Fuehrer Decree of 25 August 1944, Concerning the Appointment of a Reich
Commissioner for Medical and Health Services
I hereby appoint the General Commissioner for Medical and Health
matters, Professor Dr. Brandt, Reich Commissioner for Sanitation and
Health [Reich Commissioner for Medical and Health Services] as well, for
the duration of this war. In this capacity his office ranks as highest
Reich Authority.
The Reich Commissioner for Medical and Health Services is authorized to
issue instructions to the offices and organizations of the State, Party,
and Wehrmacht which are concerned with the problems of the medical and
health services.
Fuehrer Headquarters, 25 August 1944
The Fuehrer
ADOLF HITLER
The Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery
DR. LAMMERS
The Head of the Party Chancellery
M. BORMANN
The Chief of the OKW
KEITEL
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-227
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT II
FUEHRER DECREE OF 7 AUGUST 1944, CONCERNING THE REORGANIZATION OF THE
MEDICAL SERVICES OF THE WEHRMACHT
Copy
The Fuehrer
and
Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht
Fuehrer Headquarters, 7 August 1944
Chief of the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht [Chief OKW]
Ops. Staff of the Wehrmacht (WFSt)
Org. (I) No. 5008/44g
To obtain a better concentration of powers in the field of the Medical
Service of the Wehrmacht, I order in extension of my decree of 28 July
1942:
1. The Chief of the Medical Service of the Wehrmacht will direct, as far
as the special field is concerned, the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht
and the organizations and services installed within the framework of the
Wehrmacht. He is authorized to issue orders, within the special field of
his jurisdiction.
2. I approve the service regulation for the Chief of the Medical
Services of the Wehrmacht issued by the Chief of the Supreme Command of
the Wehrmacht. It will replace the one of 28 July 1942, which was in
effect up to now.
3. The personal union of the Chief of Medical Services of the Wehrmacht
and the Chief of the Medical Service of the Army/Army Physician
[Heeressanitaetsinspekteur/Heeresarzt] is herewith cancelled as of
September 1944.
[Signed] ADOLF HITLER
The Chief of the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht
Reference No. 5008/44 secret
Fuehrer Headquarters, 7 August 1944
SERVICE REGULATION
for the Chief of the Medical Services of the
Wehrmacht[15] [Chef W San]
I
Subordination and Powers
1. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will be directly
under the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht. He will have
the position of an office chief [Amtschef] and the disciplinary power
according to paragraph 18 of the Wehrmacht Regulation for Disciplinary
Action (WDSTO) and the other powers of a Commanding General.
2. He has authority according to No. 1 of the Fuehrer Decree over the
following:
_a._ The Chief of the Army Medical Service, the Chief of the Navy
Medical Service, the Chief of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe, the
Chief of the Medical Service of the Waffen SS, and the medical chiefs of
the organizations and services employed within the framework of the
Wehrmacht while they are acting in the area of command of the Wehrmacht.
_b._ All scientific medical institutes, academies, and other medical
institutions of the services of the Wehrmacht and of the Waffen SS.
II
Duties
1. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht is the adviser of
the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht in all questions
concerning the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht and of its health
guidance,
2. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will direct all
the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht[16] as far as the special field is
concerned, with regard for the military instructions of the Chief of the
Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and the general rules of the
Fuehrer’s Commissioner General for the Medical and Health Departments.
[page 2 of original]
3. The Chief of the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht will inform the
Fuehrer’s Commissioner General about basic events in the field of the
Medical Services of the Wehrmacht.
He will represent the Wehrmacht to the civilian authorities in all
mutual medical affairs and he will protect their interests in connection
with the health measures of the civilian administrative authorities.
He will represent the Medical Services of the Wehrmacht to the medical
services of foreign powers.
4. Other duties of the Chief of the Medical Service of the Wehrmacht
will be:
_a. In the medical-scientific field_:
Uniform measures in the field of health guidance, research and the
combating of epidemics, and all medical measures which require a uniform
ruling within the Wehrmacht. Evaluation of medical experiences.
Medical matters of the recruiting system, of welfare and maintenance and
of prisoners of war.
The presidency of the Scientific Senate of the Medical Services of the
Wehrmacht.
_b. In the organization and training system_:
Uniform and planned direction of the allocation of persons and material.
Unification of the tables of organization and the tables of equipment of
the medical troops and the equal provision of the forces with medical
personnel.[17]