up the question of the admissibility of the documents which we have thus far offered this morning I would like to state that the Prosecution understands that if no objection is raised by defense counsel at the time that the document is offered, then it is to be assumed that the document is in fact admitted into the record.
THE PRESIDENT: It is our understanding that the defense counsel understands that very well.
MR. McHANEY: So much for the office of the Reich Commissioner for Health and Medical Service.
I would like to turn now to Document No. 282, which will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 9. This is a chart by the defendant Handloser and shows the organization of the medical service of the Wehrmacht. This chart is now before the Court in an enlarged form on a frame behind the witness box.
Before discussing the chart I will read the affidavit of Handloser, which is document No. 443, and this will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 10, and the chart is No. 282:
I, Dr. Siegried Handloser, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. I was born in Konstanz (Badon) in 1885. I began my medical studies in the year 1903 as a student at the Kaiser Wilhelm Academy. I passed my premedical examination at the University of Berlin in the year 1905, and my state examination at the University of Berlin in the year 1910. In 1910 I was assigned to the Military Hospital and the 14th Field Artillery at Strassbourg, and in 1912 I became Chief Medical Officer of the Airship Battalions 1 and 2,1 which were stationed in Berlin, and in this capacity I directed research work for the observation of the hemoglobin level at various altitudes. I also became a certified free balloon pilot.
2. In 1914 I became first lieutenant (Medical) on the staff of physicians of the Guard Corps, and after the outbreak of the first World War I served on the Western Front in the Guard Regiment, as well as the Guard Corps Headquarters. In 1916 I become Commanding Officer of a division medical unit, and from 1918 until 1920 I was the Chief Medical Officer of a Division which was used for the suppression of communistic revolts.
3. From 1920 until 1923 I was attached to the Medical Clinic of the University of Giessen for training as a specialist for internal diseases. From 1923 until 1928 I was Chief Medical advisor of corps area V at Ulm, and from 1928 until 1932 I was attached to the Chief of Medical Service, OKH, as Chief of the division for Military Hospitals and Patients. In 1932 1 became Chief Medical Officer at the corps area Stuttgart. From 1935 until 1938 I was Chief Medical Officer with Army Group Command 3. In 1938 I became Chief Medical Officer of the German forces in Austria under General List, who later become Field Marshall.
4. On 1 September 1939 I became Chief Medical Officer of the 14th German Army, and accompanied this army, which was commanded by General List, during the Polish campaign. I served as Chief Medical Officer of the 12th German Army during the campaign in France. On 6 November 1940 I because Deputy Army Medical Inspector, replacing Weldmann.
5. On 1 January 1941 I was appointed Waldmann's successor because the latter was dying. At this time (1 January 1941) General Ott was Chief Medical Officer of the Field Forces. In February 1941 Ott resigned, and I suggested, that the two Medical Departments, namely the Army Medical Inspectorate, which was under the control of the OKH, and the office of the Chief Medical Officer should be united. Since the principle of the independent authority of command was in harmony with the independent control by the OKH, I was ordered to unify the two offices tentatively. In April 1941 I received the official permission to keep both positions. But I was asked to retain two departments which were separated from each other.
6. By decree of the Fuehrer of 28 July 1942
--which I have already read--
I became head of the Wermacht Medical Services and besides maintained both physicians at the OKW
--If your Honor please, that should red OKH rather than OKW--
Dr. Karl Brandt, General Commission for Health--for Medical and Health matters-- and later Reich Commissioner for Medical and Health matters, was my immediate superior in medical affairs.
7. By decree of the Fuehrer of 28 June 1942, which referred to Medical and Health matters, I was commissioned to supervise all phases of the Medical Service of the Wehrmacht and of all organizations subordinated or attached to the Wehrmacht, including the Waffen SS.
8. On 1 September 1944, the personal union between the Army Medical Inspector and the head of the Wehrmacht Medical Service was repealed by decree of the Fuehrer. I kept my position as Chief of the Wehrmacht Medical Service and General Walter was appointed to take over my two positions in the OKH.
/s/ Dr. Handloser
Thus, the defendant, Handloser, occupied dual capacity over most of the period in which we are interested.
From the latter part of 1940 until September 1944, Handloser was Chief of the Army Medical Inspectorate; while from July 1942 until the end of the war, he was also Chief of the Medical Services of the Armed Forces or Wehrmacht. The chart before the Tribunal shows, on the left side, part of the organization of the Army Medical Inspectorate. (I take it was on the left side in the small chart which the Court has on its desk. They apparently have somewhat changed the setup due to the space on the large chart bow on the screen.)
