To the Commander of the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp,
SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Keindl
Sachsenhausen, near Oranienburg
Obersturmbannfuehrer!
By order of the Reich Leader SS, I have been conducting freezing
experiments on human beings in the Dachau concentration camp for more
than a year. Today I learned from an experimental subject that I was not
the only one conducting these experiments, but that, on the contrary,
already in October and November 1938, similar experiments were conducted
in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr.
Samenstrang is said to have frozen experimental subjects—that is
prisoners—in cold water, and subsequently revived them by means of warm
water or hot compresses. As I was to work out and have worked out a
prescription for the Waffen SS for the resuscitation of frozen persons
(for the campaign in the East), knowledge of all preliminary experiments
in my field of work is of great importance for me.
I therefore request that if possible you let me know what kind of
experiments were conducted in your camp, and, if possible, what results
were obtained in connection with these experiments.
As you might not know anything about me, please make inquiries about me,
if necessary, either at the Personal Staff of the Reich Leader SS
(Obersturmbannfuehrer Baumert) or from the Commander of the Dachau
concentration camp, SS Sturmbannfuehrer Weiss.
Yours sincerely
Heil Hitler!
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-231
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 116
LETTER FROM RASCHER TO SIEVERS, 17 MAY 1943, CONCERNING,
A CONFERENCE WITH GEBHARDT ON FREEZING EXPERIMENTS
Copy
By Messenger!
Dr. med. Rascher, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer
Dachau 3K, 17 May 1943
To: Reich Business Manager of the Ahnenerbe Society
Attn: SS Standartenfuehrer Sievers
Berlin-Dahlem, 16 Pueckler Street
Dear Standartenfuehrer!
The following contains a short account of my report to SS Gruppenfuehrer
Dr. Gebhardt.
On 14 May 1943, I reported to SS Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. Gebhardt at
Hohenlychen. I had hardly arrived, when SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Gebhardt
asked me in a very loud voice to explain how I dared to submit
specialist medical reports directly to the Reich Leader SS (he was
referring to the treatise on “The Cooling of Human Beings Outdoors”). I
actually did not even get a chance to speak and practically couldn’t
reply anything. Then, when I tried to reply, Prof. Dr. Gebhardt said
that if I wanted to defy him, my train would be leaving for Berlin at 3
o’clock. When I was finally given the opportunity to speak I was able to
point out to Prof. Dr. Gebhardt that the report in question was not
meant to be a strictly scientific work, but simply was a short
information for the Reich Leader SS on the results of the experiments
conducted up to now. Dr. Gebhardt had taken the view that the report was
unscientific, and if a student of the second term dared to submit a
treatise of that kind, he would throw him out. Later on I was able to
tell him that of course all the physiological-chemical experiments that
could be carried out in Dachau with the available instruments had indeed
been conducted. Whereupon Dr. Gebhardt replied: “I can imagine that you
did a lot of work; one can tell it from this job. If I had not believed
that you did a lot of work, I would not have asked you to come at all.”
In addition Dr. Gebhardt said that he intended to merge all the groups
of physicians working independently within the SS, since that would suit
the Reich Leader SS much better than individual people working on their
own. Besides that, he said that I somehow ought to learn university
methods of working since very likely I did not yet have the proper
training. He suggested that it was necessary for me to get out of Dachau
since there I was quite left to myself and had no guidance whatsoever;
that since I intended to enter upon a university career, I would by all
means have to complete the training of a university assistant first. He
further said that all those SS physicians, who are qualified to enter
upon a university career, had the duty to do so. Upon my reply that for
that reason I was already in touch with Professor Pfannenstiel,
Professor Gebhardt replied that these matters ought to be processed by a
centralized agency. In future it would not do that I send any reports
directly to the Reich Leader SS, but that further reports to serve their
purpose would have to be transmitted through him to the Reich Leader. If
the report had reached a suitable stage, he would first inform the Reich
Leader SS, and then go to see the Reich Leader SS together with me.
Finally Dr. Gebhardt asked me to give him data on my personal and
scientific career to enable him to make further arrangements. He
requested me to call again in the afternoon.
