Wounds treatod with S.A. powder are less inclined to flow. Work hypothesis: Inflammation of the mesodermal soft parts tends very fast to build necrosis. The necrosis whose surroundings show thrombosed vessels is the place where bacteria are settling. The necrosis is difficult to be reached by the Chomotherapeutic agents."
This, if the Tribunal please, is a statement of the conclusions reacted as a result of the criminal experiments carried out on a great number of Polish women in the Ravensbrueck Concentration Camp, four of whom have been brought to this Tribunal to testify so that we could all see the mutiliating results of those experiments.
The Discussion under this report by Gebhardt's and Fischer's experiments do not qualify for an immediate comparison with animal experiments as performed by myself and others because ligature of vessels elimanated larger muscular parts and prevented the influence of pororally administered sulfanilamide (cavity effect.) The range of locally administered sulfanilamide, especially of non-soluble ones, must not be overestimated because the conditions of diffusion are insufficient due to the poor solubility. Especially marfanil has to be considered in this respect. The poor takes of infections with gas gangrene which is stressed by the lecturer coincides completely with the findings in animal experiments. Infection does not start without special local conditions (demolition of the tissue, interruption of the circulation.) These points must also be considered particularly for surgical treatment, and costing of sulfanamides in wartime surgery should be carried out from the viewpoint of synthesis and not of antithesis."
This remark in the discussion that "The poor takes of info ctions with gas gangrene which is stressed by the lecturer coincides completely with the findings in animal experiments" makes it starkly clear that the Defendants, Gebhardt and Fischer, told these gentlemen very precisely what they had done, especially in animal experiments compared with human experiments and says they had poor takes when they artificially infected with gas gangrene the human subjects.
He goes on to state that "Infection does not start without special local conditions (demolition of the tissue, interruption of the circulation)", and the testimony before this Tribunal has very clearly demonstrated that that is precisely the way in which the artificial infection was made to take by tying of blood vessels at either end of the wound so that there would be a fertile field for the infection, infection which killed by the Defendant, Fischer's, own admission at least three people. And, if the Tribunal please, you will recall that when this sulfanilamide report was made by Gebhardt and Fischer, Rostock was chairman of that portion of the meeting, and in the front row sat the Defendant, Karl Brandt, and the Defendant, Handloser, and the deceased Dr. Conti.
I turn now to Page 5 of this same document, and we find that at the same meeting as has been testified to by Eugen Kogon a report was made by Dr. Ding on the murderous typhus experiments in Buchenwald, and this report reads as follows:
"Typhus - Inoccupation SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Ding:
On the results of the testing of various typhus vaccines against classic typhus.
Among the vaccines used in the German Army and Civilian Administration for active protective inocculation against typhus with deactivated germs, only Weigl's vaccine from lice intestines has proved its usefulness in human experimentations. Male subjects in groups of approximately equal size who had not yet come into contact with typhus were under observation to test the tolerance and protective capacity of vaccines from egg yolks, rarabbit lungs and dog lungs.
Equally large groups of typhus patients who had not been protectively inocculatod were used for comparison."
The following vaccines were tested:
(1) Vaccines from lice intestines by total.
(2) Vaccines from egg yolks by Gildemeistrr, Haagen.
(3) Two vaccines of two different strengths from the Gehring Works according to the procedure developed by Otto Weblrab. These vaccines are no longer being used.
(4) Vaccine prepared according to Durand-Giroud from rabbit lungs.
(5) Vaccine prepared according to Combiosco and his collaborators from dog lungs.
"The tolerance of all vaccines was good. Fitness for work was not reduced. The protective vaccination reduced the height of fever and the fever period was shortened by about a week in comparison with the nonvaccinated parallel groups.
The protective vaccination was particularly favorable when the Weigl, Gildemeister and Giroud vaccines were used, which are produced from pure Rickettsia Prowazeki cultures. In the overwhelming majority of cases the vaccination protects against death. It does not appear to reduce the frequency of cases of sickness.
"It could not be determined that the protective vaccination influenced the diminished blood pressure, but the central nervous system of the vaccinated groups was less influenced than that of the non-vaccinated ones.