During the course of the trial, you will hear mention made of the Military Medical Academy in Berlin, of the Typhus Institute of the OKH under Dr. Eyer, and also in connection with the freezing experiment of the Institute at St. Johann. Now all of those organizations--Military Medical Academy, the Typhus Institute of the OKH under Dr. Eyer, and the Institute at St. Johann-were subordinated to the Army Medical Inspectorate and the Chief of the Army Medical Inspectorate from 1940 until September 1944 was Handloser. Immediately below the Army the Army Medical Inspectorate on the chart, we have a breakdown of the organization of the Military Medical Academy.
This Academy held meetings at least once a year which were attended by the foremost doctors in Germany, including a number of the defendants in the dock. The proof will show that at one of these meetings, reports were given on the typhus and sulfanilimide experiments on concentration camp inmates.
As Chief of the Medical Services of the Armed Forces, Handloser had subordinated to him, all of the medical services shown across the top of this chart; the Army, the Navy, the Luftwaffe, the Waffen SS, the Organization Todt, and the Reich Labor Front. Thus, Erich Hippken, Chief of the Luftwaffe Medical Inspectorate, his subordinate, the defendant, Schroeder, as well as the defendant, Genzken, as Chief of the Medical Service of the Waffen SS, were all subordinated to Handloser. Handloser limits his jurisdiction over the Waffen SS to front-line troops and it is interesting to note that on the chart, he specifically states that the Institute for Typhus and Virus Research at the Buchenwald Concentration Camp was not subject to his command. The Typhus Institute at Buchenwald is shown on the chart before the Court under the Waffen SS. (I think it is the lower box.)
In Note 5 on the chart, which was drawn and certified by the defendant, Handloser, and which was brought into evidence, he states the following: (and I quote).
Whether there was an exchange of letters between the Typhus Institute of the OKH under Dr. Eyer
--which is on the left part of the chart--
and the Typhus Institute of the Waffen SS, how extensively and through which channels it was carried on, is not known to me. Anyway, if there was such an exchange, it did not pass through my hands. The report on the production of spotted fever vaccine in Dr. Eyer's Institute, went to the Army Medical Inspectorate. Also, a requirement of the Wehrmacht branches were reported to that office. The distribution was made from a central point which accorded priority to matters of urgency.
This is clearly the defensive argument of a man who strongly suspects that the prosecution has found proof of the complicity which he knows to exist of offices directly subordinated to him in the murderous typhus experiments at Buchenwald.
Before passing on, I want to introduce Document NO-227 as Prosecution Exhibit 11.
THE TRIBUNAL (JUDGE SEBRING): Mr. McHaney, before passing on to the next one, it may be that I have the wrong chart here.
MR. McHANEY: Which number is that, Your Honor?
THE TRIBUNAL (JUDGE SEBRING): But in your statements before the Tribunal, you kept reading, apparently from this statement of Dr. Handloser and talking about typhus. My translation here talks about the Spotted Fever Institute.
MR. McHANEY: Well, Your Honor, that is simply a question of translation. I think that you will finding a number of our documents that the German word "Fleckfieber" has been translated "spotted fever". That is not to be confused with the disease which is common in the United States-- at least on the West Coast--known as "Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever". We are not here charging the defendants with having experimented with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, but rather with "Fleckfieber" or typhus, which is sometimes known in our country as "Spotted Fever".
I was just offering for admittance into evidence, Document No-227 as Prosecution exhibit 11. This is a decree by Hitler and an order by Keitel restating the responsibilities of Handloser as Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht. It was on the occasion of this decree that Handloser surrendered his post as Chief of the Army Medical Inspectorate, and threrafter, he occupied simply the position of Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht.
I would like to read parts of this exhibit. This is dated 7 August 1944.
The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht:
To obtain a better concentration of powers in the field of Medical Service of the Wehrmacht, I order in extension of my decree of 28 July 1942:
First: The Chief of the Medical Service of the Wehrmacht will direct, as far as the special field is concerned, the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht and the organizations and services installed within the homework of the Wehrmacht.
--which should probably read "framework"--
He is authorized to issue orders within the special field of his jurisdiction.
Second: I approve the service regulation for the Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht issued by the Chief of the High Command of the Wehrmacht. It will replace the one of 28 July 1942, which was in effect up to now.
Third: The personal union of the Chief of Medical Services of the Wehrmacht and the Chief of the Medical Services of the Army is herewith cancel ed as of September 1944.
Now, the Service Regulation issued by Keitel is also part of this same document, and is on the next page. It is also dated 7 August 1944 and is entitled "Service Regulation for the chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht". The first article deals with "Subordination and Powers."
