1947-08-19, #23: Doctors' Trial Verdict — Dr. Adolf Pokorny
Judgment: Adolf Pokorny — NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS
THE CASE OF THE DEFENDANT ADOLF POKORNY
JUDGE SEBRING: The defendant Pokorny is charged with special responsibility for and participation in criminal sterilization experiments, as set forth in Counts Two and Three of the indictment.
It is conceded by the prosecution that in contradistinction to all other defendants the defendant Pokorny never held and position of responsibility in the Party or State Hierarchy of Nazi Germany. Neither was he a member of the Nazi Party or of the SS. Formerly a Czechoslovakian citizen, he became a citizen of the Greater German Reich, under the Munich Agreement of October 1938. During the war he served as a medical officer in the German Army and attained the rank of captain.
The only direct evidence bearing on the guilt of the defendant is a letter written by Pokorny to Himmler in October 1941, suggesting the use of a drug, caladium seguinum, as a possible means of medical sterilization of peoples of the occupied territories.
The letter follows:
To the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Folkdom SS Himmler, Chief of Police, BERLIN.
I beg you to turn your attention to the following arguments. I have requested Professor Hoehn to forward this Letter to you, I have chosen this direct way to you in order to avoid the slower process through channels and the possibility of an indiscretion in regard to the eventually enormous importance of the ideas presented.
Led by the idea that the enemy must not only be conquered but destroyed, I feel obliged to present to you, as the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Folkdom the following:
Dr. Madaus published the result of his research on a medicinal sterilization (both articles are enclosed). Reading these articles, the immense importance of this drug in the present fight of our people occurred to me. If, on the basis of this research it were possible to produce a drug which after a relatively short time, affects an imperceptible sterilization on human beings, then we would have a new powerful weapon at our disposal. The Thought alone that the 3 million Bolsheviks, at present German prisoners, could be sterilized so that they could be used as laborers but he prevented from reproduction, opens the most far reaching perspectives.
Madaus found that the sap of the Schweigrehr (Caladium seguinum) when taken by mouth or given as injection to male but also to female animals, also after a certain time produces permanent sterility. The illustrations accompanying the scientific articles are convincing.
If my ideas meet your approval the following course should be taken:
Dr. Madaus must not publish any more such articles (The enemy listens.)
Multiplying the plant (easily cultivated in greenhouses!)
Immediate research on human beings (criminals!) in order to determine the dose and length of the treatment.
Quick research of the constitutional formula of the effective chemical substance in order to
produce it synthetically if possible.
As German physician and Chief physician of the reserves of the German Wehrmacht, retired, (9d.R.a.D), I undertake to keep secret the purpose as suggested by me in this letter.
Heil Hitler!
/s/ Dr. Pokorny Specialist for skin and veneral diseases.
Komotau, October 1941.
The defendant has attempted to explain his motives for sending the letter by asserting that for some time prior to its transmittal he had known of Himmler's intentions to sterilize all Jews and inhabitants of the Eastern territories and had hoped to find some means of preventing the execution of this dreadful program. He knew, because of his special experience as a specialist in skin and venereal diseases; that sterilization of human beings could not be effected by the administration of caladium seguinum. He thought, however, that if the articles written by Madaus could be brought to the attention to Himmler the latter might turn his attentions to the unobtrusive method for sterilization which had been suggested by the articles and thus be diverted, at least temporarily, from continuing his program of castration and sterilization by well-known, tried, and tested methods. Therefore the letter was written — so explained the defendant — not for the purpose of furthering, but of sabotaging the program.
We are not impressed with the defense which has been tendered by the defendant and have great difficulty in believing that he was motivated by the high purposes which he asserted impelled him to write the letter. Rather are we inclined to the view that the letter was written by Pokorny for very different and more personal reasons.
Be that however as it may, every defendant is presumed to be innocent until he has been proven guilty. In the case of Pokorny the Prosecution has failed to sustain the burden. As monstrous and base as the suggestions in the letter are, there is not the slightest evidence that any steps were ever taken to put them into execution by human experimentation. We find, therefore, that the defendant must be acquitted — not because of the defense tendered, but in spite of it.
CONCLUSION
Military Tribunal I finds and adjudges that the defendant Adolf Pokorny is not guilty of the charges contained in the Indictment, and directs that he be discharged from custody under the Indictment when the Tribunal presently adjourns.