"The eranthema of the vaccinated groups did not become hemorrhagic and disappeared on the average one week earlier than the eranthema of the non-vaccinated parallel groups."
So we see that at the same meeting at which the sulfanilamide experiments were being reported on, Dr. Ding also gave a report on he typhus experiments at Buchenwald, so we find that this organization received at a minimum reports on the freezing experiments at Dachau, the sulfanilamide experiments at Ravensbrueck and the typhus experiments at Buchenwald.
I come now to Document NO-924 which will be Prosecution Exhibit 437 which contains excerpts from the report on the Fourth Meeting of Consulting Physicians from 16 to 18 May 1944 at the SS Hospital of Hohenlychen. The Tribunal will recall that we put in a very long list of names of those attending this meeting at Hohenlychen. We find the report interesting particularly because of an address made by the General Commissioner of the Fuehrer for Health and Sanitation, the Defendant. Karl Brandt, a man who will tell you that he had no connection with the SS. He was a member by technicality only, but he was the man who welcomed the meeting at the SS "Hospital at Hohenlychen, and his address reads as follows: "Gentlemen: I am to welcome you here to Hohenlychen in the name of the Reichsfuehrer SS on the occasion of the Fourth Meeting of Consulting Specialists.
"I am glad that it was possible to have this meeting carried out in spite of the difficult external conditions. The events of war hold our close attention and see us all in our accustomed readiness. Thus this meeting is particularly emphasized.
"That you, Mr. Conti, as Reich Chief for Public Health and Secretary of State in the Ministry of the Interior, also were able to accept the invitation of the Chief of the Medical Service of the Wehrmacht has to be regarded as more important than a mere participation in a meeting. I enjoy it as the expression of a mutually comprehensive unity in face of the tasks and achievements which are expected from us physicians at home and in the field.
"Today this unity in general is he supporting element, but this is particularly so within our medical profession.
"All of us are bound to this common cause.
"To be a physician means to give aid and to give aid means pledging one's self again and again.
"All other considerations have to recede today in the face of this imperative demand. Our resolute and determined fight demands it. The Public Health Service and the Medical Service of the Wehrmacht are closely united.
"Generaloberstabsarzt Handloeser, you, a soldier and a physician at the same time, arc responsible for the use and the performance of our medical officers.
"The Reichsfuehrer desires that the meeting which you have called will not fail to have the expected success. I convey to you personally his special greetings.
I believe, and this probably is the sole expectation of all concerned, that this meeting which today starts in Hohenlychen will be held for the benefit of our soldiers. The achievements to date of your physicians, Hern Generaloberstabsarzt, confirm this unequivocally, and their readiness to do their share makes all of us proud and - I may also say - confident.
We have arrived here with visible good fellowship and in the spirit of mutual confidence. The heavy responsibility, which we bear at a decisive point in this war, holds us strengthened and rendered more acutely by the events of the fifth year of the war, strongly bound together.
We are aware of the value of our work. We do not have to step aside, but on the other hand, we cannot consider this as simply a matter of rank either. Everybody knows that the German physicians at home, as well as those in uniform, are accomplishing deeds unheard of."
MR. McHANEY: He was apparently correct when he said he was performing deeds unheard of: I continue:
"And are dutifully performing their obligations, I do not need to describe the readiness for sacrifice of the practicing physician at home. All of you know his truly hard work by day and night. No terror bombing restrain him. Nor, do I need to refer to our medical officers, who are fighting intrepidly together with their troops, and in numberless hospitals are healing wounds which this pitiless war has inflected.
We, therefore, realize - and I say so with all emphasis, with determination and frankness - that we too stand in the first line in the fight for existence and the future of our German people.
This is our responsibility, which no other profession can take over from us, is the more binding.
To deal with it is a fact as sober as it is self-evident and honorable for all of us.
Where we are standing - where any German physician is standing - no thing but this ultimate dutifulness can be expected.
This cannot be explained away.
We are proud of the fact that we are not only responsible to the people in our common effort, but that this responsibility is borne by each of us individually, completely and with its full weight.
This remainder of our individuality has become a noble and thus a most deeply rooted German duty.
Therefore, I may extend my best wishes to this meeting out of my own conviction.
