1947-03-04, #1: Doctors' Trial (early morning)
Official transcript of the American military Tribunal in the matter of the United States of America, against Karl Brandt, et al, defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, on 4 March 1947, 0930, Justice Beals presiding.
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the court room will please find their seats.
The Honorable, the Judges of Military Tribunal 1.
Military Tribunal 1 is now in session. God save the United States of America and this honorable Tribunal.
There will be order in the courtroom.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Marshal, will you ascertain that the defendants are present in court.
THE MARSHAL: May it please your Honor, all the defendants are present in court with the exception of the Defendant Oberheuser who is absent due to illness.
THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary-General will note for the record the presence of all the defendants in court save the Defendant Oberheuser who has been excused on account of illness. Her absence will not prejudice her interests in this case.
Counsel may proceed.
DR. MERKEL (Counsel for the Defendant Genzken): Mr. President, at the conclusion of my submission of evidence I am going to submit the documents which have not been submitted so far. They are only affidavits through which I am going to prove that nothing was known in the Medical Service of the Waffen-SS about experiments in concentration camps, research did not belong to this sphere of the Medical Service of the Waffen-SS. Furthermore, I should like to emphasize by these affidavits the attitude of rejection toward Himmler and Gravitz on the part of Genzken. The first affidavit is Genzken Number 9, page 19 of the Document Book which will become Exhibit No. 9. This is an affidavit of Dr. Joachim-Friedrich Hanisch, and I quote:
From June 1942 until the end of the war I worked in the From June 1942 until the end of the war I worked in the medical office of the Waffen-SS under Dr. Karl GENZKEN at first as technical advisor in the officers personnel department, and since September 1943 as chief of the department for organization.
During this time I was in contact with Dr. GENZKEN and can therefore make the following statements:
In spring 1943 a commission of Italian physicians paid a visit to Germany to inspect the medical institutions of the Waffen-SS. Dr. GENZKEN accompanied this commission on its trip through Germany and to the eastern front. At the end of this trip he went to Karlsbad for a few-weeks' treatment. SS-Sturmbannfuehrer GROSSMANN accompanied him on this journey. Owing to the strain of the treatment Dr. GENZKEN was for a time not completely fit for work after his return to Berlin, I think it unlikely therefore that Dr. GENZKEN took part in the Osttagung (eastern congress) of the medical officers in the Berlin Military Academy for Medicine, on 24 — 26 May 1943, especially as Dr. GENZKEN never mentioned anything afterwards about any participation in this congress.
The medical scientific research-work and planning of the SS came exclusively under the office of the Reichsarzt Dr. Grawitz, not under the SS Operational Main Office or even the medical office of the Waffen-SS under Dr. Genzken. On every possible occasion Dr. Genzken stressed the fact that his office dealt exclusively with matters concerning the troops, matters which never included scientific tasks and plans of the SS. I do not know, and consider it completely out of the question that the medical office of the Waffen-SS would have ordered or even suggested printing up an experimental station for typhus research within Buchenwald concentration camp. When in 1942 an experimental station was put up for purposes of typhus research in block 46 of Duchenwald concentration camp, this was entirely the affair of the Reichsarzt and was neither the affair nor the task of Dr. Genzken. It is therefore also out of the question that the SS-Operational Main Office or the Medical office of the Waffen-SS were the superior authorities for such a research institution of the Reichsarzt within a concentration camp, or that they were even involved.
I know Dr. Ding superficially as a member of the Hygiene Institute. I knew of no reason why Dr. Genzken should have arranged for Ding's transfer to Buchenwald. I did not hear anything in our office, either officially or unofficially shout typhus experiments on prisoners in Buchenwald, and even less that a large number of prisoners had died under such experiments. There was never any talk, either official or private, about deliberately infecting the prisoners. I am absolutely convinced that Dr. Genzken was not informed about such details, otherwise the subject of such typhus experiments would certainly have come up in the course of the innumerable conversations which I had with him since September 1943. I have never personally seen any scientific reports which Ding allegedly sent to the Hygiene Institute. I know nothing else on this subject and consider at completely out of the question that any correspondence took place between Ding in his capacity as Head of his research station and the Medical Office of the Waffen-SS (Sanitaetsamt der Waffen SS). All that we knew was that Dr. Ding's Institute in Buchenwald was manufacturing typhus vaccine from rabbit lungs or eggs which had been injected.
I think it quite possible that a station of this type for producing serum came under the organization of the Hygiene Institute.
Nothing was known within the Medical Office of the Waffen-SS (Sanitaetsamt der Waffen SS) concerning any sulfonamide experiments made in the Ravensbruck concentration camp, nor was anything known of the fact that, in winter 1943 — 1944, Dr. Mrugowsky and Dr. Ding allegedly made experiments with poisoned shells and healing experiments on burns caused by phosphoric incendiary bombs. I am convinced that Dr. Genzken knew nothing about these experiments.
The personal relationship between Dr. Mrugowsky and Dr. Genzken was cool and was not calculated to encourage any exchange of ideas after Mrugowsky had been promoted Chief Hygienist on the staff of the Reichsarzt and after the last shreds of an official connection had disappeared.
With regard to Dr. Genzken's relationship with Himmler and Grawitz I can make the following remarks.
I know that Dr. Genzken wanted to have a theosophic pamphlet printed in the spring.
Obviously the witness doesn't knew when that took place. From the testimony of the witness Genzken it can be seen it was in the spring of 1944.
Himmler, in an abusive letter of reply, refused to give his permission for this and warned him that he could only have the pamphlet printed if he no longer belonged to the Waffen-SS. Thereupon Dr. Genzken wanted to resign his resignation, however, was refused. I also recollect that Dr. Genzken repeatedly spoke of the following incident: 'in the course of a conference of technical advisors will Juettnar, the Chief of SS Operational Main Office, in 1941, an alleged infection with venereal disease of the Warsaw Garrison was mentioned. In a written report, which was read out, Himmler spoke of SS-Physicians lacking in honor and sense of duty. Genzken jumped up from his seat at these words, and, in the presence of 40 SS-leaders, said that he would not allow himself to be humiliated, even by a Heinrich Himmler. On this occasion as well, he tendered his resignation and again it was refused.
I have known Dr. Karl Genzken since 1941, and have been closely connected with him since 1943. I often not him both officially and unofficially. His words and actions always showed a high medical ethos. I am absolutely convinced that he never engaged in any kind of illegal actions or crimes against humanity, and that he never allowed any such actions without objection.'
