"It hurts my racial feelings to expose a girl as a prostitute, to racially inferior concentration camp elements, who has the appearance of a pure Nordic and who could perhaps by assignment of proper work be put on the right road.
"Therefore, I refused to use this girl for my experimental purposes and gave the adequate reports to the camp commander and the adjutant of the Reichsfuehrer SS.
(Signed) Dr. S. Rascher".
This, if your Honors please, is the atmosphere in which the so-called scientific experiments were carried out.
The next document is No.288, which is Prosecution Exhibit 95. This is a signed note of the defendant, Sievers, and carries the letter head of the Ahnenerbe, to the Reich Business Manager:
"Note.
"Subject: Transfer of the Staff physician, Dr. Rascher, to the Waffen - SS.
"The various experiments conducted by Dr. Rascher in Dachau in connection with the "Ahnenerbe" show that:
1) the fact that he has to be detailed from the Luftwaffe in each instance
2) the fact that, in addition, the assistance of the Luftwaffe has to be requested.
cause increasing difficulties. It can really be called a regular tug-of-war, through which, it is true, we have so far always succeeded in carrying out the experiments ordered by the Reichsfuehrer SS. Recent developments show, however, that this situation is unbearable, and it appears more and more that the competent offices of the Luftwaffe do not like the experiments, the importance of which is at once obvious, to be carried out by the SS. This attitude appears clearly in the letter of 10/10/42 from the Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe, Prof. Dr. Hippke, to the Reichsfuehrer-SS. Further evidence: during the conference, 'Hardships of the Sea and Winter.' of 26 and 27 October 1942 in Nurnberg, the report was delivered mainly by the Stabsarzt of the Luftwaffe, Prof. Dr. Holzloehner, who was absolutely opposed to human experiments, but who tried to claim for himself the credit for the SS experiments in Dachau.
"The chief of the German Experimental Institute for Aviation Research Captain Dr. Ruff, delivered the report on the high altitude experiments before the German Academy for Aviation Research, on 6 November, 1942, because persons who were not members of the Academy could not report' and 'in order to make up for the poor report given at General Field marshal Milch's,' As has already been demonstrated, new questions continuously arise from the experiments carried out so far by Dr. Rascher, the solution of which is in the interests first of the conduct of the war, and then of the nation's health in general. In order to carry out experiments free from all hindering influences, it would be best to transfer Stabsarzt Dr. Rascher to the Waffen-SS, to put him in the Staff Department of the Waffen-SS with the Personal Staff of the ReichsfuehrerSS, and the assign him to the Institute for Military Scientific Research of the Ahnenerbe, for the continuation of his experiments".
It is of course to be seen from this memorandum, which was directed to the Personal Staff of the Reichsfuehrer SS, that the defendant Seivers hardly had the welfare of his nation and the conduct of the war at heart.
The next exhibit will be 96, which is document NO-319. This is a memorandum by Dr. Rascher to the Personal Staff of the Reichsfuehrer SS, on which the defendant Rudolf Brandt was active. It is dated 6 November 1942.
"Memorandum. Concerning: Cooperation of SS physicians of the Mountain Troops.
"At the session 'Distress at Sea and Winter Cold', all four branches of the Wehrmacht were represented. For the Army there was, among others, Oberstabsarzt Dr. Craemer, Chief of the Research Station at the Medical Corps Training School of the Mountain Troops, St. Johann. Dr. Craemer requested no to ask you, dear Reichsfuehrer, if it were not possible for the medical units of the SS Mountain Troops respectively, the responsible physicians of these units, to cooperate officially with the Research Station at the Medical Corps Training School of the Mountain Troops. Up to now only here and there SS physicians had come to St. Johann unofficially to profit by the experiences of the physicians of the Mountain Infantry which had been gained furing many years. Since there was excellent cooperation of both units at the front, it would be desirable if the SS physicians could utilize the experiences of the physicians of the Mountain Troops which had been gained during many years.