The exterior frame-work already promises success. The preparations which SS-Gruppenfuehrer Gebhardt, our host, has made for this meeting are promising in themselves.
Hohenlyhchen, which is for all of us the concept of genuine medical practice, medical efficiency and of soldierly life, provides the exterior frame.
To this house the recognition and thanks of innumerable injured and wounded are due. This is the inner worth and as such it is to your credit, Comrade Gebhardt. The work of your assistants is also closely connected with your name. I believe all of us look with appreciation upon your work. The solemn seriousness of this meeting is emphasized by the bestowing of a decoration upon you for the whole of your medical work, and all of us rejoice in it.
The Fuehrer has bestowed upon you the Knight's Cross of the War Service Cross with Swords. I am ordered to present this decoration to you."
MR. McHANEY: So, you can see that in this fourth meeting -- roughly in one year after Gebhardt had made his report on his marvelous sulfanila-mide experiments on defenseless Polish women in Buchenwald -- the Defendant Gebhardt, in the name of the Fuehrer, now pins on this man's breast the Knight Cross of the War Service Cross with Swords:
"Permit me to add a few more words to my repeated congratulations. It is understood that with the far-reaching frame work our medical field special results must be shown, that we must accomplish special task as the fighting forces know them also.
We will learn about such a field here at Hohenlychen and Mr. Gebhardt will show and exhibit it to us. We will then extend, with appreciation, the honour bestowed by the Fuehrer, to the medical collaborators and the unnamed assistants, who, shoulder to shoulder with their chiefs are prepared to work indefatigably and without rest in scientific and soldierly pursuits.
While in our medical activity at home repeated operations and treatments, and painstaking rehabilitation therapy which tries the patience of patient and doctor, play a major part, and often take an excess of time and preparation, the physician in the hard struggle on the fighting front, on the other hand, is often confronted with making lightning quick decisions, and his assistants with taking immediate action.
A shot makes a sharp decision.
Above all, I am thinking of treatment of the skull and brain, besides that of injuries to the large cavities of the body.
Today, brain surgery is a concept which wants itself regarded as a special field, this in reposition to Paracelsus' interpretation that the understanding of diseases and human beings should be looked upon as an entity. All of us perceive this emergency demand of the war, and therefore recognize the necessity of separate development and special working methods which the war is bringing about.
You, colleague Toennis, know of these tasks and of these problems. Your deserts in this connection are unique. Not only did you use new ways of organization, with the help placed at your disposal by the Luftwaffe; but more than that, your medical knowledge helped to relieve the soldier of fear of the most serious injuries and their consequences. You helped to strengthen confidence in us physicians and medical officers, finally, which is more decisive, you helped the soldier in seemingly hopeless cases. These, who know your special hospital, knew about your work. It certainly requires unshakable faith in oneself and in one's task, not to lose courage.
Here, if anywhere, the 'physician himself" is to be valued above all.
The Fuehrer honors this.
His heart is with his soldiers.
But all who are helping the wounded may be sure of his thanks. He had given me the order to present to you the Knight's Cross of the War Service Cross with Swords.
Gentlemen, we should be happy and proud to know that all of our cares and endeavors are thus appreciate. There is no doubt about this. And we, gentlemen, simply look at it that way.
The field of our work is enermous. The responsibility, of which we are conscious is tremendous.
It is good simply to call these things by their names and to look at them as they are. This meeting is the visible expression of it - it is, it shall be and it must be so in every respect; the Consulting Physicians are gathered around their medical Chief.
When I look at these ranks, you Generaloberstabsarzt Handloser, are to be envied medical experts, with the best and most highly trained special knowledge, are at your disposal for care of the soldiers. In reciprocal action between yourself and your medical officers, the problems of our medical knowledge and capacity are kept alive.
I have admired you during the inspections we frequently made together. Your position did not involve - and I consider this or primary importance your renouncing your physicianship. Your interest, which you kept alive from the time of your own practice in the field of internal medicine, has always led you to approach Acute problems, heme-Therapy, hepatitis epidemica, field nephritis - all these became true and serious problems, to the work on and the treatment of which you gave all your support and assistance. All of internal medical science and its researches is assisting you on account of the importance of hose and similar discusses and Therapeutic measures which the events of war demand from us. Your Consulting Physician, Dr. Gutzoit, has been a faithful assistant to you. We all know the influence, which has emanated from Dr. Gutzeit's personality and from his department. His unselfish personal effort, his scientific research work and importance as consulting physician to his Chief are incontestable.
