DR. GEBHARDT (Continued): I hope that this bears out the fact that in carrying out experiments I tried with the best of intentions to act primarily in the interest of the experimental subjects. We did not take advantage of the opportunity which was given us by Himmler without limitation. That is to say, surgical experiments were not followed by others. I believe that as far as that was possible at that period that I have fulfilled my duty as an expert purely because these experiments did not increase in the surgical field in spite of the crescendo of policy at that time. My desire was to help and not to give a bad example. In choosing this way of justification, of course, I have made a decision for myself. I hope that up to now I always stood up under criticism from the very beginning in foreign countries without any secrecy but also without the feeling of guilt for my activity as an expert.
That activity of experiments as a military physician, not on my initiative, brought me in contact with a concentration camps I can understand. How heavy that deadly shadow must weight upon anyone who was ever active there. The ghostly phenomenon of that sphere, which a.t that time was unknown to me as well, can be recognized now in retrospect in full. We realize the terror in the secretly negative ideology of extermination combined there with the negative selection of the guards. Only from the files of the International Trial could we see that in the end of the 35,000 guard troops there were only 6,000 SS men unfit for combat. On the rest were scums, draftees, foreigners, etc., who to the greatest injustice and the greatest shame were given the same uniform that we wore in combat.
As chief of a well know clinic and supported by its known measures of safety devices, in the interest of the experimental subjects I got in touch, within the framework of my duty as an expert, with concentration camp doctors. As far as it was at all possible I tried to exclude that atmosphere in my field. But, I believe it can be realized that my counter-actions vent beyond purely clinical safety measures in the interest of the experimental subjects because of the several thousand foreign inmates of this concentration camp, among whom as we were told here there were at least seven hundred Polish women (only two hundred), but of these two hundred sixty of my experimental subjects, as was proved, at the end of the war were turned over to the Red Cross.
As much as I might try to clarify my actions as a doctor and to explain my good intentions and position there, here in the same manner my final thought should be devoted to self-criticism and to concentrate on my moral obligation.
In a parody on a statement by Heinrich Heine we may see today "It is fate in itself to have been an SS man regardless in what position". Though I believe and hope that I did my duty in this confusion which has been recognized later as being a most dreadful one - the confusion between the decent Waffen-SS and the executive organization, that I have done my duty as an officer, a doctor, and a human being - I still feel highly responsible and I have my own restitution from this confusion - my possibilities to do that of course were limited.
Without looking for sensation I offered to undergo a self-experiment as proof, and that without any surgical safety measures, as soon as the first opportunity existed. My responsibility to all those who were my subordinates I have emphasized. I further have a responsibility, which I state not only now in the dim light of my own defense but already stated in May 1945 on that day when Himmler released us from our oath and from our orders and he himself left his post without any ethical reserve or ideological foundation. It. was my endeavor to prevent any illegal continuation of the ideas of the SS, to take the burden off the shoulders of our faithful youth by burning over the SS Generals.
Today as one individual I can only repeat to my colleagues that readiness. Here, in spite of my serious endeavor, the charges seem to give a different impression. May the consequences effect me in such a way that I may ease the problem to the younger ones who, believing in me, also joined the SS as surgeons. I believe that this pile of rubble of Germany can not afford to let these good young doctors perish in camps or in inactivity. Likewise I understand I have measures which should make the work easier for the old German universities and their admired teachers.
If you permit me a last sentence without referring to my own person, in order to summarize what I have found out in order to avoid possible mistakes, I would like to say, that from basic social conditions the only pathological escape at that time, as well as today, would be here as well as everywhere, to confuse and combine the spiritual with the economic and political concepts. It is a disastrous error to confuse the organized unanimity of voices with harmony. Destructive criticism educates people only to be capable of cooperation. The private as well as the public conscience can not be subjugated to any official virtue nor to any temporal moral principles. That can only find its place within a God-given order. Thus, in the sense of a. constructive pessimism, as I have set forth before, this war, in this sense we alone find consideration for the reality, full of suffering, of this social catastrophy.