"Dr. Craemer was so enthusiastic about the results I reported that he asked me for permission to see the actual experiments. Apart from scientific cooperation he requested-and which has to be set out in particular--he asked me to obtain a decision regarding the cooperation as outlined above."
Signed, "Dr. Rascher", with a stenographic notation, "by order to Grawitz".Now this is a very interesting document.
We have heard the witness Lutz testify this morning that he had had an army officer talk to him after this meeting in Nurnberg and that this army officer told him that he had been to Dachau and Rascher had been good enough to demonstrate to him there how people could be killed by freezing water. I suggest that it is not without the realm of possibility that it was Dr. Craemer with whom he had this discussion, Dr. Craemer who was chief of the Corps Training School of the Mountain Troops at St. Johann, which school was under the direction of and subordinated to the defendant Handloser as Army Medical Inspectorate, and which he so graphically has drawn for us on the chart submitted in evidence before this Tribunal.
We come now to document No.1579-PS, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 97. Here again is a follow-up memorandum dated the same day as the one which I have just read, and it deals with the same subject, which is: "Joint research work of Dr. Rascher and Medical Research Station for Mountain Medical Troops." It is directed to the Personal Stuff of the Reichsfuehrer SS:
"Oberstabsarzt Dr. Craemer asked whether there were a possibility of collaborating with me.
"The most urgent problem to be solved is the adaptability of the troops to winter cold and the diet best suited for it. Since the solution of this problem is also of great importance to the SS troops, I have reached the following conclusion after careful consideration:
"Since there are concentration camp inmates in the region of the SS mountain house near Bayrischzell, it should be possible to carry out the adaptability tests in that region, which can be isolated to a certain degree. The most realistic adaptation would have to be carried out in igloos in ordinary troop clothing.
"To be tried are: (a) diet rich in fat; (b) vitaminrich, meatless diet; (c) meat-fat diet of the inhabitants of the Arctic regions.
"After the adaptability tests it would be important to investigate whether injuries to the extremeties due to freezing have a better prognosis in persons accustomed to cold than in persons unaccustomed to cold.
"The reasons for this idea of adaptability are:
"1. That by tests in Dachau I could prove that individuals accustomed to cold live from three to four times longer under the same conditions of intense cooling as persons unaccustomed to cold.
"2. That mountain troops who have been in the central sector from the beginning have been fighting at minus forty degrees Centigrade in ordinary clothing without suffering from frost injuries, whereas as many as 50 percent of the unhabituated reserve troops drawn from Western France succumb* to the cold while on their way to the front.
"The proposals for carrying out the above mentioned series of tests seem therefore justified.
"I request that this matter be looked into and that I receive proper instructions."
Signed, "Dr. Rascher."
Of course, the two reasons that he gives for finding a better prognosis in persons accustomed to cold very clearly indicate that Dr. Rascher proceeded to kill individuals, some of whom had been accustomed to cold and some of whom had not, because only in that way could he make the statement that he had proved that individuals accustomed to cold live from three to four times longer under the same conditions of intense cold as persons unaccustomed to cold.
The next will be document NO-314, which is Prosecution Exhibit 98, and at this point the defendant Gebhardt enters the picture.
This is a letter from the defendant Rudolf Brandt to "Dear Brigadefuehrer Gebhardt" at Hohenlychen. It is dated 11 November 1942:
"The Stabsarzt of the Reserve of the Luftwaffe, Dr. Rascher, who is at the same time Hauptsturmfuehrer of the Allgemeine SS, will probably seen be transferred to the Waffen SS. He has already conducted important experiments Dachau, with the assistance of the Reichsfuehrer SS, which concern the freezing of people who have remained in water a long time. Besides these, high altitude experiments were conducted.
"According to instructions from the Reichsfuehrer SS, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher -- as soon as his transfer to the Waffen SS has been effected -- will contact you in order to be informed of the date on which he can report to you.