One: The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will be directly under the Chief of the High Command of the Wehrmacht. He will have the position of an Office Chief, and the disciplinary power, according to Paragraph 18 of the Wehrmacht Regulation for Disciplinary Motion and the other powers of a Commanding General.
Two: He has authority according to No.1 of the Fuehrer Decree over the following:
a) The Chief of Army Medical Service, the Chief of Navy Medical Service, the Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe, the Chief of the Medical Service of the Waffen SS, and the Medical Chiefs of the organizations and services employed within the framework of the Wehrmacht while they are acting in the area of command of the Wehrmacht.
b) All scientific medical institutes, academies and other medical institutions of the services of the Wehrmacht and of the Waffen SS.
II. Duties.
1. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht is the advisor of the Chief of the High Command of the Wehrmacht in all questions concerning the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht and of its health guidance.
2. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will direct the total Medical Services of the Wehrmacht as far as the special field is concerned, with regard for the military instructions of the Chief of the High Command of the Military Service and the general rules of the Commissioner General for Medical and Health Departments." (The reference is to the defend ant, Karl Brandt.)
3. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will inform the Fuehrer's Commissioner General about basic events in the field of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht.
He will represent the Wehrmacht to the civilian authorities in all mutual medical affairs and he will protect their interests in connection with the health measures of the civilian administrative authorities.
He will represent the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht to the Medical Services of foreign powers.
4. Other duties of the Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will be:
a) in the medical-scientific field: Uniform measures in the field of health guidance, research, and the combatting of epidemics and all medical measures which require a uniform ruling among the Wehrmacht. Evaluation of medical experiences.
Medical matters of the recruiting system, of the welfare and maintenance and of the prisoners of war.
He is the president of the scientific senate of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht.
(B deals with organization and training system, which I will not read).
(I note again from Article III, which is Special Powers, page 22, of the English Document Book.)
1. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht is entitled to request from the services all records necessary for the performance of his assignments.
2. He is entitled to express his view on the appointment of medical officers or medical leaders in the Wehrmacht and also in the units of the Waffen SS which are subordinated to the Wehrmacht - if the position is that or a Generalarzt or a higher position. Before filling these positions his opinion has to be heard.
3. He is untitled to inspect the medical service, the medical units, the medical troops, and installations of the Wehrmacht after having informed the High Command of the Service concerned or the headquarters of the units concerned. He is entitled to give orders on the spot in the field of medical service, if these are necessary for the removal of emergencies and do not disagree with fundamental orders of the Services. He has to inform the High Commands of the services concerned about the results of the inspections and about the issued orders.
4. Fundamental changes in the organization of the Medical Service, in the subordination of medical officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men and of the officials and employees of the Medical Service require the consent of the Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht.
5. The Deputy of the Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht shall be the senior Medical Inspector or the Medical Chief of one of the services. The Chief of Staff will act as his deputy for routine duties.
(Six deals with the title which the Chief of the Medical Services shall use when on issuing orders.)
7. For the Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht the new table of organization of 1 April 1944 is taking effect.
The necessary personnel has to be taken from the Services, etc., above all from their Medical Inspectorates or Offices.
/s/ KEITEL
It can be seen from this decree, which I have read, how bread and extensive were the powers, responsibilities, and duties of the defendant, Handloser, as Chief of the Medical Services of the Armed Forces.
We come now to the group of Luftwaffe defendants. These are Schroeder, Rose, Becker-Freyseng, Weltz, Ruff, Romberg, Beiglbock, and Schaefer. Before reading the affidavits giving the personal histories of these defendants I would like to introduce two charts, signed by the defendant Schroeder, showing the organization of the Medical Service of the German Air Force. Doc. No. 418, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 12, gives the organization as it was from 1941 until the end of 1943. Now I had hoped that at this time we would have charts similar to the one before the Court which would show the organization of the Luftwaffe. However, due to mechanical and supply difficulties we were unable to get the charts prepared and, accordingly, will have to use the smaller charts which the Court now has. I think it would be helpful in presentation if I now introduce the second Luftwaffe chart which shows the organization following December 1943. If the Court could have these two charts open before them during the presentation I will try to indicate the positions of the defendants on each of the two charts as it may have changed.)
THE TRIBUNAL (Judge Sebring): What is the number of the last exhibit to which you refer?