My last statement of gratitude is to go to Dr. Seidl who in this time which lacks of civil courage, has been our assistant as well as for my colleagues as well as for myself.
THE PRESIDENT: Defendant Blome.
DEFENDANT BLOME: I have testified quite openly before this high tribunal that, particularly up to the outbreak of war, I was a confirmed National Socialist and follower. I have also stated why I became a party member in 1931, because political conditions in Germany at the time were moving with giant strides towards a final conflict between Communism and National Socialism, as a result of the economic chaos and the impotence of the German governments after 1919. I have said that I joined the National Socialist Party because I rejected the dictatorial form of the Communist system. In my book "The Doctor in the Struggle", which was put to me by the Prosecution here in cross-examination, I also explained why I went over to National Socialism. This book, however, which was published in 1941, at the time of Germany's greatest victories, clearly shows my repudiation of the Second World War, to which I do not refer with a single word, not even a hint, although my experience in the First World War take up considerable space in that book.
After the First World War Germany was in great difficulties. The situation became progressively worse and more unbearable, when at the turn of the thirties the economic crisis spread throughout the world and even seized hold of the United States. At that time I realized that in such hard times a nation which is drifting toward despair seeks a leader and follows him in blind confidence as soon as he can show big successes.
That is the case of Hitler these were only sham successes or temporary successes the German people realized only gradually, only step by step, and only at a time when it was too late to shake off the dictatorship again by their own strength. For years the German people were deceived by the leaders as to the true situation. In deliberately lying propaganda Hitler's governmental system until the last moment kept proclaiming final victory to the German people, even in the winter of 1944, and even in the spring of 1945, when the Reich cabinet and the Party Leaders long knew what a terrible collapse was imminent.
This governmental system thus irresponsibly imposed on the exhausted body of the German nation still further useless losses of life and property.
Since the collapse, particularly since the International War Crimes Trial at Nurnberg, we see clearly that this frivolous method of betrayal of their own people was an appropriate part of the systematical murder of foreign peoples and races by the millions.
I believe that there is no example in history of the boundless confidence of a people in their leader being so boundlessly misused and disappointed.
The German people were blinded in their faith in their Fuehrer, in a leader who constantly pretended to them and the world a love of peace, a humane character, a selfless care for the people. Thus the German people became the victim of a political gambler. His unrestrained supreme power apparently knew only the choice between ruling and destroying. Hitler's ambition, as I know and judge it today, had only one aim: At any price to go down in history as a great man. Hitler achieved this goal 100 percent: He went down in history as one of the greatest tyrants of all time, tremendous in his mania for ruling, tremendous in his brutality in the achievement of his ends, not hesitating even at the murder of his best friends, his oldest followers, if they were in his way.
Relying upon the blind confidence of his deceived people, Hitler created a system in which all individualism, all sentiment of freedom, all personal opinion of the citizens was nipped in the bud and turned into slavery.
He succeeded in this with the aid of a very small circle of closest associates, who had fallen under his hypnotic influence, in part perhaps deceived themselves by this man, but who became willing tools in his hand for the enslavement of the German people and the decimation of whole nations.
Under the fatal influence of a clever, deliberately lying propaganda, against which even other countries were as good as powerless, the German people and the German doctor, too, believed that they were following an honorable leader and serving a good cause; they all considered it the highest moral duty not to desert the Fatherland in times of emergency and particularly in wartime, especially since this was their duty to the very extreme, since in this war the life or death of the nation was at issue.