In the years during which I was closely connected with Dr. Genzken, Dr. Grawitz and Dr. Genzken were constantly on bad terms with each other. The Reichsarzt SS, who, with regards to Medical Matters of the Waffen-SS, only had the right to make inspections and to give professional orders, was only informed of the affairs of the Medical Office by Dr. Genzken, in very urgent cases.
Grawitz would never have tolerated any unauthorized person, in this case Dr. Genzken, to meddle with his affairs. Characteristic of the Reich physician was his frequently repeated statement, if any subject which had nothing to do with troops came into a discussion, (e.g. conference with the commissar of the Chief of Health matters, Prof. Brandt, regarding the transfer of doctors for the Waffen-SS): 'Leave that to me, it is a highly diplomatic matter, you will make a muddle.'
In the consequence Dr. Genzken dealt exclusively with the medical needs of the field and home units of the Waffen-SS, including hospitals of the Waffen-SS, in the field and at home.
DR. MERKEL: The next document will be Genzken No. 6, which is on page 13 of my document book. This will be exhibit No. 10 and I quote: This is an affidavit of Max Peters:
I was Chief of the Main Department for Personnel Matters in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, from September 1943 to January 1945. Scientific research and planning did not come under the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, but was under Reichsartz Dr. Grawitz. It is quite out of the question that the SS Operational Main Office, and with at the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, was a superior office ever an Institute for Scientific Research of the Reichsarzt, in the Buchenwald Concentration Camp.
During my activity in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, I knew nothing of the fact that Dr. Ding sent regular reports at regular intervals to the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, concerning his activity at Buchenwald. Nothing concerning these experiments was ever mentioned in the course of official meetings, or another occasions; the office in particular was never informed that a great number of prisoners were taken in, or that in consequence of intentional infection, prisoners died under these experiments.
I next offer the Document Genzken No. 8, which is on page 17 of my document book, and this will become Genzken Exhibit No. 11. This is an affidavit of Herbert Grossman, and reads: I quote:
I was technical medical leader and personal technical advisor for the medical personnel on the staff of the medical chief of the Waffen SS, Dr. Karl Genzken, from 1942 until the end of the war. From my knowledge in the situation, I can make the following statement:
Scientific research and planning came under the office of the Reichsarzt SS and Police Dr. Grawitz. If, therefore, an experimental station for typhus was established within Buchenwald concentration camp in 1942, it must have been set up by the Reichsarzt SS; the appointment of the head of this office must also have been made by him and not by Dr. Genzken. Relations between Dr. Grawitz and. Dr. Genzken were rather strained, Court due to the fact that Dr. Grawitz was anxiously and jealously interested in preserving his competences untouched in every way.
I knew nothing of the fact that during meetings of technical advisers, or on ether occasions, typhus experiments in Buchenwald were discussed officially or unofficially in our office in Berlin. Consequently, nothing was known with regard to the fact that inmates were deliberately exposed to infection and that such inmates died. Personally, I have never seen or heard of any scientific correspondence rehearing research work done by Dr. Ding.
I never heard anything officially nor unofficially during my service in the medical office, with regard to sulfonamide experiments made in Ravensbrueck.
I now offer Document No. 3 which is on page 5 of the document book and this will became Genzken Exhibit No. 12. This is an affidavit of Oskar Hock and reads as follows and I quote:
As far as I can remember I worked as chief of the medical service in the medical office of the Waffen SS from the beginning of May 1940 until about 20 June 1940 and with certainty from the beginning of September 1940 until 15 February 1941, an from 15 July 1943 to 1 September 1943. During that period my field of work comprised the supervision of the troops' medical service at the front and at home, field hospital affairs, medical statistics, the setting up of new medical units for the front troops, as, well as the troops' welfare affairs. From 15 April 1944 until about 15 August 1944 I was entrusted solely with inspection duties in the medical office of the Waffen SS (inspections of field hospitals and other duties within the troops' medical service). During these periods Dr. Karl Genzken was chief of the medical office of the Waffen SS, and thus my immediate superior.
For the time of my activity in the medical office of the Waffen SS I can make the following statements:
During my activity as Division Doctor — it may have been towards the end of 1943 or in the first half of 1943, I learned that the lack of typhus vaccines would soon be overcome by the SS producing vaccines of their own in Buchenwald. Details about the production of the vaccines, however, or even about precoding experiments on living human beings, I found out neither at that time nor later during my activity in the medical office. I never heard that the Typhus Institute at Buchenwald was supposed to have been under the official supervision of the medical office of the Waffen-SS. I do not think it likely either-without knowing it exactly — that the medical office of the superior office of this institute, for research and planning in the medical field was exclusively a matter of the Reichsarzst SS.
The hygienic institute of the Waffen SS, with the inner organization of which I was never acquainted, worked only for the Waffen SS in the strict moaning of the name, but also for all SS offices beyond the actual Waffen SS and for SS formations subordinate to the Reichsarzt SS, as for instance the SS Main Offices, Higher SS and police leaders, intermediary office for racial Germans etc. The same is true for the main medical camp. During the reorganization of the offices "Reichsarzt SS" and "Medical Office of the Waffen SS" on 1 September, 1943, hygienic institute and medical camps were immediately subordinated to the office "Reichsarzt SS and Police."
Sulfenamide, ph*oonl, phl*gmene and poison experiments did not become known to me during my activity in the medical office of the Waffen SS nor otherwise. I am convinced that only quite a small circle of persons about these experiments and only insofar as these persons were needed directly for the execution of the orders given by the Reichsfuehrer SS or the Reichsarzt SS.
During my activity in the medical office of the Waffen SS 1 did not hear of an SS physician named Ellenbeck who is said to have worked with preserved blood. Neither [illegible] I ever hear of him otherwise.
There was no department for concentration camps in the medical office of the Waffen SS during my period of activity there.
I could see on the basis of several private conversations with Dr. Genzken that Dr. Genzken was by no means as for to keep his position under all circumstances, but rather he repeatedly considered resigning due to sharp controversies with the Reichsarzt, and that he even wanted to report his wish to resign to the chief of the SS operational main office, Juettner. Whether it over came to that, I do not know.
There was a general antipathy means the SS leaders of the medical office pf the Waffen SS against the Reichsarzt because of his entire personality. There were also frequent differences because the Reichsarzt SS repeatedly tried tc interfere with the military competences of the chief of the medical office. On several occasions Dr. Genzken made remarks to me against Mr. Grawitz and his method of administration. I remember that the complained to Juettner about Grawitz.