"In the near future, experiments will be conducted with regard to freezing.
"The Reichsfuehrer SS asks that on your visit to Finland you ask some appropriate Finn what the Finns would do to combat freezing."
Initialed, Rudolf Brandt.
I will recall to the Tribunal that on the two SS charts-that is to say, the charts showing the organization of the medical service of the SS-- the chart showing the organization prior to 31 August 1943 did not contain the name of the defendant Gebhardt, but I assured the Tribunal at that time that should not be construed as meaning that Gebhardt was not an important figure in the medical service of the SS prior to the reorganization date in August 1943. As this letter clearly points up, Gebhardt was extremely close to the Reichsfuehrer SS and was turned to for advice on medical matters, and is here told that Rascher, as soon as his transfer out of the Luftwaffe is effected, will report to Gebhardt.
I come now to document NO-431, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 99. This letter is dated 12 November 1942; it is addressed to Oberstabsarzt Dr. Craemer of the Research Branch of the Mountain Medical Troops at St. Johann. The letter is not signed; it obviously is a file copy. There is no doubt that the letter was from Siegmund Rascher, because of the date given, and "Munich, 56 Trogerstrasse." If the Court will refer to any one of the many letters which came from Rascher during this period of time, you will see that is the address from which they emanated.
"Dear Oberstabsarzt:
"Yesterday I reported to the Reichsfuehrer SS and, as agreed upon, I suggested cooperation of doctors of SS mountain troops with mountain doctors of the army units. The Reichsfuehrer SS agreed to his cooperation and has already issued instructions to the Reichsarzt SS, Gruppenfuehrer Professor Dr. Grawitz.
"I have also reported to the Reichsfuehrer SS about the experiments concerning adjustment to cold in Igloos. The Reichsfuehrer SS fully agreed to this series of tests too, and has charged me with their conduct. The Reichsfuehrer SS approved of the tests with various foodstuffs; I have been charged with the conduct and organization of these experiments. A suitable locality, 1100 meters above sea level in the mountains, is also available.
"In case you are interested, may I ask you to contact me.
"Heil Hitler."
The next is Document NO-287, which will be Prosecution Exhibit 100. This is a letter from the defendant Rudolf Brandt to SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl who as Your Honors will remember, was the administrative chief of the concentration camps. It is dated 20 November 1942.
"The Reichsfuehrer-SS requests that SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher whose transfer from the Luftwaffe to the SS is worked on right now, is to be assisted as much as possible in his experimentation at Dachau.
"Rascher suggested to the Reichsfuehrer-SS to adjust the heating pads both pockets of the great coats, then one pad between the trouser band and the waist-bandage, and during severe cold, to put one pad in each hollow of the knee of soldiers detailed for guard duties to keep the great blood-vessels warm, and then above all, to put socks filled with heating material between the sole of the leather boots and the sole of the felt boot to prevent the foot from freezing when getting wet.
"Will you please give orders that the clothing plant in Dachau assist SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher by producing the necessary experimental clothing."
With a copy sent to Dr. Rascher.
We come now to Document NO-236 to be Prosecution Exhibit 101. This is letter dated 12 January 1943 from Sievers of the Ahnenerbe Society to Pbergruppenfuehrer and General of the Waffen-SS Wolff, concerning "Transfer of SSHauptsturmfuehrer Stabsarzt Dr. Rascher to the Waffen-SS.
Reference is "Your letter 19 October 1943" -- but which probably should read 1942.
"SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Stabsarzt Dr. Rascher reported today that according to a confidential communication of 11 January 1943, he had been released from his duties in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School Schongau and had been placed at the disposal of the Luftgau Medical Department VII in Munich. Dr. Rascher has to be prepared to be sent at any moment to serve at a small air base. In view of the well known attitude of the superior authorities towards Dr. Rascher experiments, this measure has certainly a definite background. In case that the transfer of Dr. Rascher to the Waffen-SS, as requested by General Field Marshal Milch in his letter of the beginning of November 1942, is not possible in the near future, it would be highly desirable that Dr. Rascher should be granted a leave by the Luftwaffe until the above mentioned transfer is complete.