During the times of total warfare, the times of air raids, hunger, and the danger of epidemics, working conditions for the German doctor were terribly hard; so difficult that today one can hardly imagine now what German doctors accomplished in those days for friend and foe alike. Whether we twenty doctors here in this dock are accused justly or unjustly, it is a great injustice in any case to defame German doctors in general in public, as is constantly being done. As former Deputy Reich Physicians' Leader I know conditions in the German medical profession during the Hitler period, and I must say even today: In its totality the German medical profession was efficient, decent, industrious, and humane. Their willingness to work under the most difficult conditions that one can imagine, their unselfishness to the utmost, their courage and their helpfulness were exemplary. Beyond all praise were in particular the numerous old doctors who were already living in retirement and who, in spite of their great age, returned to the service of the sick, and those innumerable women doctors who, married and often the mothers of many children, exchanged their household duties for the difficult work of medical practice during wartime.
The whole German people know this, in whose midst and under whose eyes the German medical professions spent the years of distress and fright, and who, therefore, will continue to place unlimited confidence in German doctors.
Of myself I can say: I have always, particularly during the Hitler period, devoted all my efforts to keeping the medical profession at a high scientific and ethical level and to developing it.
And I found in this effort the full support of all German doctors, including the most famous scientists and chief physicians of medical institutions. Wellknown scholars throughout the world supported this work, which was above parties and enjoyed an international reputation.
But in the course of this trial it has become clearer to me day by day just how criminal the Hitler system was, to which I sacrificed in good faith many years of my life, and I am deeply moved inside me that I must confess to myself: For years I held a responsible position in a system which to ay I must curse just as much as curse all those who forced upon the German people such a tyranny of crime and debasement of man.
It was my mistake that I stayed in the post where fate had placed me and in which I had hoped to be able to do good for our people and my profession. It would often have been simpler to give up this post, when I began to realize, step by step, the depravity of the Third Reich. If I did not do so, but stayed at my post until the bitter end, I did this because I considered it my duty, especially in the hard times of total war, and because again and again I succeeded either in protecting the medical profession from harm or in preventing crimes against humanity. Even today I would have to consider it cowardice if I had left my post in 1941 or '42 only to put myself in safety or to evade threatened responsibility.
I feel myself free of the guilt of ever having committed or furthered crimes against humanity.
THE PRESIDENT: The Defendant Mrugowsky.
DEFENDANT MRUGOWSKY: My attorney and I have made every effort during my examination on the witness stand and by means of the considerable evidence which we have submitted to restrict the charges which have been raised against me, just as much as we tried to assist in ascertain ing the truth.
The outcome of the trial and the evidence against me is in the hands of the Tribunal and its closing brief, and in the reply the brief of the Prosecution. I am firmly confident on the basis of this trial that this high Tribunal will examine the evidence objectively and carefully. Thus in my final speech I merely would like to draw your attention to the fact that my life in its entirety was solely devoted to my profession and my science. It was my aim, not by any means to represent some political ideology, but to go to the university and to reach the position of a free and independent doctor and scientist.
The Prosecution has charged us, the defendants, with destructive tendencies which were supposed to have been the causes of our actions. I declare myself and know that I am free of such tendencies. They never occurred to my collaborators and myself at any time. In the WaffenSS too, the troops of which were among the bravest divisions of the German armed forces, such tendencies never played a part.
As far as my own concepts of the ethical duties of the doctor are concerned, they are contained in a book regarding medical ethics, and I believe always to have acted according to the principles of that book and lived according to them. My life, my actions and my aims were clean. That is why now that a.t the end of this trial I can declare myself free of personal guilt.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will now be in recess.
( A recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the courtroom will please find their seats.
The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: The defendant Rudolf Brandt.
DEFENDANT RUDOLF BRANDT: Now, after this trial has reached its final stage, my conscience is confronted with the question of whether I consider myself guilty or innocent. My responsibility, in my opinion, is to be tested by a three-fold question.
First, did I participate in the experiments directly and actively?
Second, did I at least have any knowledge of the criminal character of the experiments on human beings?
Third, what, if I had known, should have been my attitude towards Himmler?
What my basic opinion is of crimes against humanity I did not only declare myself on the witness stand but this has also been testified to by a very competent foreign witness, a Swedish medical counsellor, Felix Koersten.
