Dear Obergruppenfuehrer!
I want to inform you about my talks with SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr.
Ploetner and Chief Physician Beiglboeck in Dachau on 20 July. There will
be employed: 1 person in charge, 3 medical chemists, 1 female assistant,
3 ranks for supervision. Prospective time: 3 weeks. In our research
station only the 40 experimental persons can be accommodated, otherwise
there is absolutely insufficient room since the Ploetner section is
fully occupied and work cannot be interrupted. Our laboratory is
insufficiently equipped, since some essential equipment is wanting. In
spite of serious difficulties, the following agreement was arrived at:
1. In the Ploetner section a desk will be reserved (in the laboratory).
2. The remaining rooms will be placed at our disposal in our
Entomological Institute for a period of 3 weeks. Equipment needed must
be provided by the Luftwaffe. Thus it will be assured that the female
assistants can work in Dachau too, because the Entomological Institute
is located outside the concentration camp. 3. Billet must be arranged
between Chief Physician Dr. Beiglboeck and the commandant’s office,
since we have no billets at our disposal. 4. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr.
Ploetner will give his assistance, help, and advice. He was, however,
not selected for internal guidance, because this is being done by the
Luftwaffe physicians themselves.
The experiments are to begin on July 23 if experimental persons are
available by then and the camp commandant is in possession of the
required order of the Reich Leader SS. Dr. Beiglboeck himself wanted to
get in touch with SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Frowein, Adjutant of the Reich
Physician SS, on this subject.
I hope that this arrangement may permit a successful conduct of the
experiments. When the results are reported at the proper time, please
arrange to point out the participation and assistance of the Reich
Leader SS.
With best regards and
Heil Hitler!
[Signature] SIEVERS
SS Standartenfuehrer
PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF BECKER-FREYSENG DOCUMENT 42 BECKER-FREYSENG
DEFENSE EXHIBIT 29
AFFIDAVIT OF DR. LUDWIG HARRIEHAUSEN, 9 JANUARY 1947, REGARDING USE OF
PATIENTS IN SEA-WATER EXPERIMENTS
* * * * *
Dr. Schroeder, as my superior, often visited the hospitals in my charge,
especially the Luftwaffe hospital in Brunswick of which I had been
medical superintendent since 1942.
* * * * *
I recall very well that I was once asked whether it would be possible to
carry out control experiments with sea-water, made drinkable by various
methods, on patients suffering from minor complaints and the slightly
wounded in the Luftwaffe hospital in Brunswick which was under my
supervision. Whether Professor Dr. Schroeder or one of his
representatives put this question to me, and at what exact time, I
cannot recall exactly. It could have been in June 1944. I had to refuse
the undertaking of such experiments, as I had strict orders to send all
patients and wounded who could be released back to the troops; thus I
did not have at my disposal hospital inmates suitable for these
experiments. Furthermore, the hospital was overcrowded at this time and
was, therefore, not suitable for scientific experiments. I can also
recall clearly that, at a later time, I again spoke to Professor Dr.
Schroeder about this matter, and that he expressed his regret on this
occasion that these experiments could not be carried out in the
Luftwaffe hospital in Brunswick which was under my direction.
* * * * *
EXTRACTS FROM THE TESTIMONY OF PROSECUTION WITNESS KARL
HOELLENRAINER[51]
_DIRECT EXAMINATION_
* * * * *
MR. HARDY: Now, Witness, for what reasons were you arrested by the
Gestapo on 29 May 1944?
WITNESS HOELLENRAINER: Because I am a gypsy of mixed blood.
Q. And after your arrest you were sent to the Auschwitz concentration
camp?