Before that he will not be able to start with his research work in accordance with orders by the Reichsfuehrer-SS of December 12, 1942.
"Since freezing experiments depend on the season, precious time will be ** if Dr. Rascher is not available. It is therefore again requested that the ch** of the Luftwaffe Medical Service, Generalobserstabsarzt Professor Dr. Hippo, ** asked to grant a leave of absence to Stabsarzt Dr. Rascher, independent of his application for transfer."
Signed: "Sievers."
Here we see the defendant Sievers getting very much concerned about a possible transfer of Dr. Rascher away from the vicinity of Dachau Concentration Camp, which of course, would not make possible the dry freezing experiments, which we shall see were carried out; and that is the reference to -- that the freezing experiments depend on the season, because it seems quite clear that the wet freezing experiments could be carried out at almost any season of the year since the water temperature was obtained by the addition of ice.
We come now to Document NO-237, to be Prosecution Exhibit 102. And this is a memorandum from Heckensteller, who was on the staff of -- who apparently was an assistant to Wolff, and he is writing this memorandum to the attention of Richter in the Reich Air Ministry. It refers to the letter from SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Wolff of 21 November 1942 to Milch, which Your Honors will recall, was a letter requesting the transfer of Rascher to the Waffen-SS.
"My dear Ministerial Councillor:
"Referring to our telephone conversation, I venture to remind you of the letter addressed to General Field Marshal Milch by Obergruppenfuehrer Wolff upon request of the Reichsfuehrer-SS. It referred to the Dr. Rascher affair.
"Moreover SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Wolff has learned recently that Dr. Rascher was made available for a new assignment.
"The Obergruppenfuehrer would be very much obliged to you if you would ask General Field Marshal Milch for his early decision in this matter."
Signed: "Heckensteller."
Next is Document NO-320 which is Prosecution Exhibit 103, and this gives an insight into the jealousies among the SS men who were implicated in this affair. It's a letter from the defendant Sievers to the defendant Rudolf Brandt dated 28 January 1943.
"Dear comrade Brandt:
"I submit to you enclosed a documentary note of Dr. Rascher on his discussion with the Reich Physician SS of 13 January 1943. I would be much obliged to you if you could advise us as to what attitude we or Dr. Rascher are to take in the future. I an slightly astonished about the cause of the discussion, for the orders of the Reichsfuehrer-SS were especially to the effect that we-- that is the 'Ahnenerbe' -- were to take Dr. Rascher's work under our care. The argument of SS-Gruppenfuehrer Grawitz that it constituted an unbearable situation to have a non-physician give information on medical matters is not pertinent. I have never claimed to be a judge of medical matters, nor do I consider it as one of my duties. My duty merely consists in smoothing the way for the research men and seeing that the tasks ordered by the Reichsfuehrer-SS are carried out in the quickest possible way. On one thing I certainly can form an opinion; that is, on who is doing the quickest job.
"If things are to go on in the future as SS-Gruppenfuehrer Grawitz desires, I an afraid that Dr. Rascher's work will not continue to advance as fast and unhampered as heretofore.
"With comradely greetings and Heil Hitler, Yours, Sievers."
Now of course the Tribunal will not be astonished when the defendant Sievers takes the stand and tells us that he had nothing to do with these things; that the Ahnenerbe was simply an adjunct of the Reich Post Office; that just mail was channeled through his office and he passed it along to the proper authorities; that that is the only reason that his name appears in this whole affair.
The report referred to in the letter is attached and is part of the same exhibit 103, and it gives us a running account of the discussion between Dr. Grawitz; and who should be there but our defendant Dr. PoppendicK and Dr. Rascher. This is on the 13th of January 1943.