I also know that there was talk that Grawitz attempted a to extract information from expert assistants from to medical office of the Waffen SS who came to see him. In defense, he is said to have ordered those export assistants net to report art this to Dr. Genzken.
Immediately after the end of the campaign in the West I met Dr. Ding.
During the campaign in the west he was adjutant to a division physician. In the circles of comrades there was at that time much talk about letters wild Ding wrote to his wife, reporting about his special assignment during the campaign in the West, deeds which he actually never performed. I personally considered him to be a person with an extraordinary need for recognition. When useful for his purposes he wasn't scrupulous with the use of the truth and was inclined toward exaggerations. From my activity in the medical office to exaggerations. I do not know that Ding was there in the Main Section Chief for Special Hygienic Tasks.
As far as I know, such a section for special task, did not exist at all.
And I further ask that I be allowed to offer Genzken No. 5, on page. 10 of my document book, which is going to be Genzken Exhibit No. 13. This is an affidavit of Dr. Liebau, and reads as follows and I quote:
From the end of May 1940 until August/September 1942 I was working as personnel advisor in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS. At that time Dr. Karl Genzken was the head of the Medical Office of the Waffen SS. I belonged to that circle of persons who had the closest official connection with Dr. Genzken. I was continually in contact with him. I also frequently met Dr. Genzken unofficially. Our offices were in the same building. On account of my appointment as personnel expert in the medical office of the Waffen SS, and because of my close official and private contact with Dr. Genzken, I can make the following statement concerning the period from the end of May 1940 until August/September 1942:
Problems of scientific research and planning in the medical sphere within the jurisdiction of the Waffen SS were dealt with exclusively by the Reichsarzt-SS Dr. Grawitz, and not by the SS Operational Main Office or the medical Office of the Waffen SS, which was under the supervision of Dr. Genzken. In the same way every scientific publication in this field on the part of the physicians of the Waffen SS had to be approved by the Reichsarzt-SS Dr. Grawitz. Had scientific research work and planning been within the sphere of activity the Medical Office of the Waffen SS would have had a corresponding department, and this would have been planned and set up. But there was no section or department for scientific research and planning within the Medical Office of the Waffen SS. In addition to the adjutant's office and the special fields "Personnel and Administration" the following special fields were handled by the Medical Office of the Waffen SS Medical Service, Dental Service, Pharmaceutical Service and Hygienic Service. Their tasks consisted exclusively of [illegible] services of the members of the Waffen SS at the front and at home. There was a department for a medical service in the concentration camps within the Medical Office of the Waffen SS during my appointment.
Thus, as far as I remember, I have neither seen any correspondence on research and experiments on concentration camp prisoners during my appointment with the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, nor have I heard of any. Dr. Genzken, whom I also often met outside the office — as I have already mentioned above — has never talked to me of experiments and medical tests on human beings, as far as I remember. I never heard anything about experiments with sulfonamides or of typhus experiments on concentration camp prisoners, during my activity with the Medical Office of the Waffen SS. Dr. Genzken was highly esteemed by the physicians of the Waffen SS and was generally considered to be 'the father of the SS physicians'.
Because of my position as a personnel expert in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS I know that Dr. Genzken had controversies with the Reichsarzt-SS Dr. Grawitz and that strained relations existed at times between Dr. Genzken and Dr. Grawtiz, due chiefly as far as I can remember to a difference of opinion concerning the method of dealing with ordinances and decisions made by the Reichsfuehrer SS Himmler, or his staff. As far as I remember it concerned, among other things, personnel and disciplinary questions. Furthermore, I remember that in abut 1942 Dr. Genzken met Juettner, the chief of the Operational Main Office, for the purpose of settling a discord between Dr. Genzken and Dr. Grawitz. As far as I remember the limits of their fields of action were clearly divided once again, presumably as a result of this conversation. Finally, I remember an incident concerning a unit of the Waffen SS stationed in Poland, which was said to be infected with venereal disease. The incident worried us considerably, as physicians of the Waffen SS. I think that I remember that during a meeting of the consultant experts in the SS Operational Main Office a letter of Himmler was read, in which the reputation of the physicians of the Waffen SS was severely attacked, on account of this alleged state of affairs. Furthermore, I remember that Dr. Genzken is said to have declared on that occasion that he would not permit his reputation to be injured even by Heinrich Himmler. I myself was not present at this meeting of the consultant advisers, later on, i.e. in 1943, I payed several private visits to Dr. Genzken and I know that he kept himself more and more in the background both officially and privately, with regard to his relation to Dr. Grawitz.
I further offer document Genzken No. 16 which is on page 35 of the Document Book. This will become Exhibit Genzken No. 14. This is an affidavit made by the repeatedly mentioned Carl Blemenreuter. I quote:
I was chief of the Office XV (Chemical-Pharmaceutical Service) in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS until 31 August 1943, and from then until the end of the war Medical Supplies Officer (Zeugmeister) of the SS at the Office of the Reich Physician SS and Police Dr. Grawitz.
On the basis of my years of activity with the defendant Dr. Carl Gensken, I can testify as follows:
There was no department for scientific research no planning in Medical Office of the Waffen SS. There was only such a section in the Office of the Reich Physician SS and Police. The Medical Office of the Waffen SS in the SS Fuehrungshauptamt could therefore not have been the superior office of a scientific research institute of the Reich Physician SS in a concentration camp, as the Medical Service in the concentration camps was subordinate to the Reich Physician SS and Police, through the directing physician at the Inspectorate of Concentration Camps.
As far as I can remember, the typhus business was handled as follows:
As there was a shortage of typhus vaccine, it was decided as early as 1941 to reduce this preparations at the Hygiene Institute and to establish a special laboratory in Buchenwald.
Dr. Ding was made the head of this laboratory by Professor Mrugowsky. The exclusive reason why this laboratory was not installed until the beginning of 1943 was that Dr. Ding contracted typhus in 1944 and, after his recovery, was ordered to Paris until the end of November 1942. In 1942 Grawitz induced Himmler to order the establishment of an experimental station for typhus research in the Concentration Camp Buchenwald and made Dr. Ding the head of this station. The beginning of activities at this station was not made known to me, since it was a purely medical concentration camp matter.
The typhus vaccine produced at the Buchenwald laboratory was sent to central medical warehouses for distribution, in agreement with the Hygiene Institute.
I never heard anything about the experiments at the Buchenwald experimental station. As far as I could observe, these matters were not discussed in the Medical Office or the office of the Reich physician; in particular, experiments with intentional infecting of human beings were never discussed.