A. Yes.
Q. How long did you remain in Auschwitz?
A. About 4 weeks.
Q. And then where were you placed?
A. I was sent to Buchenwald.
Q. How long did you stay in Buchenwald?
A. I only stayed there for a few days.
Q. And then what happened to you?
A. I was in Buchenwald, and suddenly our numbers were called. Forty men
were called out, including me, and we were told that we were going to
Dachau to work. As soon as we arrived at Dachau we were put in a
quarantine block. One day an SS man came and wrote down our numbers, and
then we were X-rayed. Afterwards they sent us to the surgical department
of a certain Luftwaffe doctor. I am afraid I can’t remember the
physician’s name. I know that he was in the Luftwaffe and that he was an
Austrian. He examined all of us, and then we were divided into groups
for a sea-water experiment.
Q. Just a moment, Witness. I now want to ask you some brief questions
concerning what you have just told us. You state that you went to Dachau
to work. Did you consider going to Dachau to be good fortune?
A. Yes; a friend of mine, a gypsy, had already been to Dachau, and he
told me that the situation was much better and that we would get better
food. But that was not the case.
Q. Well, did you understand what you were to do when you went to Dachau,
what type of work was it, bomb disposal or removal?
A. Yes. We went there to work.
Q. Did you understand that you were going to Dachau to volunteer for
sea-water experiments?
A. No, never.
Q. Now, upon arrival in Dachau you then went to the quarantine block, is
that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. You stayed there for a day or two and were given a physical
examination?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you also get an X-ray examination?
A. Yes.
Q. And then you were transferred to the experimental block?
A. Yes.
Q. And there you met a professor or a doctor?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you think you would be able to recognize that doctor if you saw
him today?
A. Yes, immediately. I would recognize him at once.
Q. Would you kindly stand up from your witness chair, take your
earphones off, and proceed over to the defendants’ dock, and see if you
can recognize the professor that you met at Dachau?
(Witness leaves the stand.)
Q. Walk right over, please.
(Witness attempts assault on the defendant Beiglboeck.)
MR. HARDY: The prosecution apologizes for the conduct of the witness,
your Honors. Due to the manner of this examination, the prosecution will
have no further questions, your Honors.
PRESIDING JUDGE BEALS: The marshal will keep the witness guarded before
the Tribunal.
DR. STEINBAUER (counsel for the defendant Beiglboeck): I have no
questions to put to the witness.
PRESIDING JUDGE BEALS: Will the marshal bring the witness before the bar
of this Court? Will an interpreter come up here who can translate to the
witness?
Witness, you were summoned before this Tribunal as a witness to give
evidence.
WITNESS HOELLENRAINER: Yes.
Q. This is a court of justice.
A. Yes.
Q. And by your conduct in attempting to assault the defendant Beiglboeck
in the dock, you have committed a contempt of this Court.
A. Your Honors, please excuse my conduct. I am very excited.
Q. Ask the witness if he has anything else to say in extenuation of his
conduct.
A. Your Honors, please excuse me. I am so worked up. That man is a
murderer. He has ruined my whole life.
Q. Your statements afford no extenuation of your conduct. You have
committed a contempt in the presence of the Court, and it is the
judgment of this Tribunal that you be confined in the Nuernberg prison
for the period of 90 days as punishment for the contempt which you have
exhibited before this Tribunal.
A. Would the Tribunal please forgive me. I am married and I have a small
son. This man is a murderer. He gave me salt water and he performed a
liver puncture on me. I am still under medical treatment. Please do not
send me to prison.
Q. That is no extenuation. The contempt before this Court must be
punished. People must understand that a court is not to be treated in
that manner. Will the marshal call a guard and remove the prisoner to
serve the sentence which this Court has inflicted for contempt? It is
understood that the defendant is not to be confined at labor. He is
simply to be confined in the prison, having committed a contempt in open
court by attempting to assault one of the defendants in the dock.
MR. HARDY: At this time, your Honor, the prosecution will request a
brief recess, if your Honors please.
PRESIDING JUDGE BEALS: Very well, the Tribunal will be in recess for a
moment.
(A recess was taken.)
* * * * *