MR. McHANEY: The last exhibit I have not as yet shown as submitted is Doc. NO-419, and will be Prosecution Exhibit 13. This chart, as I said, covers the period from 31 December 1943 until the end of the War. These charts are very complicated, as the Court may see, but we shall discuss them only to the extent necessary to bring into clear focus the positions of the defendants in the dock. On the upper right had side of both charts, we find the positions of Karl Brandt, Rostock, and Handloser in relation to the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe. The cross-hatched, dealing now with No-418, line leading to Hippke and Schroeder, from the office of Karl Brandt and Rostook and Handloser -- this cross hatched line, represents the channel of comma in technical or medical matters. You will note on the chart, after 1943 NO-419, to the right that Rostock by 1944 had a direct line of command (represented by the unbroken line) over Schroeder as to Science and Research.
I shall refer to the charts as I read the affidavits of the defendants, the first of which is that of Schroeder. This is Doc. NO-666 and is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 14.
I, Dr. Oskar Schroeder, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. I was born on 6 February 1891 at Hannover, Germany. I attended school in Hannover and, from 1910 until 1914, was a student at Kaiser Milhelm Academy of Military Medical Education. During the first World War (1914-1920) I was a medical officer with the troops. I remained in the Army until time end of the first World War as a medical officer with the rank of First Lieutenant.
2. From 1920 to 1925 I received specialized training as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor at Koenigsberg and Wuerzburg. From October 1925 until 31 December 1930 I was Chief Medical Officer of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of the garrison hospital at Hannover. During this period I was also medical officer of a number of military units.
3. From 1 January 1931 until 31 August 1935 I was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army as consultant on hospital matters and therapeutics with the rank of Major.
4. Until the end of 1935 my old friend and classmate, Brig. Gen. Hippke, asked me to become Chief of Staff in the newly formed Medical Department of the Reich Ministry of Aviation. I retained this position until 31 January 1940. In 1937 Hippke was made Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe. From 1 February 1940 until 31 December 1943 I was a Physician for Air Fleet II and hold the rank of Major General."
(The position of Hippke is shown on the first chart - about in the center of the chart. He was the predecessor of Schroeder and his title at that time was Inspector of the Medical Services of the Luftewaffe. This office was abbreviated L. In. 14 (Luftwaffe Inspectorate 14, which was Medical Services.)
The Tribunal will have the occasion to see the name of Hippke in L. In. 14. In that connection it should be remembered that the defendant Schroeder was until February 1940 Chief of Staff to Hippke and thereafter until December 31, 1943, he was Chief Physician to Air Fleet No. II. The latter position is shown on the first chart to the left. It is rather hard find, your Honor. Do you find it? It is to the left from the center in a number of boxes in which are shown positions of the Air Fleet in Germany, no Air Fleet No. II of which Schroeder was Chief Physician.)
During this whole period, Schroeder was the highest ranking officer in the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe, next to Hippke. I continue now reading Schroeder's affidavit. Paragraph 5:
on 1 January 1944 I was appointed to succeed Hippke and became Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe. I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General (Generaloberstabsarzt), and held this position until the end of the Second World War.
/s/ Dr. Oskar Schroeder
Schroeder's position as Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe is shown in the middle of the second chart which the Court has received.
I turn now to the Defendant Rose, and I read his affidavit, which is Document NO-673 and is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 15. It is on Page 27 of the English Document Book:
I Dr. Gerhard August Heinrich Rose, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. I was born November 30, 1896 in Danzig. I studied medicine at Berlin and Breslau Universities and passed my state examination in October 1921.
2. During the latter part of 1921 and the first part of 1922 I interned at the Hygiene Institute of Breslau University, the Medical Polyclinic, and the Pathological Institute of the Wentzerl-Hancke Hospital in Breslau. From may until August 1922 I was an assistant on the staff of the Institute for Contegious Diseases of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. From August 1922 until February 1923 I was assistant on the staff of the Hygienic Institute of Basle University. From March 1923 until September 1925 I was assistant on the staff of the Institute for Anatomy in Heidelberg. From October 1925 until February 1926 I was a member of the staff of the Purgical Clinic of Heidelber University. (From March 1926 until May 1929 I engageed in the private practice of medicine in Heidelberg.)
3. In 1929 I went to China, and from August 1929 until September 1936 was Chief of the Institute for Public Health (Landesanstalt fuer Gesundheitswesen) in Chekiang, in Han chow, China. During this time I was also adviser in public health maters to the Ministry of the Interior of Chekiang. In 1930, while in China, I joined the NSDAP.
4. In 1936 I returned to Germany and became professor and head of the Department for Tropical Medicine at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. In 1942 I became Vice President of the Institute but retained my professorship and position as head of the Department for Tropical Medicine. Dr. Gildemeister was President of the Robert Koch Institute.