Nor did I ever hear anything at the Medical Office or at the office of the Reich Physician about sulfonamide experiments research in Ravensbruck.
I never saw scientific reports or any correspondence concerning these research experiments.
I have known the defendant Genzken since 1936. It was a pleasure to cooperate with him in his mainly organizational activities the military medical service of the Waffen SS. I can state from this my work and cooperation that he was never interested in scientific research and certainly not in experiments with concentration camp prisoners; lack of time alone in view of our extensive organizational activity, made it impossible to engage in scientific research problems.
Furthermore, I knew of the tension which existed between Grawitz and the defendant Genzken, which caused him to keep out of the scope of Grawitz activities. We never, either officially or personally, discussed experiments on concentration camp prisoners.
Genzken had no ambition for advancement-within the medical service of the SS. On the contrary, he often considered leaving his job in favor of a younger SS physician with experience at the front.
The next document will be Genzken No. 17 which can be found on page 38 of my document book.
Mr. President, I think the English translation does not bear the number 17 and I ask you to excuse this oversight. It is on page 38 of the Document Book. Genzken No. 17 becomes Exhibit Genzken No. 15. This is an affidavit by Rudolf Tonndorff. I quote:
From March 1942 until the end of the war I was in charge of the administration in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS. At that time Dr. Genzken was Chief of the Medical Office of the Waffen SS and therefore my immediate superior. As long as I was in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS I never heard anything about medical experiments on concentration camp inmates, nor did I see any documents on this subject.
Scientific research and planning, as far as I know, were never the job of the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, but the exclusive job of the Reich Physician SS, Dr. Grawitz. I never heard anything about a typhus experimental station or a vaccine production plant in Block 46 and 50 respectively at the Buchenwald concentration camp.
I was in charge of the military hospital wards, of office IV of the SS Fuehrungshauptamt, while Standartenfuehrer Mueller was in charge of the independent military hospitals. Dr. Genzken was the superior of the military hospitals wards and the military hospitals.
In all the wards of which I was in charge there were chiefs of the pay roll office — those were trained officers and non-commissioned officers in the medical administrative service who were in charge of the economic interests of the various offices, and who had to balance their accounts with me. If the "Typhus Research Station" in the Buchenwald concentration camp had been under the Hygiene Institute of the Waffen SS in Berlin and thus under the Medical Office of the Waffen SS it would have had to have such a pay-roll officer, which was never the case.
I never paid out nor instructed anybody to pay out any budget funds or other copies for scientific experiments or for institutes which served this purpose, because those scientific research matters did not concern the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, but were attended to exclusively by the office of the Reich Physician SS and Police, Dr. Grawitz.
It was generally known in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS that there were differences between Dr. Genzken and Dr. Grawitz. I don't know any details about this however.
During my work in the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, Dr. Genzken and I cooperated perfectly, and there never arose any differences of any kind between us. Dr. Genzken was considered to be a just chief in the Medical Office and was generally liked.
The last document I ask you to accept — Document Genzken No. 15 page 51 of the document book, which will become Exhibit Genzken No. 16. This is an affidavit made by the superior of the defendant Dr. Jeuttner who was chief of the SS Operation Main Office.
THE PRESIDENT: Just a moment, counsel, what is the page in the English Document Book?
DR. MERKEL: Page 51, your Honors.
THE PRESIDENT: What is the number of that?
DR. MERKEL: It bears the number 15, Genzken No. 15.
THE PRESIDENT: Genzken Exhibit number what?
DR. MERKEL: Exhibit No. 16, Document 15, Exhibit No. 16.
THE PRESIDENT: You had Exhibit No. 16 for Genzken Document No. 14. What number did you give Genzken No. 14?
JUDGE SEBRING: Would not Genzken No. 15 be Genzken Exhibit No. 15 as well. If not, what is Genzken Exhibit No. 15?
DR. MERKEL: No. Document Genzken No. 15 will become Exhibit No. 1.
JUDGE SEBRING: What will be Exhibit No. 15?
DR. MERKEL: That was Document Genzken No. 17 which I just read. are concerned with a affidavit by Hans Juettner who was the direct chief and superior of the defendant Genzken and chief of the Operational Main Office and I quote:
From August 1940 (foundation of the SS-Fuehrungshauptamt) SS Operational Main Office until 30 January 1943 I was chief of staff of the SS-Fuehrungshauptamt. Until then Himmler himself was chief of the SS-Fuehrungshauptamt. From 30 January 1943 on I was chief of the SS-Fuehrungshauptamt.
From July 1940 on I was the military superior of Dr. Genzken, the Chief of the Medical Office of the Waffen SS.
Dr. Genzken's position as Chief of the Medical Office of the Waffen SS was the position of a troop commander of the medical units of the Waffen SS He was solely responsible for their training, the establishment of new units and their equipment. He was in charge of replacing personnel losses in field troops. For this purpose he had under him a medical reserve unit, several medical schools, military hospitals at home, and, to a limited extent, the SS medical academy. In these units recruits were trained as medical personnel and older Medical enlisted personnel were trained for ratings. In this office he also had to collaborate as an organizer in the different war dispositions of the medical units. Furthermore he was responsible for troop hygiene.
Dr. Genzken never had anything to do with medical research or scientific experiments, as such things did not belong to his sphere or duties. By reason of a definite written command of Himmler, the Medical Office of the Waffen SS was excluded from scientific research and planning. The latter functions, by reason of this order, was the exclusive responsibility of Reich Physician SS Dr. Grawitz, who was a professor and scientist.
Dr. Genzken was introduced to me by Dr. Grawitz as successor to Dr. Dermietzel in the summer of 1940. Dr. Dermietzel had to resign owing to personal differences with Dr. Grawitz. In Dr. Genzken I discovered an experienced, seasoned troop medical officer, who appealed to me on account of has open and frank nature. Good cooperation was established. On the other hand, I was quite certain from the very beginning that differences world even on the arise with the Reich Physician SS, Dr. Grawitz, when Grawitz noticed that Genzken and I had confidence in each other. Grawitz was a morbidly ambitious and vain man who perpetually imagined that his position as Reich physician SS was imperiled if another higher medical officer had an established position of his own. Consequently Grawitz invariably attempted to undermine the positions of such officers by frivolous utterances to Himmler It is known that Himmler unfortunately was deceived by such than a, I can remember that in 1941 Himmler had selected Dr. Genzken as the successor of Grawitz, whose position had become insecure. I informed Dr. Genzken of this intention of Himmler. Dr. Genzken objected energetically, because he preferred to remain in the troop medical service, as he did not consider himself suitable for scientific research. Grawitz apparently somehow or other get mind of this. The result was that the relations between him and. Dr. Genzken became rather strained.
