1947-08-19, #20: Doctors' Trial Verdict — Dr. Konrad Schaefer

Judgment: Konrad Schaefer — NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS

THE CASE OF THE DEFENDANT KONRAD SCHAEFER

JUDGE CRAWFORD: The defendant Schaefer is charged under Counts Two and Three of the Indictment with personal responsibility for and participation in seawater experiments.

Konrad Schaefer was a scientist whose special field of research was chemical therapy. In 1 November 1941 he was drafted into the Luftwaffe. In spring of the following year he was transferred to the Luftwaffe Replacement Depot in Salow and from there to the Luftwaffe base at Frankfurt on the Oder. In summer of 1942 he was transferred to Berlin and assigned to the staff of the Research Institute for Aviation Medicine. His chief assignment at the Institute was to do research on the problem of sea emergency for the Luftwaffe. This included research work on various methods to render sea water potable. Schaefer remained in his position at the Institute without ever having attained officer rank.

In May 1944 the defendant was ordered to be present at a meeting to be held at the German Air Ministry in Berlin, called to consider further research on making sea water potable. Some months previous to the meeting, Schaefer had developed a process which actually precipitated the salts from sea water, but it was thought by the Chief of the Luftwaffe Medical Service to be too bulky and expensive for military use by the Luftwaffe.

Present were Schaefer; Becker-Freyseng, research adviser to Schroeder; Christensen, of the Technical Bureau of the Reich Ministry of Aviation; and others. The subject of discussion was the feasibility of using the Schaefer process, or of turning to another process known as the Berka method.

The latter method, while cheap, did not precipitate salts — as Schaefer, previous to the meeting, had already reported to Schroeder. Nevertheless, these in command, of the meeting agreed that that experiments should be conducted on concentration camp inmates to determine the extent to which the Berka method might be usable.

The experiments later conducted have been described at length in dealing with the case of Schroeder. Due to his attendance at this meeting, Schaefer is sought to be held, criminally responsible in connection with the sea water experiments.

The record has received careful attention from the Tribunal. Nowhere have we been able to find that Schaefer was a principal in, or accessory to, or was otherwise criminally involved in or connected with the experiments mentioned. In fact, the record fails to show such as might be implied from his attendance at several meetings of the parties who were actively interested therein. Nowhere in the testimony or elsewhere is it revealed that Schaefer voted, for commencement or prosecution of the experiments or in any other manner aided in their execution.

CONCLUSION

Military Tribunal I finds and adjudges the defendant Konrad Schaefer not guilty of the charges contained in the Indictment and directs that he be released from custody under the Indictment when the Tribunal presently adjourns.