The experiments known as “high-altitude” or “low-pressure” experiments
were carried out at the Dachau concentration camp in 1942. According to
the proof, the original proposal that such experiments be carried out on
human beings originated in the spring of 1941 with a Dr. Sigmund
Rascher. Rascher was at that time a captain in the medical service of
the German Air Force, and also held officer rank in the SS. He is
believed now to be dead.
The origin of the idea is revealed in a letter which Rascher wrote to
Himmler in May 1941 at which time Rascher was taking a course in
aviation medicine at a German Air Force headquarters in Munich.
According to the letter, this course included researches into
high-altitude flying and
“considerable regret was expressed at the fact that no tests with human
material had yet been possible for us, as such experiments are very
dangerous and nobody volunteers for them.” (_1602-PS._)
Rascher, in this letter, went on to ask Himmler to put human subjects at
his disposal and baldly stated that the experiments might result in
death to the subjects but that the tests theretofore made with monkeys
had not been satisfactory.
Rascher’s letter was answered by Himmler’s adjutant, the defendant,
Rudolf Brandt, who informed Rascher that—
“* * * Prisoners will, of course, gladly be made available for the
high-flight researches.” (_1582-PS._)
Subsequently Rascher wrote directly to Rudolf Brandt asking for
permission to carry out the experiments at the Dachau concentration
camp, and he mentioned that the German Air Force had provided “a movable
pressure chamber” in which the experiments might be made. Plans for
carrying out the experiments were developed at a conference late in
1941, or early in 1942, attended by Dr. Rascher and by the defendants
Weltz, Romberg, and Ruff, all of whom were members of the German Air
Force Medical Service. The tests themselves were carried out in the
spring and summer of 1942, using the pressure chamber which the German
Air Force had provided. The victims were locked in the low-pressure
chamber, which was an airtight ball-like compartment, and then the
pressure in the chamber was altered to simulate the atmospheric
conditions prevailing at extremely high altitudes. The pressure in the
chamber could be varied with great rapidity, which permitted the
defendants to duplicate the atmospheric conditions which an aviator
might encounter in falling great distances through space without a
parachute and without oxygen.
The reports, conclusions, and comments on these experiments, which were
introduced here and carefully recorded, demonstrate complete disregard
for human life and callousness to suffering and pain. These documents
reveal at one and the same time the medical results of the experiments,
and the degradation of the physicians who performed them. The first
report by Rascher was made in April 1942, and contains a description of
the effect of the low-pressure chamber on a 37-year-old Jew.
(_1971-A-PS._) I quote:
“The third experiment of this type took such an extraordinary
course that I called an SS physician of the camp as witness,
since I had worked on these experiments all by myself. It was a
continuous experiment without oxygen at a height of 12
kilometers conducted on a 37-year-old Jew in good general
condition. Breathing continued up to 30 minutes. After 4 minutes
the experimental subject began to perspire and wiggle his head,
after 5 minutes cramps occurred, between 6 and 10 minutes
breathing increased in speed and the experimental subject became
unconscious; from 11 to 30 minutes breathing slowed down to
three breaths per minute, finally stopping altogether.
“Severest cyanosis developed in between and foam appeared at the
mouth.
“At 5 minute intervals electrocardiograms from three leads were
written. After breathing had stopped Ekg (electrocardiogram) was
continuously written until the action of the heart had come to a
complete standstill. About ½ hour after breathing had stopped,
dissection was started.”
Rascher’s report also contains the following record of the “autopsy”:
“When the cavity of the chest was opened the pericardium was
filled tightly (heart tamponade). Upon opening of the
pericardium, 80 cc. of clear yellowish liquid gushed forth. The
moment the tamponade had stopped, the right auricle of the heart
began to beat heavily, at first at the rate of 60 actions per
minute, then progressively slower. Twenty minutes after the
pericardium had been opened, the right auricle was opened by
puncturing it. For about 15 minutes, a thin stream of blood
spurted forth. Thereafter, clogging of the puncture wound in the
auricle by coagulation of the blood and renewed acceleration of
the action of the right auricle occurred.