Another case comes back to me, when I had to ask Grawitz and Genzken to came to see me in order to get them to wake up their differences, because Grawitz had interfered in Dr. Genzken's military authority. Remember quite distinctly that Grawitz and I had rather a stormy encounter on the occasion. Once again the respective competencies of the Reich Physician SS and the Medical office of the Waffen-SS were clearly defined. It was laid down that the Reich Physician SS had only inspectorial and professional jurisdiction ever the troops, whereas the Medical Office of the Waffen SS alone could give orders. On the other hand, all research work came exclusively under the Reich Physician SS; here, the Chief of the Medical Office of the Waffen SS, Dr. Genzken, had no authority to issue orders.
When Dr. Genzken took up his position in the SS Fuehrungschauptamt he enjoyed the confidence of Himmler, so much so that, as mentioned above, Himmler intended to make Genzken the Reich Physician SS. Through the machinations of Grawitz and whisperings in the ear of Himmler, the situation deteriorated considerably and became so acute that in 1942 Dr. Genzken ask to be released iron his post. He thought that he could no longer enjoy the confidence of the Reichsfuekrer. The reasons for this were reproaches which Himmler was asking against medical officers for neglect of their supervisory duties in preventing venereal disease. Himmler so far forget himself in this matter as, on some groundless suspicion, to describe the medical officers as unprincipled and lacking in a sense of duty. Dr. Genzkel saw himself compelled to declare at a Conference of consultants of the SS Fuehrungshaupsamt, in the presence of about 40 SS Leaders. 'I do not permit any Heinrich Himmler to take away prisoner.'
I know absolutely nothing about medical experiments carried out on concentration camp inmates, and Dr. Genzken never discussed such nents with me.
I know nothing about an order from Himmler to Dr. Genzken through me, to set up an institute for typhus research in the Concentration Camp Buchenwald. If such an order was actually given, it could only have been given by Himmler to Grawitz and from the latter to the SS Economic and Administrative Main Office — in view of the prevailing state of affairs for a corporation in the budget.
This Main Office alone was empowered to set up a budget conjointly with the Reich Finance Ministry.
And this brings me to the end of my submission of evidence.
JUDGE SEBRING: Doctor, will you go back to your document book and advise us what exhibit number you have given to Genzken Exhibit No. 4 on page 8?
DR. MERKEL: You are quite right, Mr. President, I beg you to excuse me. I am not submitting that document.
JUDGE SEBRING: It will not be submitted at all?
DR MERKEL: It is not being submitted at all for the simple reason that it is an affidavit of the very same [illegible] and it bears the same contents which I have already read and I think I can well dispense with the reading of this affidavit.
THE PRESIDENT: Then Exhibit 16 — I mean Document No. 16 is your Exhibit No. 14. Is that correct?
DR. MERKEL: Yes, that is correct, Your Honor. I only ask you to permit me, Your Honor, to submit perhaps two or three affidavits which deal with the same subject as we have not yet been able to obtain. Perhaps two or three short statements which I would like to be able to offer subsequently.
THE PRESIDENT: These affidavits may be offered when they are ready to be presented and they will then be considered by the Tribunal.
DR. MERKEL: And this concludes the submission of evidence in the case of the defendant Dr. Karl Genzken.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any rebuttal by the prosecution?
MR. HARDY: The prosecution has no rebuttal in this case at this time Your Honor.
MR. PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will open the next case — the case of the defendant Gebhardt.
DR. SEIDL (Counsel for defendants Gebhardt and Fischer): Mr. President, Gentlemen of the Tribunal, before I begin to submit evidence on behalf of Dr. Gebhardt and Dr. Fischer I ask you to take notice of the fact that during the course of the examination of the defendant Gebhardt I shall refer to documents of the prosecution which can be found in the following books of the prosecution document books: Document Book No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5; No. 6, No. 10, No. 11 and No. 13. Furthermore, I shall refer to the following evidence of the prosecution which was submitted outside of the document books, that is, Exhibit No. 211, No. 219, No. 209, and 214. The document book which I submitted contains documents which refer to the defendant Dr. Gebhardt, Dr. Oberheuser and Dr. Fischer. For the sake of simplicity I shall submit these documents under the designation "Gebhardt". At a later date I shall submit an annex to the document book. Unfortunately, there has been a delay in the submission of this volume as a number of affidavits have not arrived. With reference to the volume which is available now, I should like to state that it contains a number of affidavits which have been certified in accordance with the rules of the Tribunal but where the certification notice was not included in the document book because the affidavits would have have had to be sent back to the witness for the purposes of certification and since I had already sent these ducuments to the Language Division to be translated, and I shall, at a later date, read the certification into the record.
Gentlemen of the Tribunal, I am beginning the submission of evidence —
THE PRESIDENT: (Interrupting) The Tribunal understands, Doctor, that you represent the defendants Gebhardt, Fischer and Oberheuser. The Tribunal also understands that you have, in writing, recommended that the defendant Oberheuser be excused at this time on order to undergo an operation at the American Hospital in Nurnberg. That was with your approval and consent as will be made a matter of record before the Tribunal. That is correct, is it not?
DR. SEIDL: Yes, Mr. President, that is correct.
THE PRESIDENT: And I understand that in offering evidence on behalf of the defendants Gebhardt and Fischer that you are reserving the right to offer that same evidence, by reference, when the case against the defendant Oberheuser is called when she is able to be again present in Court and present her defense. Is that correct?
DR. SEIDL: Mr. President, the document book which I have submitted contains documents which refer to all three of the defendants. When the turn of the defendant Oberheuser comes, I shall refer to these documents without it being necessary to read them once more and again submit them to the Tribunal. All the documents which are available here I am going to submit within the frame of presentation of evidence at the moment, and for that reason it will not be necessary to again submit these documents. I naturally reserve the right that I will be able to refer to this evidence in the case of the defendant Oberheuser.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal understands, Doctor, that it is your opinion the rights of the defendant Oberheuser will not be prejudiced before the Tribunal by following that plan. Is that correct?
DR. SEIDL: Yes, that is correct.
THE PRESIDENT: As Counsel for defendant Oberheuser you are content of with that procedure and, in your opinion, the rights of the defendant Oberheuser will in no wise be prejudiced by following that procedure, is that correct?