"Rascher: Reports on freezing experiments with water an emphasizes that they have been concluded practically, but not in theory.
"Grawtiz: Question about the memorandum: Whether Rascher believes this to be absolutely founded for dry freezings, too?
"Rascher: No, a lot of theoretical work is still to be done, primarily many practical experiments have still to be conducted.
"Grawitz: That is my opinion. We cannot distribute a memorandum to the troops, abolishing all former views, if this is not entirely well founded, as otherwise uncertainties will arise among the troops. I shall write to Obersturmbannfurhrer Dr. Brandt that I can asking the Reichsfuehrer-SS not to distribute the memorandum, before a well founded method of treatment of dry frozen persons has been established."
We have got that memorandum coming in somewhere, as I recall, and the Court will appreciate then precisely what they are talking about. Rascher had conducted some experiments on the effects of dry cold and the proper method of rewarming people who had been subjected to dry cold as compared to wet cold; and Grawitz is here questioning the recommendations that Rascher made in this memorandum and is insisting that perhaps he hasn't conducted enough experiments with dry cold to justify his conclusion that the same hot bath method is the proper way for rewarming. Rascher continues:
"Very well, that is the way the Reichsfuehrer gave me the order of 13 December 1942. But I urgently want to emphasize that the results of time freezing experiments with water have been established and are well founded.
"Grawitz: Well now, this had to be mentioned in my letter to Brandt so that you are not blamed in any way. You see, from my former activities (mention of some hospital) I know so much about metabolism that I am almost a specialist in this field and can help you enormously.
"Rascher: As I understood; Gruppenfuehrer; that's why I am to turn to your office for glass materials; chemicals; and so forth.
"Grawitz: No. Not only for that. You have to turn to me in all medical matters; since after all; I am Reich physician SS and all medical affairs are subordinate to me. It is absolutely necessary that all medical matters destined for the Reichsfuehrer go through my office.
"Rascher: I don't know, Gruppenfuehrer; if this was the intention. I am under the direct orders of the Reichsfuehrer-SS and I have always reported directly to him. I have never receive orders to another effect.
"Grawitz: You certainly will be transferred to the Waffen SS?
"Rascher: Yes, I hope so. The transfer is under way.
Grawitz: There you are. Then you will be under my orders as a physician at any rate end all matters will have to go through my office, otherwise the situation would be unbearable.
Rascher: But i am under the orders of the "Ahnenerbe". Am I to report to you, too, what I have to report to the "Ahnenerbe"?
Grawitz: Certainly. At least a copy on all medical matters has to be sent to me for my information. For it is an unbearable situation to have a non-physician, such as Standartenfuehrer Sievers, inform me on medical matters if he does not have the adequate special medical education. I have nothing against Sievers.-- Well, yes, I know you are of the "Ahnenerbe", I don't say anything against your work for the "Ahnenerbe", but I want you to work with the "Ahnenerbe" for the Reich Physician. I shall also write to Brandt in this matter."....
Finally Poppendick gets a word in.
"Poppendick: Well, I already had to ask Standartenfuehrer Sievers several times to come to me to receive information. In the long run all medical matters wind up with us anyway.
Grawitz: You see, this is the point. When the Reichsfuehrer-SS does not understand a medical matter clearly he hands the matter over to me anyway.
Rascher: Of course, I am grateful for every kind of help, but I believe that I an primarilu under the orders of the "Ahnenerbe".
Grawitz: Certainly not when you are a member of the Waffen-SS. I am able to make you profit very much by my knowledge and I shall inform Brandt to that effect. It isn't that I bear a grudge against you or your work, but all things have to follow their way. Don't be afraid, scientific thefts don't occur with us. As I know, you have to acquire the right of giving lectures at universities as a qualified academic teacher under Pfannenstiehl, And you will see support. Do you want to be supported by me?
Rascher: Of course, I think you most obediently. Where I need support, I gladly accept it.
