Berlin W8, 19 February 1943
Leipziger Strasse
Phone numbers: [illegible]
Cable address: Reichsluft Berlin
File No. 55 No. 81038/43 (2 IIB)
Reich Leader,
The experiments conducted in Dachau concerning protective measures
against the effects of freezing on the human body by immersion in cold
water have led to results of practical use. They were conducted by the
Stabsaerzte [Captains] of the Luftwaffe, Professor Dr. Holzloehner, Dr.
Fink, and Dr. Rascher in cooperation with the SS, and are now finished.
The results were reported upon by those who worked on them during a
conference on medical problems arising from distress at sea and winter
hardships, on 26 and 27 October 1942, at Nuernberg. The detailed report
on the conference is at present in state of preparation.
I thank you most gratefully for the great assistance that the
cooperation of the SS has meant for us in conducting the experiments,
and beg you to express our thanks, too, to the commander of the Dachau
camp.
Heil Hitler!
[Signature] PROF. DR. HIPPKE
2 [?] Feb 1943
1509/43
RF
[stamp illegible]
[figures 1509/43 handwritten]
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1580-PS
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 107
LETTER FROM HIMMLER TO RASCHER, 26 FEBRUARY 1943, ON
FREEZING EXPERIMENTS IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS
AUSCHWITZ AND LUBLIN
The Reich Leader SS
1516/43
26 February 1943
Secret
Dear Rascher,
Best thanks for your letter of 17 February[29] with report on warming-up
experiments. I agree to experiments being made at Auschwitz or Lublin,
although I believe that the time for the cooling-off and warming-up
tests under natural conditions of cold weather has nearly passed for
this winter.
I am sending this letter at the same time to SS Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl,
whom I request to order the execution of your experiments at Lublin or
Auschwitz.
Kind greetings and
Heil Hitler!
Yours
[Signed] H. HIMMLER
2. SS Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl
Transmitted with request to take note and to take the necessary steps.
By order,
[Signature (illegible)]
SS Obersturmbannfuehrer
PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-292
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 111
LETTER FROM RASCHER TO RUDOLF BRANDT, 4 APRIL 1943,
REPORTING ON DRY-FREEZING EXPERIMENTS IN DACHAU
Dr. med. Sigmund Rascher
[4 April 1943]
To Herr Oberregierungsrat SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. R. Brandt
Berlin SW 11, Prinz Albrecht Strasse 8
Much esteemed Obersturmbannfuehrer!
* * * * *
The question of the saving of people frozen in the open air has in the
meantime been cleared up, since, thank goodness, there was once again a
period of heavy frost weather in Dachau. Certain people were in the open
air for 14 hours at -6° C., reached an internal temperature of 25° C.
with peripheral freezings, and were _all_ able to be saved by a hot
bath. As I said: it is easy to contradict! But before someone does so,
he should come and see for himself. Moreover, a report about freezing in
the open air will be sent to the Reich Leader in the next few days.
With best wishes,
Heil Hitler!
Yours gratefully,
[Signature] S. RASCHER
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-322
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 114
LETTER FROM RASCHER TO KEINDL, 28 APRIL 1943, ABOUT PREVIOUS FREEZING
EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED AT SACHSENHAUSEN
Dr. med. S. Rascher, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer
Personal Staff Leader SS
Division (Abteilung) Chief at the Institute for Military
Scientific Research
Office A (Amt A)