“O. U., 2 December 1943
“To Standartenfuehrer Dr. Mrugowsky,
“Head of the Hygiene Institute of the Waffen SS
“Berlin-Zehlendorf 6
“Spanische Allee 10
“Dear Herr Mrugowsky:
“At present I have at my disposal a number of samples of a new murine
virus typhus vaccine which was prepared from mice livers and proved in
animal experiments to be quantitatively a thousand times more effective
than the vaccine prepared from mice lungs. In order to decide whether
this first-rate murine vaccine should be used for protective vaccination
of human beings against lice typhus, it would be desirable to know if
this vaccine showed in yours and Ding’s experimental arrangement at
Buchenwald an effect similar to that of the classic virus vaccines.
Would you be able to have such an experimental series carried out?
Unfortunately, I could not reach you over the phone. Considering the
slowness of postal communications I would be grateful for an answer by
telephone. My numbers, all of which go through the same switchboard,
are: Berlin 278313; Rapid Exchange Berlin 90, Zossen 559; Luftwaffe
Exchange 72, there you ask for RLM, L In 14.
“With best regards
“Heil Hitler!
“Yours
“Rose”
The signature which you see on this photostatic copy is, in effect, my
signature. This letter shows that I also informed Mrugowsky about the
Copenhagen vaccine, which I did not remember up to this point.
Q. And you asked him to test the vaccine in Buchenwald didn’t you?
A. The question of whether this vaccine can be tested in Buchenwald is
dealt with here.
Q. Do you see the name “Ding” written at the bottom of the letter?
A. Yes, it is at the bottom of the page.
Q. And it appears that the testimony of Kogon was very precise, wasn’t
it, because Ding got a copy of this letter, didn’t he?
A. Yes. Ding’s utterances do not only refer to my memorandum but also to
the correspondence between Mrugowsky and myself. Apparently it was then
transferred to the Reichsarzt SS.
Q. Is the date on this letter 2 December 1943 or 12 February 1943—and I
direct your attention to the receipt stamp on the letter which is 21
February 1944?
A. The difference between the two dates can be explained by the fact
that a considerable time had elapsed between the sending of my letter
and when this letter finally reached Ding. During this time the
competent agency dealt with the matter of the approval and execution of
the experiments on human beings.
Q. So you maintain that 2 December 1943 is the correct date on the
letter?
A. Certainly. That is certainly the correct date.
Q. On the basis of the two letters which I have exhibited to you, you
will concede that the Ding diary was precisely accurate in what it said,
won’t you?
A. No, one can’t conclude that just like that. The order to carry out
experiments in Buchenwald could not be issued by me in any way.