Grawitz: Well, we shall wait then with the memorandum until you have a few hundred cases, then we shall continue. Of course, I would not like the Reichsfushrer-SS to believe that I want to impede you.
But if something has not yet been proved to a great extent, we can not distribute anything to the troops that might spread uncertainty among the responsible authorities. Everything may be true for freezing bey water, but we don't have these in the Waffen-SS. So you agree to wait with the distribution of the memorandum.
Rascher: Gruppenfuehrer, it is anyway entirely your affair, whether the memorandum is issued now, as you are responsible for it. I composed the memorandum on the basis of these few cases of dry freezing, because the Reichsfuehrer SS pressed for it's publication. In composing the memorandum, I was fully aware of the necessity that many experiments still had to be carried out, and I also submitted this view on the occasion of a discussion with the Reichsfuherer SS in Dachau. But the Reichsfuehrer saw the results in Dachau and just wanting to help the troops ordered the memorandum to be drawn up.
Grawitz: in composing a memorandum or in any other scientific work you should not let anybody press you, not even the Reichsfuehrer, that never will do. Well now, you'll send me a copy of all your medical correspondence with the "Ahnenerbe", you'll no longer write directly to the Reichsfuehrer in medical matters but write to me, as it comes to me anyway, will you do that?
Rascher: I'll have to discuss the matter with Standartenfuehrer Sievers first, this comes too much as a surprise.
Grawitz: Well, I shall send you a copy of my letter to Dr. Brandt so that you can get a clear picture. I have been very pleased, to have established such a close contact with you."
I would like to say, with respect to the defendant Poppendick, that if this letter does nothing else it clearly points out the fact that he was in reality subordinate to Dr. Grawitz (Reich physician SS) in medical matters. I have no doubt that he will urge upon the Tribunal that at this time, which is prior to the reorganization of 31 August 1943, that he was subordinate to Dr. Grawitz, Reich Physician SS in medical matters? I have no doubt that he will urge upon the Tribunal that at this time, which is prior to the reorganization on 31 Rugust 1943, that he was subordinated to Chief of Office for Race and Settlement in SS.
Of course, it is a fact that he was subordinated to that office for certain matters. That was the SS Office to which he was officially attached. However, shown upon the chart drawn by us the Chief Dr. Grawitz, as Reich Physician SS, had authority over Poppendick in medical matters. And this memorandum places him at a meeting with Grawitz and Rascher in January 1943 and they fully explored the past experiences on freezing experiments at Dachau and Grawitz insisted at great length that further experiments had to be carried out.
We come now to Doc. NO-238 which is Prosecution Exhibit 104. This takes us bake to the pulling match between the Luftwaffe and the SS over the valuable services of Dr. Rascher. This memorandum is from Sievers and it gives notes on the correspondence from the SS to the Luftwaffe, about conversation with Rascher in Munich 28 January 1943, and conversation with Rudolf Brandt on 29 January 1943, and it reads as follows:
"The Chief of the Luftwaffe Medical Service Generaloberstabsarzt Professor Dr. Hippke asked the SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher through his superior, Oberfeldarzt Dr. Daniel for an immediate report about what had been he working on since he had been made available for new assignment (Z.D.). The Oberfeldarzt Dr. Daniel permitted SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher to continue his experiments in Dachau. I suggested that SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher give a report approximately like this:
"I am continuing the experiments which were assigned to me by the Reichsfuehrer SS. I considered my 'Z.D' position as the first step to the transfer to the Waffen-SS which was discussed by the Reichsfuehrer-SS and General Field Marshal Milch."
As I learned (Dr. Rascher knows nothing about this) Generaloberstabsarzt Prof. Hippke said over the telephone (so that he probably could not be pinned down) when requesting the report: "Rascher's experiments ought to be stopped now. It is impossible to go on like that. Now we will remove him very quickly to the East ". As SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher cannot continue his experiments at Dachau for the time being for well known reasons it was agreed that he should go on 7 February 1943 to SS-Sturmfuehrer Prof. Dr. Pfannenstiel in Marburg. Due to the interference of Generaloberstabsarzt Prof.