Before this Tribunal and in the full knowledge of what I say I confess that I abhore - and did abhore - any crime against humanity in the years past and during my activity as a so-called personal referent of Himmler. But I also frankly declare that perhaps during the course of these last years my way of thinking was not always as present in my conscious mind as it is today. But I never participated in a crime against humanity knowingly, intentionally, or with premeditation.
When passing on the letters, orders, etc. which Himmler issued to third persons, and the result of which was the commission of cruelties on human beings, I am confident that from the evidence and from the content of the various defense affidavits the Tribunal will be convinced that that also corresponds to the truth, that my real sphere of power did in no way correspond to the face value of my official position. My real sphere of power was extremely small. It did not exceed that of a well-paid stenographer in the office of an influential man in Germany. If the Tribunal were to start from this fact, it would approach reality much closer than the prosecution did in its indictment.
I got into contact with Himmler when I was a young, immature man who came from a family in modest circumstances. Nothing else but my ability as a stenographer, which I had obtained through my industry, was the reason for that, and this was my position until the last days of the German collapse, in spite of promotions in rank. At that time I was only too glad to get that job because it enabled me to support my parents with money.
When I started work with Himmler, I got, without intermediate stages, into an agency, the chief of which was to combine, among other functions, the highest executive powers in his hands a short time afterwards.
I am convinced that I would not sit here under a grave indictment if I had had the opportunity to continue my education, if I had made a start in a subordinate agency, and had risen little by little into a higher position. Unfortunately, I have always been a lone wolf as long as I lived, and I never was fortunate enough to have an older friend who could have corrected my political inexperience and my gullibility.
If, however, through all those years, I represented Himmler's ideology, I did so only because I did not know the criminal part of Himmler's character. Since I lived, so to speak, divorced from the world around me and was only devoted to my more than plentiful work, I only learned after the collapse what stupendous crimes are to be booked on Himmler's account.
The evidence has shown that I neither knew a concentration camp nor had anything to do with concentration camps in my official capacity; nor had any influence on the system of the concentration camps, their administration and management, nor on the treatment of prisoners. For this reason I didn't know the measure of the tragedies which were enacted there.
Those matters, into which I had sufficient insight during my restless daily activities to permit me to distinguish between good and evil, were on a plane where they need not shun the light of sun.
I do not deny that some of the documents submitted here by the prosecution went through my hands, but I do deny - and I pray the Tribunal may believe me - that I knew the contents of the documents, particularly the reports and therefore the essential core of the human experiments.
I know that appearances are against me. Only these external appearances led the prosecution to indict me in this trial and to pass their comment on me during their closing speech, without penetrating to the bottom of matters. This way they arrived at a completely wrong appraisal which does not correspond to the facts and overrates my position and my activities.
These appearances which speak against me will be dispelled as soon as my real position will be considered in which I found myself as so-called personal referent of Himmler for many years. On the witness stand I testified to the truth, which has been confirmed by witnesses who knew the real facts from their own experience.
It does not run counter experience that among thousands of incoming and outgoing items of mail - that is, hundreds of thousands during the course of the years - there should be an insignificantly small number of documents which a personal referent passes on to third persons without knowing their contents more closely. The more so if they concern matters which have nothing to do with the normal duties of the personal referent.
I believe that an American tribunal will know how to appraise the foregoing, though I am rather afraid that the situation as it existed in Germany during the years before the collapse and prevailed in high government agencies will never really be brought home to American judges.
Therefore, I deny to myself to discuss again my position at that time and the ignorance of criminal experiments on human beings which was the consequence thereof. In this respect I agree with my defense counsel. Neither need I fear Professor Ivy's statement who declared that even a layman must be outraged by reading the reports of Rascher, because the fact that the layman has read the passages of the reports where from the obvious violation of human dignity is evident was, as a matter of fact, the natural prerequisite for Professor Ivy's opinion, and that prerequisite did not exist in my case.