5. On August 26, 1939 I joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of Oberarzt (1st Lieutenant) in the Medical Corps. I rose to the rank of Generalsrzt (General) in the Reserve. I was Consulting Medical Officer on Hygiene an Tropical Medical to the Chief of the Medical Services of the Luftwaffe (Chef der Sanitaetswesens des Luftwaffe.) I remained in this position until the end of the war. My superior was Dr. Hippke and after January 1, 1944, Dr. Schroeder.
6. From 1944 until the end of the war I was medical consultant to Dr. Handloser, Chief of the Medical Service of the Armed Forces (Chef def Wehrmachtsanitaetswesens). I was also medical adviser to Dr. Conti in matters pertaining to tropical diseases. I was subordinate to him in my capacity of a member of the Robert Koch Institute, since he was the Chief of the Civilian Medical Service, being Under secretary of State. /Signed/ Dr. Gerhard Rose.
The position of Rose as consulting hygienist to the Luftwaffe is shown on the left side of both charts. He was and expert on tropical diseases, including, among others, malaria, yellow fever and typhus.
I might add parenthetically here that the Tribunal shall hear of Rose particularly here in connection with the typhus experiments by Dr. Haagen of the University of Strassbourg and by Dr. Ding at the Buchenwald Concentration Ca,p. Haagen is shown on both charts, and it’s may be a little difficult for you to find. I am afraid you might have considerable difficulty in finding it. There is a box, just to the left of the middle, down below which is entitled "University of Strassbourg, Professor Haagen". He was a consulting hygienist to the Air Fleet Reich. Dr. Haagen did a substantial part of his experimental work at the Natzweiler Concentration Camp, which was quite close to Strassbourg.
You will remember that the typhus Institute at Buchenwald was shown on the chart drawn Handloser. It will also be on the SS charts, to which we will come in a moment.
I turn now to the affidavit of defendant Becker-Freyseng, which is Document No. NO-669. After signing this document, Becker-Freyseng desired to make an amendment, and this is embodied in Document No. 790. I submit both of these documents as Prosecution Exhibit 16.
I Dr. Hermann Becker-Freyseng, swear, depose and state:
1. I was born on 18 July 1910 in Ludwigshafen/Rhein, Germany, I studied medicine at the Universities of Heidelberg, Innsbruck and Berlin and passed my state examination in 1935 in Berlin.
2. Until 1938 I was assistant physician at the clinic for internal medicine at the Robert Koch Hospital in Berlin. From 1938 until 1945 I was scientific assistant at the Medical Research Institute for Aviation in Berlin.
3. In 1933 I joined the NSDAP. In 1940 I was drafted into the Luftwaffe and in 1943 I was promoted to the rank of Stabsarzt. From July until December 1940 I was physician at the aviator examination post, Sooterborg/ Holland From December 1940 until February 1941 I attended the Military Academy in Gatow.
4. From February 1941 until August 1941 I was assigned to the 1st platoon for low pressure chamber tests of the Luftwaffe, which was temporarily stationed in Romania. My task chiefly consisted in assisting the demonstration of instructional experiments, which included a test of the reaction of fighter crews at altitudes of 12,000 meters.
5. From August 1941 until January 1944 I was attached to Dr. Anthony as assistant consultant (Hilfsreferent) in the department for Aviation Medicine in the Office of Inspektor of the Medicine Service of the Luftwaffe, Dr. Hippke. From January 1944, when Dr. Oskar Schroeder became chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe, until the end of the war I was consultant for Aviation Medicine in his (Schroeder) office.
6. During the period from 1935 until 1938 I continued my work at the Medical Research Institute for Aviation in Berlin.
I carried out research work independently, on the adaptability of pilots in high altitudes, their reaction to the lack of oxygen, and oxygen poisoning.
/s/ Dr. Hermann Becker-Freyseng.
The amendment to his affidavit, which is embodied in Document NO-790, is as follows:
In paragraph 5 of my affidavit of 18 November 1946 the following correction has to be made.
My title from August 1941 to about 15 May 1944 was Assistant Consultation (Hilfsreferent) under Dr. Anthony in the department (Referat) for Aviation Medicine in the Office of the Inspector of the Medical Service, later in the office of the Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe.
Only from about 15 May 1944 to the end of the war I was Consultant (Referent) in the above mentioned office.
The change that he is making is that in his first affidavit he stated that he became the consultant for Aviation Medicine to Schroeder on January 1, 1944, while his amendment states that he, in fact, became the Chief Consultant only on 15 May 1944.
THE PRESIDENT: Are the amendment and the affidavit attached together?
MR. McHANEY: Attached to What?
THE PRESIDENT: Attached one to the other, the original affidavit and the amendment?
MR. McHANEY: Yes. They go in sequence as exhibits and carry the same exhibit number.