Dr. Hippke the process of admittance has become doubtful.
( signed ) Sievers " One copy went to the record.
The second copy went to SS-Obersturmbann fuchror Dr. Rudolf Brandt.
"With the request that measures be taken on the basis of the situation described in my letter of 12 January 1943."
Now the Tribunal heard the cross examination of the witness Lutz this morning in which certain of the defense counsels tried to draw out that Romberg and Ruff knew - everyone else connected with this clearly understood - they were volunteers, that the Nazis were giving them a big break, they were condemned to death, given life if they survived the experiment. They take the position that that should happen. If that line has any truth at all, why is Dr. Hippke, as stated in this memorandum, upset by certain of Rascher's experiments, if these people were condemned to death, if treated in a good and kind way, why is the reason to be ashamed about them. The reason is perfectly obvious. The high officials of the Luftwaffe realized very well what had gone on. There is not doubt there were there alone the way twinges of consciousness expressed in the document which they wrote at that time but never were they so conscious stricken that they stopped the experiments they conducted from the time Rascher started early in 1942, through the freezing experiments, which require passage through low pressure chamber, or through the sea water experiments at Dachau.
Recess was taken.
THE MARSHAL : The Tribunal is again in session.
MR.McHaney: May it please the Tribunal, the next document will be Document 1616-PS. This will be Prosecution Exhibit 105.
I wish to point out to the Tribunal in this connection that 1616 PS as it appears in your document book on page 120 is noted as being continued. That is a report on the rewarming by animal warmth. Eliminated from the English document book by mistake wa a covering letter, to which the re-warming report was attached. Both the covering letter and the attached report are Document 1616-PS, and both are offered as Prosecution Exhibit 105. The German document books, which went to the German Counsel, did contain both the letter and the report, and the omission of this English translation was simply a mistake when the document book was assembled.
We got some indication that experiments with dry cold, as distinguished from experiments with wet or water cold, were carried out in Dachau from one of the previous exhibits which gave us a transcript of the discussion between Rascher, Grawitz and Poppendick. This letter describes in a little more detail precisely what they did in these dry cold experiments. This is a letter dated 17 February 1943 from Rascher to his" Dear Reichsfuehrer":
"Enclosed I present to you in condensed from a summary of the result of the experiments made in applying animal warmth to people who have been intentionally chilled. Right now I am attempting to prove through experiments on human beings that it is possible to warm up people chilled by exposure to dry cold, just as fast as people who were chilled by means of continued immersion in cold water. The Reichs Physician SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Grawitz doubted very much whether that would be possible and said that I would have to prove it first by one hundred experiments. Up to the present, I have carried out intense chilling experiments on thirty human beings by leaving them outdoors naked from 0900 to 1400 hours, thereby reducing their body temperature to 27 degrees Centigrade to 29 degrees Centigrade. After an interval which was supposed to correspond to the period of transportation lasting one hour, I have placed those experiments up to the present, all subjects, despite the fact that hands and feet were partly frozen white, were successfully re-warmed within another hour Only some subjects showed slight lassitude, with slight rise of temperature, on the day following the experiment.
No fatalities occurred as a result of this extraordinarily rapid method of re-warming.
"Unfortunately I could not yet carry out the re-warming by means of Sauna, as was ordered by you, my dear Reichsfuehrer. The weather during December and January was too warm for such experiments outdoors, and at present the camp is quarantined on account of typhus, so that I was not permitted to bring the experimental subjects into the SS Sauna. I have had myself inoculated several times, and I am continuing these experiments in spite of the presence of typhus in the camp.
"The best thing would be if I and Neff, as soon as I am transferred to the Waffen SS, could go to Auschwitz where I could clear up the question of re-warming people frozen on dry land in a large serial experiment. Auschwitz is, in every way, more suitable for such a large serial experiment than Dachau because it is colder there and the greater extent of open country within the camp would make the experiments less conspicuous. The experimental subjects yell when they freeze severely.