In accordance with the truth I repeat what I have said in the witness stand, that I had a general knowledge of experiments on human beings. I can no longer say when and on what particular opportunity I gained that knowledge. But this fact alone does not deserve death, because I never had the feeling that I had participated in such crimes by my activity in the Personal Referat.
Such a knowing participation demands that the personal referent knows the contents and the import of Himmler's letters, orders, etc. and passes them on in spite of his knowledge of the contents and their import. I just said that appearances are against me, but I believe I did prove that I did not possess that knowledge. I pray the Tribunal to follow the line of this evidence and, I think, this is not asking too much since the experience of everyday life speaks in my favor.
The various affidavits which I have submitted and which were the subject of excited argument have found their explanation. In some points I have learned and I have tried to correct my mistakes. I did not want to speak an untruth knowingly which might be detrimental or favorable to a third person. I ask the Tribunal not to forget that I was in a very low general condition when I signed these affidavits. Only a few months previously I weighed only forty-four kilograms; consequently my mental power was reduced to a minimum.
During my activities which stretched over many years I exclusively acted on the express orders of Himmler without ever making a decision on my own initiative. I may take it that this fact has fully been proved.
The question what attitude I should have assumed had I known the details of inhuman experiments I can only answer in a hypothetical way. Had I had only a rough knowledge, as I have it today, I would have resisted to pass on such an order by virtue of my general view on questions of humanity.
Since, however, I did not have that knowledge it could not come to any resistance on my part. I asked to take into consideration that during all those years, I regarded matters which were in my field from my own point of view, and tried to live up to my own ideals. I saw my duty in carrying out my task faithfully and in the conduct of a clean, personal life.
I also intended to make sure that I would not cause any damage to any human being, but to try to understand the situation of a person in need of help, and then to help in a manner as I would have wished to be helped or treated if I was in his position.
I would remind you of the statement of the witness Meiner, on page 4919 of the German translation of the 21 March 1947, about the fact that my signatures are on the documents which have been submitted by the prosecution. That fact has moved me deeply because my entire view of humanity and the principles of humanity is quite opposed to that. What I understand by humanity, also applies and begins to apply to the details of life.
In spite of my good intentions, and that I say in answer to a question put in the beginning - in spite of my good intentions I was drawn into a guilt - I see it as a guilt, into which human beings can be involved by tragic circumstances without any intention on their part, but to recognize this guilt was sufficient to upset me deeply.
THE PRESIDENT: The defendant Poppendick.
DEFENDANT POPPENDICK: I joined the SS at a time not to commit crimes, but the reason was that a number of individuals whom I knew to be idealists among my friends were members of the SS. Their membership caused me to join. That I thereby became a member of a criminal organization was unimaginable for me at that time, just as it is incomprehensible for me today. My activity in the Rasse und Siedlungs Amt (race and resettlement office) was devoted to the problem of the family, an activity which in view of the destructive tendencies during the period of the first World War seemed important to me.
If my expectations as a physician were disappointed in more than one point, at least I considered myself justified to hope that in the end this activity would have positive results. The intentions were always toward a constructive policy for the good of the family. Never did I have anything to do with negative population policies, not even outside of policies of a legal nature, as the sterilization program of the State.
The assertion of the prosecution that positive and negative population policies belong in the same chapter, just as the two different sides and possibilities of one program, is erroneous. Then there were purely organizational reasons which brought about my direct subordination under the office of that man whose name today has such an inhuman sound - I mean Grawitz.
The impression which the prosecution ha.s rendered of my activity and position in Grawitz' office is not in accordance with the facts, in spite of some features which seem to support the assertion made by the prosecution .
As for medical experiments on inmates - experiments on human beings were nothing surprising to me, nor anything new. I knew that experiments were carried on in clinics. I knew that the modern achievements of medical science had not been brought about without sacrifices.
However, I do not recall that the fact of voluntary experimental subjects had to be an absolute requirement, as it seems to be considered as a matter of fact, according to the discussions in this trial. I knew furthermore, that some scientific problems can only be solved by experiments in series with conditions remaining constant, and that therefore soldiers and particularly soldiers in camps are used for experiments in all countries.