When I called in the afternoon, I was, as in the morning, accompanied by
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Fischer. This time Dr. Gebhardt was extremely
amiable. He asked me whether I now agreed with his arrangements; it
would be by far the best I could do, if I joined him. I should not
worry, but just continue my work in Dachau, until I had finished my
jobs. Later, one would see what was to be done for the future. Upon my
question, what it was all about, and who was my superior, whether the
Reichsarzt SS, SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Grawitz, who had come for an
inspection several days ago, the Reich Leader SS, as he personally had
promised me, or the Ahnenerbe, of which I had been a member for years,
Dr. Gebhardt suggested that all that will be straightened out. Just
trust it to me. But I’ll need your curriculum vitae soon, since I have
to report to the Reich Leader SS on 23 May.
May I ask you, Standartenfuehrer, under whom I am actually working?
Under the Reich Leader SS, the Ahnenerbe, the Reich Physician SS or Dr.
Gebhardt? Dr. Gebhardt has already asked me why I am not a member of the
Waffen SS. Upon my answer that Dr. Hippke does not like to let me go, he
declared that I was too able for him to let me go. Standartenfuehrer! If
the same tug of war starts in the Waffen SS as has been going on between
Luftwaffe and the SS, I’d rather do without a transfer to the Waffen SS.
I was promised that I would continue to work under the Reich Leader SS
or under the Ahnenerbe. But I cannot serve several masters at the same
time. Of course I am convinced that SS Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. Gebhardt
has the best of intentions. His assistants are enthusiastic about him.
If I am compelled to ask Prof. Dr. Gebhardt’s advice each time I am
going to start a new experiment, I will get so much involved in the
academic routine that I won’t even be allowed to experiment with such a
method as rapid resuscitation which overthrows all the established
clinical experiences because the results contradict Prof. Dr. Gebhardt’s
methods which are based upon centuries-old clinical experiences. Also
the cooperation with Professor von Luetzelberg would thus come to an
end, as these experiments are from the very start contradictory to the
hitherto recognized clinical experiences. I think, this arrangement
would stop everything that really ought to be experimented.
I pray you with all my heart, Standartenfuehrer, to handle this affair
in such a way that Prof. Dr. Gebhardt, who is a very close friend of the
Reich Leader SS does not become my enemy. I think that Prof. Dr.
Gebhardt can and will be an extremely disagreeable adversary. Before I
get into trouble with him, I would rather resign my job and ask for an
immediate transfer to the Luftwaffe for combat service. I therefore ask
you again to deal with this affair with as much circumspection as it
actually requires, because in addition I am convinced that Prof. Dr.
Gebhardt (apart from his personal ambition) really has good intentions.
* * * * *
Very respectfully yours and
Heil Hitler!
Yours very devotedly
[Signature] S. RASCHER
This is to certify that the above copy is true:
[Signature] SIEVERS
SS Standartenfuehrer.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-432
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 119
LETTER FROM RASCHER TO NEFF, 21 OCTOBER 1943, CONCERNING
DRY-FREEZING EXPERIMENTS
Dr. S. Rascher
Dachau, 21 October 1943
To
Police-Rottwachtmeister Walter Neff
Police Training Battalion I
Dresden-Hellerau
Dear Neff:
Your letter dated 11.10 reached me here on 15.10. First of all many
thanks for your decision to write such a detailed letter. I really was
very pleased about it. To come right away to the affair concerned: I am
very sorry to hear that you are being bullied, especially as there
exists no reason at all for it. Please let me know the name, rank, and
address of your commanding officer because I most certainly will take
the matter up. There is no purpose at all in your getting stuck there.
Finally I too know how the general condition of your health had been,
when you were still here, and I also am able to judge that you cannot go
through heavy infantry training. I am glad that you have become
accustomed to the ideals of the place and I am convinced that you would
be glad to go to the front. But on the other hand, I believe that I need
you more urgently than you are needed at the front. As a matter of fact
I need you for the following: _From the Reich Research Council_
[Reichsforschungsrat] I got the order to carry out open country freezing
experiments and I think they will take place on the Sudelfeld. Now I
need urgently a most reliable man, acquainted with the material, and
that is you in this case. During the next few days I will go with
Sievers to the Fuehrer’s Headquarters [Fuehrerhauptquartier], and report
there in this sense, and will let you know immediately.
* * * * *
I expect your notice soon, and remain until then with sincerest
comradely regards,
Your old chief,
[Initialed] R.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-690
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 120
LIST OF RESEARCH PROJECTS FROM THE FILES OF THE
REICH RESEARCH COUNCIL