THE PRESIDENT: I understood that, but if they are not attached together, there might be some difficulty in having two Exhibit 16's. If they are attached together, one marked as Exhibit 16 is sufficient. If they are not attached together, one could be marked Exhibit 16 and the other 16 (2).
MR. McHANEY: I think that is the proper suggestion.
DR. MARX (Counsel for defendant Becker-Freyseng): In the chart which Counsel or the Prosecution has submitted it says, with reference to Dr. Becker - this can be found approximately in the center of this chart - it says he was the liaison man between Schroeder and I can hardly read the next part.... Then it says Dr. BeckerFreyseng, Liaison Man between Schroeder and Georgii. I should like to remark in that connection that Dr. Becker was only the consulting physician in the department ?o without any authority to sign and without any responsibility, so that the name Liaison man" is not justified in any way whatsoever. In addition, I should rectify other mistake: Dr. Becker was active in the Robert Koch Hospital and not in the Robert Koch Institute.
MR. McHANEY: If the Tribunal please, I think that the remark about the power of the defendant Becker-Freyseng to sign orders is more a matter of argument than in objection to the chart which we have offered. I also think that if the defense counsel for Becker-Freyseng will consult with his client that he will find that the position put on this chart showing a relationship of liaison man from Schroeder to another department headed by a man named Georgii was entirely separate and distinct from his position as assistant consultant to Dr. Anthony in the Department for aviation medicine. He later became, of course, the Chief of the Department for aviation Medicine which he states was on 15 May 1944. As to his power to sign orders and things of that nature we will come to that in due course.
THE PRESIDENT: The exhibit may be admitted. Explanations may be made later as the powers of the defendant.
MR. McHANEY: Thus, Becker-Freyseng was an important figure in the field of aviation medicine. As I understand it, aviation medicine includes all medical problems incident to the operation of aircraft -- for example, the effect of high altitude on the human body and questions of velocity and night-vision. Problems of cold and sea rescue also fell within his work. The field of hygiene, on the other hand, *overs general medical problems, such as sanitation and infectious diseases. The defendant Rose was a consultant on hygiene, the defendant Becker-Freyseng a consultant on aviation medicine.
Becker-Freyseng appears on both the charts. On the one showing the organization as it existed up until December, 1943, he is shown under Anthony in the referat or department for aviation medicine. On the right, he is shown as chief of the department for aviation medicine. That is to say, on the later chart. He also appears as liaison between Schroeder and the Office of Research Guidance in the Ministry of aviation under Georgii. That is the box which the defense counsel for BeckerFreyseng called to the Court's attention. To put it succinctly, Becker-Freyseng was the chief adviser to Schroeder on questions of medical research.
While Becker-Freyseng was primarily interested in aviation medicine, it is also true that many, if not all, medical research assignments by the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe were made through his office. Thus, we shall see that the research work of Haagen on typhus was assigned by the Department for Aviation Medicine.
We turn now to the defendant Weltz and his affidavit is Document NO-677, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 17.:
I, Dr. Georg August Weltz, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. I was born 16 March 1889, at Ludwigshafen on Rhine. I studied medicine at the Universities of Jena, Kiel, Koenigsberg, and Munich and passed my state examination in 1913.
2. During the First World War, I served in the Medical Office. My highest rank was that of Assistant physician, that is to say, Assistenzarzt. During the early part of World War I, I was for a whole period pilot with a field aviation division. During 1919 and 1920, I was an assistant physician at the Medical and surgical Clinic in Munich. From 1921 until 1936, I practiced in Munich, specializing **n roentgenology.
3. From 1936 until 1945, I lectured on Aviation Medicine at the University of Munich. At the same time, I, in connection with Professor Broemser, did research work in the field of x-ray methods and aviation medicine, at the physiological Institute of the University of Munich.
4. I joined the N.S.D.A.P., in 1937. I was also a member of the National Socialist Physician's Association and National Socialist Lecturers' Association and NSFK. In August 1939, I was called into the Luftwaffe. In the course of the war, I rose to the rank of Oberfeldarzt, equivalent rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
During this time I also operated a Pilots' Physical Examination Office in Neubiberg and worked at the permanent Examination Board No. 4 in Munich, where I was concerned mainly with the physical endurance and reactions of pilots at high altitudes.
5. In 1941 my division of the Physiological Institute at Munich University, where I was doing research work, was taken over by the Luftwaffe and renamed the Institute for Aviation Medicine. I was made Chief of this Institute and remained in that position until the end of the war. The field of research engaged in at the Institute included physical reactions of the pilot at high altitudes, reciprocity of respirations and circulation, cooling, collapse, and revival of the pilot. In 1944 I was appointed Non-established Professor at the University of Munich. (Signed) DR. GEORG AUGUST WELTZ.