Under these circumstances it did not appear surprising to me that during the war scientists also Carried out experiments in series in concentration camps. I did not have the least Cause to assume that these scientists in the camps would go beyond the scope of that which otherwise everywhere in the world of science was customary.
What I knew about medical experiments in the SS was, in my opinion not at all connected with criminal matters, not any more than those experiments about which I knew from my clinical experience before 1933.
In March of this year a young doctor, Dr. Mitchelich, in a very one-sided way, published a book containing the indictment, "The Dictates of Contempt for Human Life". The problem found in this book, is the basis for an opinion, of course, and the basis for a verdict seemed to be quite clearly offered.
During the very last days, however, the Chief of Dr. Mitchelich, a well-known Professor from Heidelberg, Weizaeker, published a study on the principle questions belonging to the subject under the title "Euthanasia and Experiments on Human Beings", which he had submitted to the defendants. But here now we find an entirely different language. The problem itself becomes obvious. If one reads this booklet then the extent of that entire problem can be seen, and its complicated features.
The oath of Hypocrates, according to Weizaecker, has nothing to do with the problem. Weizaecker applies entirely different ethical norms. Rightly the spirit of medicine of Germany, or of Germany under Hitler. It is found, therefore, that experts who consider themselves competent even today, are right in the middle of their endeavor to clarify the problems at the basis, that being the first requirement for their solution.
Before this trial all of these matters were no problems for me. I did not know of any transgressions. Moreover, I was always convinced that anything which came to my knowledge about experiments on human beings in clinics of the state before 1933, and within the scope of the SS in later years, were conscientious efforts of serious scientists to the good of mankind.
The ethical foundation of these matters also seemed to be there until this trial. Therefore, after sincere examination of my conscience, I cannot find any feeling of guilt and expect with a clear conscience, the verdict of the Tribunal.
THE PRESIDENT: The defendant Sievers.
DR. SIEVERS: Your Honors, in his opening plea, my defense counsel already stated quite openly and frankly that all events were going to be presented with which I was in any way connected, and in this hour which is so important to me, I can state to the best of my conscience that when I furnished my defense counsel with information, and during my own examination on the witness stand, I always spoke the full truth. I have, in fact, had the satisfaction to see that my testimony was confirmed by a witness for the prosecution. During my examination as a witness on the stand, I said quite truthfully that the experimental subjects to whom I had talked in connection with the last experiment in Natzweiler had confirmed to me that they were voluntary subjects.
Witness Nalles, witness for the prosecution, confirmed my testimony during his examination on the 30th of June in this courtroom, record page 10593.
With regard to the charge of participation in the malaria experiments, I have stated that I had nothing to do with malaria experiments.
Witness Vieweg called by the prosecution, confirmed this testimony of mine. Likewise witness Stoehr, pages 495 and 638 of the record.
I testified that the two experimented subjects whom I met in connection with the altitude experiments, in reply to a question of me, confirmed specifically that they had volunteered.
Witness Neff of the prosecution confirms this voluntary status of the witnesses, page 657 of the record. Likewise Dr. Romberg during his direct examination stated on the strength of his owm knowledge that my testimony was correct.
The only experimental subject whom I met in connection with the typhus experiments answered my definite question regarding the voluntary act of the witness that this was so. The testimony of myself was confirmed through the affidavit of a former prisoner, a witness Grunzenhuber contained in my second document book.
The prosecution says that they charged me with having placed myself at the disposal of IMT on the behalf of the SS. This was rather a peculiar statement considering my own defense in this trial. I said when I was on the stand that without my own initiative, in fact against my own will the defense counsel for the SS called me in order to use me as a witness.
Attorney Pelckmann, then defense counsel of the SS has confirmed the correctness of the statements of mine in an affidavit. According to that, I immediately informed Pelckmann at the time in writing regarding my former membership of the resistance movement against the national socialist regime and told him I was not a suitable witness. At the same time I had also a copy of my letter, in which I placed myself at the disposal of the International Military Tribunal through ISD as early as the 20th of December, 1945, as the record shows. IMT shows on page 14929.