DR. SEIDEL: I'm of the opinion that through this procedure the rights of the defendant Oberheuser are not going to be prejudiced I have already stated that in my written application to the Tribunal a few days ago.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal has your written application and it will seen be made a matter of record upon the record of this Tribunal.
Counsel, you may proceed.
DR. SEIDL: Gentlemen of the Tribunal, I begin the submission of the document evidence with the presentation of a few affidavits which refer to the personality and activity of the defendant Dr. Karl Gebhardt.
THE PRESIDENT: Will the Secretary General procure the document books for the Tribunal — the prosecution document books referred to by the Counsel?
DR. SEIDL: The first document I am submitting is an affidavit of the Swiss professor, Dr. Iselin, dated 8 January 1947. This document is on page 52 of my document book and it bears #7 in the index. Professor Dr. Iselin from Basle is one of the best known European surgeons and can be designated as the most renowned specialist for orthopedy. I am submitting this affidavit as Exhibit Gebhardt No. 1, and I quote:
MR. HARDY: If it please the Tribunal, am I correct in understanding Dr. Seidl that this is an example of what he is referring to when he states that this does not have a jurat and that he is securing same or will have that read into the record at a later date?
DR. SEIDL: This is one of the pieces of evidence which is already certified.
MR. HARDY: Since the jurat is on this, I withdraw the objection.
DR. SEIDIL: I quote:
Basle, 6 January 1947.
Having been informed of the consequences of a false affidavit I testify the following for the purpose of submitting it as evidence to the Military Tribunal No. 1 in Nurnberg:
Personal Data:
I have no knowledge of the reasons for and the contents of the indictment against Professor Karl Gebhardt, M.D. I do not know Professor Gebhardt personally; we have only corresponded with each other because of scientific activities.
Personally I have never heard anything unfavorable about him, and on account of his scientific work and activities I imagined him to be extremely initiative, serious of strong character, and also decent; that for the way in which he respected and acknowledged the work of other authors suggests an honest disposition.
I would not have believed anything wrong of Professor Gebhardt. Although, of course, restorative-orthopedy and subsequent treatment need strong will-power on the part of the physician, to overcome weak-willed and probably work-shy patients, in this therapy a certain animosity often remains with the person forcefully handled and frequently, even if one tries to avoid causing pain, these therapeutic measures are misunderstood as violence.
Relevant Facts:
My attention was first drawn to Professor Gebhardt through his collaboration in the text-book 'Complete Restorative Surgery' by Professor Erich Lexer.
Gebhardt composed a chapter on 'The Subsequent Treatment of Motoric Disorders after Injuries and Operations.' I mention further the following works:
"Ski Injuries." (Munich, Medical Weekly 1929)
"Injuries to, and After Effects on, the Motoric System through Skiing." (Munich, Medical Weekly 1929)
"Clinical and Xray Observations and Joint Damages." (German Surgical Journal 1923)
"Paraarticular Bleeding By Hemorrhage into Joint Capsules." (Munich Medical Weekly 1931)
"Surgical Gymnastics." (Barth Publishing Company, Leipsig 1931)
"Ligament Injury of the Knee Joint." (Barth Publishing Company 1933)
"Physiotherapy." (Fischer Publishing Company, Jona 1934)
"Natural Adjustment and Restorative Surgery." (German Association for Surgery 1936)
"General Reconstruction Surgery." (German Association for Surgery 1936)
"Treatment of Tear of the Achilles Tendon." (Clinical Surgery Archives 189)
"Restorative Surgery for the Achilles Tendon." (Clinical Surgery Archives 1937)
"Regeneration, Its Application in Surgery." (Central Surgical Journal 1939)
"Treatment of Bone and Joint Tuberculosis based on the Hohenlychen Experiments 1933-1933." (Barth Publishing Company, 1939)
Later works are not known to me.
I reported on the 'Remedial Exercises' for the Swiss Medical Weekly, and sent him a copy. He thanked me and so we came to the mutual exchange of our scientific works, because we had the same aim.
From his works it can be seen that the aim of his endeavors was to help the physically defective, to rehabilitate them into the economic process and to make them again normal, useful members of the community. We discovered each other in the course of these endeavors. Later on he ordered 50 copies of my work on protheses 'The Amputation of the Upper Extremities' from the Bonno Schwabe Publishing Company of Basle, because a now work of this kind on arm prothesis was not available in Germany. He wanted them to give to the guest at Hohenlychen. This pamphlet defines the common ain, the rehabilitation of the injured and mutilated for work.
/s/ Professor ISELIN
The certification has the following wording:
I certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document. Basle. 13 January 1947. Office of Basle, town and signature.
As second affidavit, I am submitting a statement made by Professor Dr. Buerkle De La Camp, who comes from Bochum, which can be found on page 55 of my document book. This affidavit will become Gebhardt Exhibit No. 2. Professor of these proceedings, is the leading physician of the Surgical Department of the Hospital Bergmannsheil at Bochum. He is one of the leading German surgeons who, during the war, was a consulting surgeon with the Luftwaffe. I quote:
Bocum, 10 January 1947.
Affidavit: I declare under oath as follows, and I agree to having this declaration submitted to the American Military Tribunal at Nurnberg.
I know that a false affidavit given to a court will render me liable to punishment.
Re: Person: Professor Heinrich Buerkle de la Camp, M.D. born 3 June 1893 at Bonndorf (Baden), married, Chief Physician of the Surgical Department of the hospital Bergrannsheil at Bochum.
Re: Subject: The questions put to me by Defense counsel Dr. Seidl? I answer as follows:
I have known Professor Karl Gebhardt, M.D., since 1928, At the time, Gebhardt was an assistant physician with Geheimrat Sauerbruch at the Surgical Clinic of the University of Munich. On 1 October 1928, the management of this hospital was taken over by Geheimrat Lexer, under whom I was chief physician. At that time Gebhardt was chief physician in the Physical Education Department of the Surgical Clinic of the University, and an instructor in physiotherapy. Geheimrat Lexer attached special importance to the follow-up treatment of injuries of the limbs, and of operations of restorative surgery taught, practiced, and expanded by Gebhardt. This is evidence from the fact alone that Geheimrat Lexer had Gebhardt draw up a special concluding chapter on. 'Fellow-up Treatment' to his great important work 'The Entire Restorative Surgery', written by Lexer alone.
Gebhardt proved to be so good an assistant physician of the surgical clinic and chief physician of the Department for Follow-up Treatment, that Geheimrat Lexer, who was otherwise very particular, offered him to habilitate. This habilitation took place at the medical faculty in Munich in 1932. Gebhardt was very well liked as instructor physician, and co-assistant at the clinic.