The Institute for Aviation Medicine at Munich under Weltz is shown on both of our charts. On the earlier chart, that is, showing the organization prior to 1944, the Tribunal will find the name of Dr. Rascher in a box beneath Weltz. Rascher was Captain in the Luftwaffe and an important figure in most of the medical experiment performed at the Dachau Concentration Camp, which was approximately 12 miles from Munich. During part of these experiments, the Prosecution contends that Rascher was Luftwaffe doctor attached to the institute of Weltz. That fact does not appear on this chart and we do not contend that it does. Two of Rascher's co-workers in the freezing experiments were Holzloehner and Finke, both Luftwaffe doctors. These names also appear on the chart showing the earlier period. Holzloehner committed suicide before his capture and the where abouts of Finke is unknown.
We turn now to the defendant Ruff. His affidavit is Document NO-638 and will be Prosecution Exhibit 18.
1. I was born on 19 February 1907 at Friedersheim on Niederrhein, Germany. I graduated from high school in Berlin in 1926, and commenced the study of medicine, I studied at the Universities of Berlin and Bonn and passed my state examination in Bonn at the beginning of 1932. From 1932 until January 1934, I was an interne and assistant at the clinics of Bonn University.
2. In January 1934, I was assigned to the German experimental institute for aviation, in order to establish a department for Aviation Medicine. I became chief of this department, which was later renamed the Institute for Aviation Medicine. I remained in this position until the end of the war. My chief assistant was Dr. Hans Wolfgang ROMBERG, who, towards the end of the war, attained the position of a department head at the institute. I was a reserve officer in the Luftwaffe with the rank of First Lieutenant.
Since the defendant ROMBERG was an assistant to RUFF, I shall read his affidavit before indicating their positions on the charts. This, his affidavit, is document NO-588, and will be Prosecution Exhibit 19.
I, Dr. Hans Wolfgang Arthur Bernhard ROMBERG, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. I was born on May 15, 1911 in Berlin, From 1929 until 1935, I studied medicine at the Universities of Berlin and Innsbruck. I passed my state examination in 1935.
2. I joined the NSDAP in May 1933. From April 1936 until 1938, I interned and was assistant physician at the Krankenhaus of Friedrichshain, a Berlin hospital. During 1937, I served in the German air force for two months.
3. On 1 January 1938, I joined the staff of the German Experimental Institute for Aviation in Berlin, as an associate scientist. I remained in this position until the end of the war. My superior was always Dr. Siegfried RUFF. In this position I was concerned, among other things, with problems of altitude and velocity.
The German Experimental Institute for Aviation, in which the defendants, RUFF and ROMBERG, were active, are shown on both of our charts as being subordinated as far as aviation medical research is concerned to, first, HIPPKE, and thereafter to SCHROEDER. The names of both RUFF and ROMBERG appear in the box immediately beside this Department for Aviation Medicine. These two gentlemen who are arrayed with RASCHER in carrying out the high altitude experiments at Dachau in the spring and summer of 1942.
Their co-operation was secured, as we shall demonstrate, through the good offices of the defendant WELTZ. Lastly, we come to the two Luftwaffe defendants, who are in the dock primarily because of the part they played in the experiments to make seawater drinkable. BEIGLEBROECK's affidavit is document NO-674, which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 20. It reads as follows:
I, Dr. Wilhelm Franz Joseph BEIGLEROECK, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. I was born October 10, 1905, at Hoehneukircheni, Lower Austria. I studied medicine at the University of Vienna and passed my state examination in 1931.
2. I joined the NSDAP in 1933, but received my party number after the annexation of Austria. I joined the SA in 1934. My last rank in the SA was that of Obersturmbannfuehrer of the Medical Service. I was also a member of the association of Nazi physicians and the association of Nazi academic lecturers.
3. From 1931 to 1933, I was an assistant physician on the staff of the Third Medical Clinic in Vienna. From 1931 until the end of the war, I was associated with the First Hospital in Vienna, in 1939 becoming chief physician. In 1939, I qualified as an academic lecturer and, in 1944, qualified as extraordinary professor.
4. In May, 1941, I joined the German air force, where I rose to the rank of Captain in the Medical Services. From August 1941, until December 1941, I was stationed in the air force hospital in Wels, Upper Austria. From December 1941 until May 1942, I was stationed at the air force hospital at Vienna, where I worked in the department for the treatment of internal disease.