Professor Gutzeit:
The Fuehrer honors you and internal Medical Science, which you represented and bestows upon you The Knight's Cross to the War Service Cross with Swords. In the light of the old comradeship, which binds us together, it is particular pleasure for me to be permitted to present you with this decoration.
MR. McHANEY: So, we get at least a second doctor decorated at this meeting, who was also implicated in medical experiments upon living human beings.
"I assume, Gentlemen, that you share my joy and that you feel justified satisfaction in this honoring of medical officers. It is an appreciative thanks for the indefatigable effort in which the individual is immediately effective through his own personality, but in the long run vanishes in an army of millions: But, we should be proud of that too.
The front knows that, The front knows what we mean to them. Calling for the medic has long since ceased to be ridiculous. Today it means justified expectation of help and care.
In spite of all that, we do not want to over rate ourselves and we want to be grateful to recognize fulfillment of our life in the fulfillment of our vocation. Who is still able to do that today? The war demands of us always to be both physician and soldier. This we are and want to be. And now I conclude this train of thought and pictures of the front again are covered by pictures of the homeland. It is not destruction of terro-bombings alone, which is causing trouble for and testing the homeland and posing addition problems for us physicians.
Five years of war are shoeing effects:
We must clearly recognize and express this. We can meet a danger only if we perceive it. Mental and physical over-strain cause mental and physical instability. To combat and repress them are duties as difficult to fulfill as those of the soldier at the Front. Only the outward appearance will be different.
How toilsome it is for the practitioner at home to care for the innumerable patients with stomach troubles during his consultation hour, how difficult is it for him in this time of need to carry out a positive, but necessary fight, against Tuberculosis. Enormous tasks are to be accomplished in this field and they are being accomplished: But all of us have to help, and we all want to help. There are no limits to competence. There is no exceptional position either. Only the mutual solution of all these most difficult problems can be considered. We know without further discussion what Tuberculosis, for example, means. Where does it not appear? There is it not possible that it might appear? Must not all we physicians stand prepared and concentrate all our attention on that alone?
It goes without saying that the physicians stand prepared wherever he is needed. He is combating tuberculosis in the city, as well as in the country. He fights against it in adults and in children He fights against it in soldiers and in women:
It is the 'disease' which concerns us physicians, and it does not matter what positions or what sphere of responsibility the individual positions or what sphere of responsibility the individual physician might hold. If we want to master the problem, which the people and state have given us, we physicians must face this concept of 'disease as such' in one phalanx.
Therefore, no difference exists between the practicing physician and the medical officer and in the long run no differentiation can exist among or against medical officers. If the Fuehrer, foreseeing this, gives his judgment, we recognize his fundamental decision.
In combatting a disease it is most clearly expressed! In the fight against Tuberculosis, for instance.
We are facing it in a common effort. We have to attack it jointly and from all directions, and consequently we want to trust the leadership of the best exports. Professor Baemeister, here your work stands before us. You helped to take up the fight against tuberculosis at an early date. During the World war, you already were Chief of St. ***sien Army Hospital. Your temporary duty in the fortress hospital at Holigeland assured your inner bond with the Navy. Then, came the toilsome reconstruction work of the inflation and postwar period, which besides a long established and unreserved appreciation of your person, brought about today's honors. Your infinite knowledge and experiences will help us in this war too, to master tuberculosis.
May I present to you, the Flottenarzt, the well deserved Fuehrer decoration. He has bestowed on you the Knight's Cross to the War Service Cross with Swords.
In conclusion, I think I should tell you a word which building a bridge over the past to the present, which find us prepared. It is Gerhard Wagner's maximum, which may be a vow for us for the future too. The word of dedeceased will keep our heart strong:
Faithful to oneself!
Faithful to the people!
Faithful to the Fuehrer!
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will no recess until 1:30 o'clock.