Gebhardt established a training camp for apprentices at Hohenaschau. There he assembled, during the vacations, many weak, recuperating, and convalescent apprentices from various enterprises. They remained there for many weeks, in order to strengthen them under medical supervision, and with the aid of physical education instructors and to restore their fitness for professional and physical work. This was a highly meritorious action of great social significance. This was emphasized by everybody, again and again, when the training camp for apprentices was repeated. Whoever inspected this training camp was full of praise for this unique organization, which obliterates social inequalities and the very life and soul of which was Gebhardt. Later, Gebhardt made use of the knowledge and experience he had gained at this training camp, at the mental institution Hohenlychen.
I am able to confirm that at the conference of consulting physicians at Hohenlychen, in 1944, experiments on human beings were not mentioned, at any rate not in the surgery lectures. I further confirm that medical officers of the SS did not play a prominent part during this conference in any respect. I did not notice that [illegible] who generally was not mentioned very favorably, was emphasized in any way. Himmler was not present for I would have noticed that, since I have never soon Himmler at all.
The sanatoriums at Hohenlychen had a good reputation all over. Hohenlychen was especially important in sport circles. The sanatoriums, at Hohenlychen had a good reputation all over. Hohenlychen was especially important in sport circles. The sanatoriums, however, also played a leading role in the treatment of bone tuberculosis and of operations of restorative surgery. Special attention was paid to the treatment of the after affects of infantile paralysis. In this field, Gebhardt carried out many beneficial operations. I know this from inspections of the sanatoriums at Hohenlychen, as well as from Gebhardt's lectures and lectures by his pupils and from scientific publications.
I remember very clearly, and confirm, that Gebhardt painted a rather gloomy picture of the political and military development of the war in a discussion with Professor Wachsmuth and me. These remarks were made subsequent to a discussion which Professor Wachsmuth and I had as main lecturers of the conference, about the limitations of our lectures. On this occasion Gebhardt stated that the enemy would invade Germany from the East and from the West, and that one had to reckon wish a complete destruction of German cities, and with a total annihilation of the German Wehrmacht, if it were not possible to become master of the situation at the last moment. At the time, I was quite upset to hear that such a catastrophe was expected in the highest circles of the SS.
Gebhardt also told us on this occasion that we should impress upon the competent authorities that they do not assign surgeons either from the Army or from the Luftwaffe to the SS, since membership in the SS would mean great personal danger for those surgeons, due to the threatening catastrophe.
/s/ Buerkle De la Camp, M.D.
The certification reads as follows:
The signature of Professor Dr. Buerkle De la Camp, presiding in Bochum, is certified herewith. Bochum, 3 February 1947, Notary RAUCH.
As the third document I am submitting an affidavit by Generalarzt Dr. Rudolf von Heuss, retired from Heeresdienst, page 59, of the document book. This will become Gebhardt Exhibit No. 3. Generalarzt von Heuss is 72 years of age. He was medical officer in the old Bavarian Army, and has known Gebhardt ever since the year 1920. He knew him. at the time when Gebhardt was only 21 years of age. I quote:
Affidavit I, Generalarzt (retired) Dr. Rudolf von HEUSS, residing in Munich, Kaisseplatz 11, have been informed that I make myself liable for punishment, if I give a false affidavit, I declare under out that my statement is true and has been made in order to be submitted as evidence to Military Tribunal No. I in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany:
It shall be demonstrated in the following: 1. when and under what circumstances I made the acquaintance of Professor Dr. Karl GEBHARDT, 2. how or under which scientific and social points of view our collaboration took place, 3. what were the results of this collaboration 4. what impression I mattered of the character of Professor Dr. GEBHARDT in the course of this collaboration which lasted for years.
Personal data: I am almost 72 years of age. I was an active army physician and retired in 1926. Since 1906 I have been working as a specialist for diseases of the eye in Munich, and I am still practicing today with the consent of the Military Government.
During the twenties I was for many years chairman of one Munich Catholic parents Association; chairman of the League for Blind (Civilians); responsible head of the Reich League of Large Families in Bavaria for many years; until 1936 first chairman of the Munich Physicians' Association. I was removed from the first office in 1933, because I was not a member of the Party.
I was removed from the latter office in 1936, because I was still active in the Catholic Parents Association. In my capacity as 2nd chairman of the Catholic College Graduates I had to undergo a house search by the Gestapo.
Relevant Facts:
I made the acquaintance of GEBHARDT, then assistant of the Surgical Clinic (Director Geheimrat Dr. SAUERBRUCH) in 1920, that is 26 years ago, at a meeting of the Young Bavaria association. Young Bavaria originated from the former Bavarian Defense Association. This was founded in 1910, on the lines of lines Boy Scouts Association created by the English General BADEN-POWELL. Aims of the association: the education of youth to physical, mental and moral fitness. Health aim: medical examination and current control of the boys; treatment of defects; separate approve to boys still in need of care or liable to relapse. That is, the care of youth from the athletic, scientific and social aspect.
These long-term objectives, however, assumed a most serious actual importance on account of the consequence of Germany's defeat in World War I. For those tines demanded the creation of a youth capable of the highest possible labor output. And it was the task of this meeting of Young Bavaria in the year 1920, to take immediate measures, to educate its members for this purpose in the shortest possible time.
The joint work between Dr. GEBHARDT and myself originated on this basis.
The work was divided into three main groups over a period of 12 years:
The testing of new methods in out-patient treatment, thus bringing about an acceleration of the cure or maintaining the patients fitness for work. These tests chiefly concerned certain kinds of Done fractures and hemorrhages into joints caused by accidents in sport or at work.
The results are set down by GEBHARDT, amongst others, in the works: "Particular Bleeding by Hemorrhage into Joint Capsules; Its Treatment with Limited Fixation", and "Injuries to, and after effects on, the Motoric System from Skiing".
Parallel with these aims, GEBHARDT developed new methods for the post-treatment of accidents and sport injuries in his capacity as chief physician of the sport action and the post-treatment ward, as well as on the basis of his experiences in the Hohenaschau training camps. The results are summarized in "Complete Restorative Surgery" by Geheimrat LEXER. They appeared as an introduction to "Surgical Gymnastics" in 1931.