"If it is your intention, Highly Honored Reichsfuehrer, to carry out with the utmost speed these experiments which are so important for the army fighting on land in Ruschwitz or Lublin or another concentration camp in the East, I beg you obediently to give me the necessary orders so that the remaining winter cold can still be utilized.
"With most obedient greetings and sincere gratitude, and Heil Hitler, your very devoted Rascher."
Did your Honors receive a copy of this?
THE PRESIDENT: No.
MR. MC HANEY: If Mr. Travis will pass them up to you -
This letter should be inserted in The document book just in front of page 120.
THE PRESIDENT: This letter will be page 119-A.
MR. MC HANEY: The reference in this document to "Sauna" refers to a bath.
The SS-Sauna must be to a bath house in Dachau.
The report which was attached to this letter and which is part of this Prosecution Exhibit 105 is most interesting. He have already put in the documents in which the four women were requested for the purpose of re-warming by animal warmth, and we now got this report on that subject.
It is entitled: "Experiments for re-warming of intensely chilled human beings by animal warmth.
"A. The purpose of the experiment: To ascertain whether the re-warming of intensely chilled human beings by animal warmth, for example, the warmth of animals or human beings, is as good or better then re-warming by physical or medical means.
" B. Method of the experiments: The experimental subjects were cooled in the usual way, clad or unclad, in cold water of temperatures varying between for degrees Centigrade and nine degrees Centigrade. The rectal temperature of every experimental subject was recorded therme-electrically. The reduction of temperature occurred within the usual span of time, varying in accordance with the general condition of the body of the experimental subject and the temperature of the water. The experimental subjects were removed from the water when their rectal temperature reached 30 degrees Centigrade. At this time the experimental subjects had all lost consciousness. In eight cases the experimental subjects were then placed between two naked women in a spacious bed. The women were supposed to nestle as closely as possible to the chilled person. Then all throe persons were covered with blankets. The speeding up of re-warming by light cradles or by medicines was not attempted.
"C. Results:
1. When the temperature of the experimental subjects was recorded it was striking that an after-drop of temperature up to 3°C occurred, which is a greater after-drop than that seen with any other method of rewarming. It was observed, however, that consciousness returned at an earlier point, that is a lower body temperature than with other methods of rewarming. Once the subjects regained consciousness they did not lose it again, but very quickly grasped the situation and smuggled up to the naked female bodies. The rise of body temperature then occurred at about the same speed as in experimental subjects who had been rewarmed by packing in blankets. Exceptions were four experimental subjects who, at body temperatures between 30°C and 32°C, performed the act of sexual intercourse. In these experimental subjects the temperature rose very rapidly after sexual intercourse, which could be compared with the speedy rise in temperature in a hot bath.
"2. Another set of experiments concerned the rewarming of intensely chilled persons by one woman. In all these cases rewarming was significantly quicker than could be accomplished by two women. The cause of this seems to me that in warming by one woman only, personal inhibitions arc removed, and the woman nestles up to the chilled individual much more intimately. Also in these cases, the return of complete consciousness was strikingly rapid. Only one experimental subject did not return to consciousness and the warming effect was only slight. This person died with symptoms suggesting cerebral hemorrhage, as was confirmed by subsequent autopsy.
"D. Summary:
Rewarming experiments of intensely chilled experimental subjects demonstrated that rewarming with animal warmth was very slow, only such experimental subjects whose physical condition permitted sexual intercourse rewarmed themselves remarkably quickly, and showed an equally strikingly rapid return of complete physical well-being. Since excessively long exposure of the body to low temperatures implies danger of central damage, that method must be chosen for rewarming which guarantees the quickest relief from dangerously low temperatures. This method, according to our experiences, is massive and rapid supply of warmth by means of a hot bath.