(The hearing reconvened at 1330 hours, 28 January 1947.)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
MR. MCHANEY: We come now to Count Four of the indictment which deals with membership in a criminal organization. That is paragraph 16 of the indictment. It reads as follows: "The defendants Karl Brandt, Genzken, Gebhardt, Rudolf Brandt, Mrugowsky, Poppendick, Sievers, Brack, Hoven, and Fischer are guilty of membership in an organization declared to be criminal by the International Military Tribunal in Case No. 1, in that each of the said defendants was a member of Die Schutzstaffel der National Sozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei, commonly known as the SS, after 1 September 1939. Such membership is in violation of Paragraph 1 (d) Article II of Control Council Law No. 10."
I ask the Tribunal to fake judicial notice of the following excerpt from the judgment of the International Military Tribunal in Case No. 1 with respect to the criminality of the SS. This is an excerpt which is taken from the judgment, pages 16,958 and 16,959 of the official English transcript and this excerpt has been certified as being true and correct by Colonel John E. Ray, General Secretary of the International Military Tribunal. It reads as follows:
"Conclusions: The SS was utilized for purposes which were criminal under the Charter involving the persecution and extermination of the Jews, brutalities and killings in concentration camps, excesses in the administration of occupied territories, the administration of the slave labor program, and the mistreatment and murder of prisoners of war. The defendant Kaltenbrunner was a member of the SS implicated in these activities. In dealing with the SS the Tribunal includes all persons who have been officially accepted as members of the SS (including the members of the Allgemeine SS, members of the Waffen SS, members of the SS Totenkopf Verbaende, and members of any of the different police forces who were members of the SS. The tribunal does not include the so-called SS riding units. The Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsfuehrer SS (commonly known as the SP) is dealt with in the Tribunal's judgment on the Gestapo and SD.
"The Tribunal declares to be criminal within the meaning of the Charter the group composed of those persons who had been officially accepted as members of the SS as enumerated in the preceding paragraph who became or remained members of the organization with knowledge that it was being used for the commission of acts declared criminal by Article 6 of the Charter, or who were personally implicated as members of the organization in the commission of such crimes, excluding, however, these who were drafted into membership by the State in such a way as to give them no choice in the matter, and who had committed no such crimes. The basis of this finding is the participation of the organization in war crimes and crimes against humanity connected with the war; this group declared criminal cannot include, therefore, persons who had ceased to belong to the organizations enumerated in the preceding paragraph prior to September 1, 1939."
The next affidavit of each of the defendants charged in Count Four of the indictment contains admissions that such defendants were members of the SS following September 1939. There is no ground for any of these defendants to assert that they fall within the exception made in the IMT's finding of criminality where it stated that those drafted in the membership of the SS shall not be considered as having belonged to the criminal organizations. That exclusion was made by the Tribunal for the reason that late in the war the evidence showed that certain members of the Waffen SS were drafted in the service much like members of the Army, the Navy, the Luftwaffe, and so forth, but aside from that exception, which were not very numerous, the SS was essentially a volunteer organization. In addition to the admission of membership in the SS as made by the defendants, the prosecution would like to submit two documents which corroborate those admissions. The first of these is a document No. NO-1437 which will be Prosecution Exhibit 438. This is a document containing excerpts from the so-called "Diensfaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP". This is in effect an order list of certain members of the SS and this first document deals with members who held rank "SS Oberst Gruppenfuehrer" down through "SS Standartenfuehrer". The rank "SS Oberst Grupenfuehrer", I think, was held by only three men and was the highest rank in the SS other than the position held by Himmler himself as Reichsfuehrer of the SS.
"SS Standartenfuehrer" corresponds roughly to the rank of "Colonel" in the United States Army.
We see on page four of this document that the names of certain of the defendants charged with having been members of the SS are extracted in this document. I might also point out that this order list is dated 9 November 1944. We find on page four that Dr. Karl Genzken was an SS Gruppenfuehrer which was the rank roughly of a Major General in the United States Army. Genzken was No. 133 on the order list of the SS. He is noted as having been attached to the SS Fuchrung Hauptamt, that is, the SS Operational Office, as chief of the Amtsgruppe D in the SS Fuehrung Hauptamt; and the Tribunal will recall that Amtsgruppe D was the medical service of the Waffen SS, the chief of which was the defendant Genzken. His Party number, that is, his Nazi Party number, is listed as 39913, a very low number, and shows early membership in the Nazi party. His SS number is 207954.