“One hour after breathing had stopped, the spinal marrow was
completely severed and the brain removed. Thereupon, the action
of the auricle of the heart stopped for 40 seconds. It then
renewed its action, coming to a complete standstill 8 minutes
later. A heavy subarachnoid oedema was found in the brain. In
the veins and arteries of the brain, a considerable quantity of
air was discovered. Furthermore, the blood vessels in the heart
and liver were enormously obstructed by embolism.”
(_1971-A-PS._)
After seeing this report Himmler ironically ordered that if a subject
should be brought back to life after enduring such an experiment, he
should be “pardoned” to life imprisonment in a concentration camp.
Rascher’s reply to this letter, dated 20 October 1942, reveals that up
to the time the victims of these experiments had all been Poles and
Russians, that some of them had been condemned to death, and Rascher
inquired whether Himmler’s benign mercy extended to Poles and Russians.
(_1971-D-PS._) A teleptyped reply from the defendant, Rudolf Brandt,
confirmed Rascher’s belief that Poles and Russians were beyond the pale
and should be given no amnesty of any kind. (_1971-E-PS._)
The utter brutality of the crimes committed in conducting this series of
experiments is reflected in all the documents. A report written in May
1942 reflects that certain of these tests were carried out on persons
described therein as “Jewish professional criminals.” In fact, these
Jews had been condemned for what the Nazis called “Rassenschande,” which
literally means “racial shame.” The crime consisted of marriage or
intercourse between Aryans and non-Aryans. The murder and torture of
these unfortunate Jews is eloquently reflected in the following report:
“Some of the experimental subjects died during a continued
high-altitude experiment; for instance, after one-half hour at a
height of 12 kilometers. After the skull had been opened under
water, an ample amount of air embolism was found in the brain
vessels and, in part, free air in the brain ventricles.
“In order to find out whether the severe psychic and physical
effects, as mentioned under No. 3, are due to the formation of
embolism, the following was done: After relative recuperation
from such a parachute descending test had taken place, however
before regaining consciousness, some experimental subjects were
kept under water until they died. When the skull and cavities of
the breast and of the abdomen were opened under water, an
enormous amount of air embolism was found in the vessels of the
brain, the coronary vessels, and the vessels of the liver and
the intestines.” (_NO-220._)
The victims who did not die in the course of such experiments, surely
wished that they had. A long report written in July 1942 by Rascher, and
by the defendants Ruff and Romberg, describes an experiment on a former
delicatessen clerk, who was given an oxygen mask and raised in the
chamber to an atmospheric elevation of over 47,000 feet, at which point
the mask was removed and a parachute descent was simulated. The report
describes the victim’s reactions—“spasmodic convulsions,” “agonal
convulsive breathing,” “clonic convulsions, groaning,” “yells aloud,”
“convulses arms and legs,” “grimaces, bites his tongue,” “does not
respond to speech,” “gives the impression of someone who is completely
out of his mind.” (_NO-402._)
The evidence which we will produce will establish that the defendants
Ruff and Romberg personally participated with Rascher in experiments
resulting in death and torture; that the defendant Sievers watched the
experiments for an entire day and made an oral report to Himmler on his
observations; that the defendant Rudolf Brandt was the agent of Himmler
in providing the human subjects for these experiments and in making many
other facilities available to Rascher and rendering him general
assistance; and that the defendant Weltz, in his official capacity,
repeatedly insisted on supervision over and full responsibility and
credit for the experiments. The higher authorities of both the German
Air Force and the SS were fully informed concerning what was going on.
Extensive correspondence will be introduced, for example, concerning the
availability of the low-pressure chamber which the German Air Force
furnished at Dachau, and concerning the availability of Rascher, who was
an officer in the Air Force Medical Service, to conduct the experiments.
Knowledge of, participation in, and responsibility for these atrocious
crimes on the part of the defendants here charged will be clearly shown
by the evidence.