I have stated my regrets on this same witness stand that my preparedness to aid justice and to help in prosecuting past crimes was not accepted and that considerable evidence was thus destroyed.
As early as August last year, I furnished the prosecution with a report about my activities in the resistance movement, indicating again my willingness. This was passed over, however, when I stated that I was not prepared to sign affidavits which were not completely true.
I openly and frankly stated at that point that I lacked the understanding for this action. I had to do this, and I could do it because I had been looking for truth and right at the risk of my life, undaunted, and even during the time of tyranny. Was one now to be a collaborator in methods which I thought had passed with the National Socialist Regime? And which, as remains my firm conviction, would never lead to a true pacification of this world such as we all desire. I am mentioning this with regret and only because I have always claimed that I myself, and my statements, during responsible times, deserve to be believed. The Prosecution did not only feel in a position to doubt my credibility, but they even consented to call me a liar during their argument, against their better knowledge and their better conscience. Consequently, I had to draw your attention to the testimony of various witnesses which confirmed, in full, my testimony on the stand in such complicated matters. I can truly be satisfied that it was not up to me, but to the Prosecution witnesses, to contradict the incorrect statements made against me. History will honor such action, and judge the persistent attempt to stick to pre-conceived ideas. There is no blessing connected with it. I'm only sorry for those who are misguided by false ideas. My firm conviction that this high Tribunal will fully believe my testimony during my examination is based on these facts. In this connection, with reference to the experiences which I have just described, I am forced to say that on the other hand it was quite inspiring confidence to see which wisdom and patience inspired my judges. This Tribunal stood above matters and disclosed a conduct of trial in which one could feel sheltered; all my friends, who fought in the secret resistance movement with me and attended this trial repeatedly in the audience, share with me the sentiments. I have explained to you, Your Honors, for what reasons I was in immediate, direct contact with the NSDAP and the SS. I have told you how I always tried to prevent the application of medical research to the Ahnenerbe. This attempt failed, due to the ambitious attitude of Himmler.
Only on the strength of my own feelings had I to find an attitude with regard to this new question of experiments on human beings. I did not approve of them, and I attempted to take the consequence, which could only be that I immediately resigned from my post as the Reich Manager of the Ahnenerbe. I think the testimony of the Witness Hilscher, in this stand, and the affidavits from Witness Deutelmoser, Witness Dellmann, Witness Schmitz, and others prove beyond doubt that I had the true intention of resigning from the Ahnenerbe. And these witnesses have also clearly testified why I didn't do so, not because of personal ambition, not for reasons of comfort, or for what other low reasons might be attributed to me in this point. It was due to the persistent urging on the part of my political friends that I remained, in order to serve the task I have fought for. It had taken me to the NSDAP and the SS, but I refused to be a follower of the NSDAP and the policies which they represented. On the outside I had to live up to the name of a National Socialist, if I was to hold up the political ideal to which I had devoted myself since 1929 and not to endanger it. In his affidavit, and it is in my appendix to my document No. 1, Witness Niebhausen, who was the most important member in the circle of the secret German resistance, and who has acted on behalf of Dr. Kempner too, and who is obviously a personality beyond reproach, says that his illegal activity which continued for five years would have been quite impossible without my assistance. I do, in deed, not know what the Prosecution is prepared to recognize as being the fight against the Nazi Regime. Even such activities as these cannot be eliminated as a fact. It is not necessary to read all the details which have been testified to in this Courtroom. That in true recognition of the consequences which might be daily expected for myself and my family I devoted myself to resistance, continued in it undaunted, and never abandoned it, is now the only reason why I find myself in this dock. For that reason, I look forward to the judgment of this Tribunal with confidence, due to my conviction that I have lived for a good cause and acted on it, on behalf of something which at the time, as a matter of fact today, filled me with true belief.