The next column shows his birth date as being June 8, 1885. The next column shows that he was a Lt. General in the Waffen SS and shows in the last group that he attained the rank of Gruppenfuehrer on January 30, 1943.
No. 134 is Doctor, Professor Karl Gebhardt, and he is shown as being attached to the D. St. Reichsarzt-SS and Police Oberster Kliniker, who was Dr. Grawitz. His Party No. was 1723317. SS. No. 265894. Date of birth December 23, 1897. Lieutenant General in the Waffen-SS. Gruppenfuhrer, January 3O, 1943.
No. 172 is Professor, Doctor Karl Brandt, and he is shown as attached to the SS Fuhrg., H.A. Party No. 1009617. SS No. 260353. Date of birth January 8, 1904. Lieutenant General in the Waffen-SS. He claimed the rank of Gruppenfuehrer on April 20, 1944.
I think it might be interesting for the Tribunal if I passed up the photostatic copy of the original list from which these extracts were taken, and you can see the manner in which the book was set up. It starts off listing No. 1., which is Henrich Himmler, and-so-forth on down.
(The book was given to the Tribunal)
According to the rank of SS-Oberfuehrer, which is a rank between a full Colonel in the United States Army and a Brigadier General, a rank which we have designated as Senior Colonel, we find the name of Viktor Brack, Mo. 571. He is noted as attached to the Staff of the Reichfuehrer-SS. Party No. 173388. And a very low SS No. 1940. He was born November 9, 1904. He is listed as a Sturmbannfuehrer in the Reserve, and claimed the rank of SSOberfuehrer November 9, 1940.
No. 695 is Professor, Doctor Joachim Mrugowsky. He is shown as attached to the Reichsarzt-SS and Police. Although his position is not shown, it corresponds to that of Professor Gebhardt. Mrugowsky was the Oberster Hygieniker, the Chief Hygenic Officer. His Party No. is shown as 210049, and a low SS No. 25811. He was born August 15, 1905. He was an Oberfuehrer, and claimed the rank of Gruppenfuehrer on April 20, 1944.
Also an SS-Oberfuehrer is the defendant Helmuth Poppendick, shown as No. 721. He was attached to the Reichsarzt-SS and Police. His Party No. 998607. His SS No. 36345. His birthday is January 6, 1902. He claimed the rank of SS-Oberfuehrer on September 1, 1944.
Holding the rank of SS-Standartenfuehrer is Wolfram Sievers, with the Order No. 1096. He was attached to the Personel Staff of the ReichsfuehrerSS. Party No. 144983. SS No. 275325. Birth date, July 10, 1905. Claimed the rank of Standartenfuehrer on November 9, 1942.
Also listed as a Standartenfuehrer is the defendant Rudolf Brandt whose Order No. is 1284. He was attached to the Personal Staff of the ReichsfuehrerSS. His Party No. 1331536, and his SS No. 129771. Date of birth, June 2, 190! He claimed the rank of Standartenfuehrer April 20, 1944.
The next Document is Document No. NO-1438, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit No. 439, and this consists of extracts taken from a list similar to the one now before the Tribunal. The first page there shows the Order from SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer down to SS-Sturmbannfuehrer, and the Order List is dated 1 October 1944.
On page 4 of the Document we find listed SS-Sturmbannfuehrer, Order No. 3960, the defendant Fritz Fischer, who was attached to the 42nd Standart, which is a Regiment, as I understand it. His Party number is not listed, indicating he was not a member of the Nazi Party. His SS No. is 2O3578. He was born October 5, 1912. He was a Sturmbannfuehrer in the Reserve, and claimed his rank of Sturmbannfuehrer on August 25, 1944.
Prosecution's Exhibits Nos. 438 and 439, which I have just read covers all the defendants charged with having been members of the SS with the exception of the defendant Hoven. These two lists do not purport to contain the names of all members of the SS since they are numbered at several million, as I understand it, and the defendant Hoven's name is not included in either of these two volumes. However, he has stated in his affidavit that he was a member of the SS and was attached as camp doctor in the Concentration Camp of Ravensbruck after 1 September 1939, and this has been corroborated by the testimony of Ferdinand Roemhild and Eugen Kogon.