5. From May 1942 until July 1942, I attended the war school in Eger, and in July 1942 until November 1943. I was assigned to the motorized medical detachment where I was in charge of the Department for Internal Disease. From November 1943 until 1944, I was stationed at the air force hospital at Braunschweig, where I was Deputy Department Head of the Department for Internal Diseases.
From early 1944 until the end of the war, except for approximately a six-week period, I was stationed at the hospital for paratroopers at Tarvis, Northern Italy, where I was chief physician for the Department of Internal Diseases.
6. From approximately 1 July 1944, while stationed at Tarvis, Italy, I was ordered by Dr. BECKER-FREYSENG to report to Dachau. I remained at Dachau for a period of approximately eight weeks, where I assisted in the experiments pertaining to the SCHAEFER and BERKA methods of rendering seawater potable.
BEIGLBROECK's position is not shown on either of the two charts. He was recalled from service in Italy to conduct the seawater experiments, having been recommended by one Dr. Hans Eppinger, who was a consultant to the Luftwaffe. Eppinger recently took his life in Vienna.
Document NO-688, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 21, is the affidavit of SCHAEFER.
I, Dr. Konrad Wilhelm Philipp SCHAEFER, being duly sworn, depose and state:
1. was born on January 7, 1911, at Muelhausen, Alsatia, Germany. I studied medicine at the Universities of Munich, Berlin, Innsbruck and Heidelberg. I passed my state examination in Heidelberg in December 1935.
2. In the beginning of 1936, I worked as a medical internee at the Heidelberg University Chemo Therapeutic Clinic in Berlin. A little later, in 1936, I became affiliated with the firm of SCHERING, A. G. in Berlin, as an assistant to Dr. Feldt in the therapeutic laboratory. I worked part time in SCHERING, A. G. In 1938 I had to leave the clinic because I was not a member of the NSDAP. I remained with SCHERING until November 1941.
3. In November 1941, I was drafted into the Luftwaffe and received my basic medical training in Baden, near Vienna, Austria. In March 1942, I was transferred to the Luftwaffe replacement depot in Saylo, and from there to the Luftwaffe base at Frankfort on the Oder.
4. In the summer of 1942, I was transferred to Berlin, and assigned to the staff of the Research Institute for Aviation Medicine. Simultaneously, I received my position in the Research Department of the Chemotherapeutic Laboratory of SCHERING, A. G. My chief assignment at the institute was to do research work on the problems of sea emergency for the Luftwaffe. This included research on various methods to render seawater potable. I remained in these positions until the end of the war.
The position of SCHAEFER and the Research Institute for Aviation Medicine appear on both of the charts.
DR. PELCKMANN: I have an objection to the admissibility of both the charts, with reference to the defendant SCHAEFER.
The charts are to give you an optical impression with reference to the organizations as they are explained in the affidavit, and in particular, with reference to the position of the defend ant in that organization. The chart does not give you the correct optical impression which should be seen when reading the affidavit made by SCHAEFER. SCHAEFER was one of the collaborators in the staff of the Aviation Institute for Medicine. If the Tribunal would like to look at the chart, it will see that under the name of this institute, and its leader Professor STRUCHOLD, there is a small box on which it says, "Dr. SCHAEFER." Beneath that, there are other boxes, which are subordinated to Dr. SCHAEFER and Dr. STRUGHOLD. This box, Dr. SCHAEFER, therefore, gives you a wrong impression which is neither in compliance with the testimony of SCHAEFER which has just been read, nor with the statement of Professor SCHROEDER, which was read before that. SCHAEFER was merely a collaborator and he was assigned to his duties as such and was only one of 30 to 40 collaborators in this institute. However, when looking at the chart, and that is my objection as to its admissibility, it appears as if he were the second man after STRUGHOLD.
MR. McHANEY: Your Honor will appreciate the fact that it is impossible on a piece of paper the size of the charts that we have submitted to show each and every individual who was a number of these various institutes which were subordinate to the medical service of the Luftwaffe. It happens that we were interested in SCHAEFER. We are not interested in the other 38 students at this institute. Also, I would like to point out that we do not take the position at all that SCHAEFER was second in command after STRUGHOLD, and I am not aware that the Persecution has said anything to lead the counsel for this defendant to take that position. In any event, I do not think that his remarks go to an objection against the admissibility of this document, conceding that the document is wrong, he may point out these facts to the Court at the time he presents his case.
The document was drawn for use by the defendant SCHROEDER, and purposts to be an accurate chart of the organization of the medical services of the Luftwaffe.
THE PRESIDENT: Objection of counsel overruled, till we understand what the charts were made for, and subject to explanation as the evidence progresses. The Court will now take its noon recess.
(A recess was taken until 1330 hours)