The Training Camp. While the results of 1 and 2 tried to remove by modern methods the consequences of injuries which had already occurred, GEBHARDT, in founding the training camp, attempted to realize at last the simple social demand, if only in a small way: to approach possible injuries to health prophylactically by timely medical examination; to treat persons menaced in this way methodically for several weeks in his training camps; to increase their capacity for work and there are their resistance; after the period in the camp, to preserve the results achieved there by continuous medical control or to prevent relapses by timely intervention. That is: precautional care, current-care and after—care! Average stay in the camp 4 weeks! Persons assisted: working juveniles, that is juveniles still healthy, but in need of care; permanently injured people; people with only one arm or one leg, blind people and psychopaths. Number: 100 to 120. Camp Staff: chief physician (Dr. GEBHARDT) specialists, sports instructors; especially trained masseurs and female gymnastic teachers. Results, constantly the same: 1. Striking increase of efficiency, 2. Surprising adaptation of the functionally handicapped and increase of their efficiency, 3. General increase of selfconfidence, 4. intensified conception of comradeship and increase of cheerfulness.
As supervisor (Obmann) of 7 training camps I was charged with the liaison between the highest authorities, especially between the Ministry for Church and Education natters, the highest railroad authorities who were especially interested, the school authorities, the employers and the families of the persons who were to be assisted on the one side, and the surgical clinic and GEBHARDT'S entire working staff on the other. Furthermore, the annual guaranteeing of the financial means needed by the camp. Participation in the camp was free for all persons receiving assistant. The journey to and from the camp, lodging, and food, and to some extent, clothing were paid for from the available funds. The entire camp staff worked on an honorary basis. Any kind of material or financial pro fit was completely impossible.
A person who had once been to a training camp remained under medical control for the duration of his subsequent working years. Under these directives, the training camp in Hohenaschau kept Under extending for 7 years (from, 1925 to 1932). I was it's supervisor (Obmann) the whole time and from GEBHARDT'S most intimate working sphere I was able to participate in the whole development and extension of this organization which served social-medicine in the truest sense of the word, I was also able to observe it's valuable influence in the most varied directions.
Trade Union organizations were the first to follow this example and no establish similar training camps. Combined medical courses served to train suitable colleagues and to further the camp idea in medical circles.
In this way the Gehardt Training Camp became a real synthesis and complete whole in which scientific discovery modern intensified methods of treatment combined prophylactically to protect working youth under industrial and medical control from serious health injuries; to increase by current welfare their working capacity and their resistance to illness; and by after-care, through constant medical control and, or change of profession or temporary leave, to protect them from relapses and new injuries.
Therefore, one may well assert: that the energetic, tenacious determination of a young doctor, ready to make unlimited sacrifices, combined with the constant and interested participation of his two seniors, Geheimrat SAUERBRUCH and Geheimrat Lexner transformed into Pelear, practical reality of Social medicine, an ideal which had previously only been the subject of highly problematic theoretical discussions. A reality of far reaching importance.
Increasing participation and visits to the camp by ministries, universities, Senior school authorities; representatives of important health insurance companies; and of workers' organizations were eloquent testimony of the fact that the synthesis of the training camp was opening a new door in the social-medical sphere and also in the welfare of the entire nation.
The occupants of the training camp had so far been drawn exclusively from working youth circles. It was obvious, after the experiences gained, that they should also be extended to adult circles. Naturally, the question of prophylaxis had to be set aside in favor of current care in the form of treatment, especially after-treatment of previously incurred injuries. There were mainly two groups: sports and industrial accidents. In addition, two forms of disease demanded essential therapeutic care; spinal infantile paralysis with its tragic consequences, and bone and joint tuberculosis.
The considerable expansion of the sphere of duties demanded two things: 1. The promotion of GEBHARDT and his small circle of collaborators to an indictment, leading position. 2. An establishment to meet the requirements of this work, with suitable grounds capable of extension.
Both demands were fulfilled by the assignment of GEBHARDT to the staff of the Reich Sports Leader and his appointment as chief of the Medical Institute of the National Academy for Gymnastics and his simultaneous appointment as chief physician of Hohenlychen sanatorium in the Uckermark. This was in 1933 and it brought to an end our mutual connections as regards work.
But on the occasion of two visits to Hohenlychen in later years, I saw that GEBHARDT had tackled his increased sphere of duties which the same energy, and was getting good results. I might only mention: the new and success methods of treating spinal infantile paralysis; a paper written by GEBHARDT's pupil Jr. Hiss. Prevention of Sports Injuries to the Motoris System, and above all the knowledge gained from 1933 to 1938 and sit out in the paper "Treatment of Bone and Joint Tuberculosis" may best illustrate, that under GEBHARDT's new management Hohenlychen tried progressively to enlarge the extensive ground work achieved during the Munich period.
I met GEBHARDT for the last time in 1936 again in connection with mutual work, when he was chief of the accident hospital at the Olympic Games in Berlin. I was in charge of the ophthalmic ward of the hospital and had ample opportunity of observing how sportsmen and physicians from all parts of the world, the former partly as patients, tried out with great interest GEBHARDT's methods on themselves or had those explained to them in well-defined outline. Many of those international guests were transformed to Hohenlychen as in-patients, in order to undergo systematic treatment on the spot.
And so Hohenlychen became a social platform not only in respect of therapeutics, but also in the sense of friendly international relations.
This is a short summary in answer to the four questions asked at the beginning: When and under what circumstances I made the acquaintance of Dr. GEBHARDT, what form this collaboration took; the results of this work; what impressions I gained of Dr. GEBHARDT during this collaboration.
The political note may be missing in this picture. The explanation for it is simple: the years of cur collaboration were entirely free from politics. Not a single word was spoken about politics. Medical aid knows no politics. The noblest policy of the real physician will always be, readiness to help everybody to the best of his ability. Accordingly, Professor GEBHARDT's care was for all who were in need of it. Strict neutrality with regard to politics was, therefore, a matter of course. In addition, the numerous duties and the abundance of the work, prohibited any deviation which might have caused the slightest injury to the realization of the aims, and which might have disturbed the inner unity of GEBHARDT's working community. This uniform and completely non-political line was adhered to until the last moment, that is until GEBHARDT left for Hohenlychen in 1933. It was also not abandoned in the rare meetings during the years which followed.
Munich 30 January, 1947. Dr. Rudolf v. HUESS Generalarzt (Retired)
At the bottom is the following text:
I hereby certify the correctness of the signature of Dr. von Heuss, whom I know personally in Munich.
Munich, 30 January, 1947. Witness: Heinrich Hoppler.
I submit this as Exhibit Gebhardt No. 3.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will now be in recess.
(A recess was taken.