I come now to Document No. NO-1441, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit 440. This is an excerpt taken from a booklet called the "SS- The Soldiers' Friend". It was compiled by the SS-Hauptamt, which is the SS Central Office Main Office, dated August 1, 1942, and on the second page of this Document we find the oath which was taken by all members of the SS.
It reads as follow "THE CUTE OF THE SS RECRUIT "I swear allegiance and bravery to you, Adolf Hitler, as Fuehrer and Chancellor of the Reich.
I vow to be obedient to you and my superiors appoint ed by you until death, so help me God."
DR. SERVATIUS: Mr. President, I do not know if the whole excerpts here are to be received in evidence, and what is to be the importance of the documents. In the table of contents it has been listed, and has been stated with some titles, that I do not know the contents of this article. Therefore, I would like to receive an explanation from the Prosecution as to what this document is supposed to signify.
MR. McHANEY: Frankly, I have never so much as seen the book from which this oath was taken. I simply issued instructions that a copy of the oath taken by members of the SS be obtained, and the oath was found in this booklet. ***s is customary when we submit only a partial translation of a document we include the cover page and generally the index. The table of contents, as given in this translation here indicates that this pamphlet deals with a variety of subjects concerning the SS. On page 1, we see an utterance of the Fuehrer, the title page; page 4, the oath of the SS which I have just read, Pages 5 to 8, personnel stating statistics, and telephone numbers. The main offices of the Reich SS and their tasks. The order on engagements and marriages, and a great number of items concerning various functions of the SS with explanatory remarks.
The only purpose for which we offer this document is to show the SS oath. The Document is apparently some 256 pages long.
JUDGE SEBRING: Mr. McHaney, I suggest that perhaps the document as handed up to us, has not been prepared in order, and that perhaps the second page, as it is here, follows the table of contents, and so far as that part of the table of contents which refers to "The oath of the SS recruit", page 4, might be material. Do I make myself clear?
MR. McHANEY: I think, if your Honor pleases, I will pass up the original which is apparently here in the court room. Although, I am not clear why since it is U. S.... Exhibit 441 of the International Military Tribunal. I very seriously doubt if it can be permanently kept with the record of this Tribunal. If I may look at it just a moment I will be able to clarify your question, I think.
MR. McHANEY: I think the arrangement of the translation is probably correct. I will pass the book up to you and you can see for yourself that the oath of the SS recruit comes before the Index. It is in the nature of a pocket diary which was issued to SS men.
(Document handed to Tribunal.)
DR. SERVATIUS: I do not have any objection to the document if it is only being presented in order to show the oath which the SS man, who, after all, was fighting as a soldier, had to give.
JUDGE SEBRING: Can you say whether or not, Mr. McHaney, this books pretends to have incorporated in it arty rules of land warfare if the German army had such rules?
MR. McHaNEY: I can't say offhand, your Honor. By looking at the table of contents, I would conclude that it does not contain any reference to the rules cf land warfare. We are offering the document simply for the purpose of proving the oath taken by SS members in which unqualified obedience is sworn to the Fuehrer and to the superiors appointed by him.
THE PRESIDENT: The exhibit offered and limited to the statement of counsel for the prosecution will be admitted in evidence.
MR. McHANEY: We come now to Document NO-1730, which I offer as Prosecution Exhibit 441. This is the transcript of an interrogation of the defendant Karl Brandt taken on 5 November 1946.
DR. SERVATIUS: Dr. Servatius, counsel for defendant Karl Brandt. Mr. President, the document which is to be presented here by the prosecution is an interrogation which has not been signed by Karl Brandt; and it has not be read to him. The time it took place was on the day when the indictment was handed to him. As a result of this, the interrogation was interrupted. This extensive document, which includes more than twenty pages, has only been handed to me this morning; and I have not yet been able to discuss it with my client. It deals with a large number of questions which are the subject of the accusation. It is for this reason that I want to object to having it admitted at this time. However, I am also objecting to the fact that it shot be presented at all. The defendant Karl Brandt will become a witness in a few days, and then the prosecution can ask him all these questions in the course of the cross examination.