_CROSS-EXAMINATION_
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MR. MCHANEY: When did you first learn that Haagen was conducting
experiments on concentration camp inmates?
DEFENDANT ROSE: That Haagen was performing experiments on concentration
camp inmates? I don’t believe that even today, but I knew that he
carried out vaccinations in concentration camps. I cannot remember when
I first learned of it—probably in 1943.
Q. Well, you remember the letter in December 1943?
A. I certainly must have known it by then because there I refer to it.
Q. Well, did you know about this sordid occasion when Haagen had 18 men
who had been assigned to him die on transport?
A. I never learned anything about that at the time. I found it out from
the files. I never knew that prisoners were especially taken to these
concentration camps in order to be vaccinated.
Q. What would you have done if you had known about it? Wouldn’t that
have given you an indication that maybe things were not so nice in the
concentration camp, or maybe proper care wasn’t being taken of the
inmates in these experiments?
A. If I had learned anything about it I probably would have reacted
exactly as Haagen did. The documents he wrote to the SS office prove
that one cannot conduct any experiments of any consequence on such
unfortunate people. The record is in the documents here. If I had
learned about it, I would probably have reacted in exactly the same way,
perhaps more violently.
Q. Well, I should have hoped so.
A. I beg your pardon. I didn’t understand you.
Q. I should have hoped you would have reacted somewhat more violently
than Haagen apparently did.
A. That is possible. Our temperaments are different.
Q. You recall Fraeulein Eyer testified that Haagen sent reports every
three months to the Medical Inspector of the Luftwaffe. Do you agree to
that testimony?
A. I heard the testimony. Yesterday in my direct examination I commented
on it. If Haagen had reported every three months I certainly wouldn’t
have forgotten it. I had many things on my mind during the war, but such
an exemplary condition of reporting would certainly have impressed
itself on my memory. It is quite out of the question that the Medical
Inspectorate received a report from Haagen every 3 months. I said
yesterday that I consider Fraeulein Eyer’s testimony quite credible,
because in view of the number of offices with which Haagen was in
connection, and from which he received reports, there were so many
reports and accounts necessary that it is a marvel that Fraeulein Eyer
didn’t say she had to write a report every month. I explained with the
aid of the documents what obligation to report is apparent from the
documents alone. You probably haven’t had an opportunity to read the
record yet, but as soon as the record is ready you will be able to see
that. I don’t think there is any purpose in holding up the proceedings
with that any further.
Q. And you are quite clear that Haagen never suggested to you that he
was going to carry out infection experiments with typhus after
vaccination?
A. That is not known to me.
Q. Let’s have a look at Document NO-1059. This will be marked as
Prosecution Exhibit 490 for identification. Now, will you please read
this letter in a loud and resonant voice?
A. Perhaps I may see the photostat.
Q. Will you read the letter aloud, please?