_DIRECT EXAMINATION_
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DR. FLEMMING: Now, I come to the incendiary bomb experiments. Dr. Kogon
during his testimony frequently spoke of an experiment by Dr. Ding with
a phosphorus-caoutchouc incendiary bomb, and he said that you ordered
this experiment.
DEFENDANT MRUGOWSKY: I did not know who ordered this experiment. I found
out about it only from the report which was drawn up after the
experiment had been terminated. This report has been put in evidence
here as a document. From this it can be seen that animal experiments
were also carried out. I assume that these were not performed in Block
46, but in Block 50, which was under my supervision. I went with the
report to Grawitz and asked him if he knew any more about this matter. I
asked him if I was correct in my assumption that some of the experiments
took place in Block 50 and if so, to tell Dr. Ding in future to confine
himself to his Block 46 in such matters, which was directly under
Grawitz. Grawitz answered thereupon that it did not make any difference
one way or the other, and I should not be so fussy. I also know that
after a few weeks Ding was looking for this report and called me up and
asked me if I had it. I no longer had it at that time as I had given it
to Grawitz, and it was in his files where it belonged.
Q. Kogon also testified that the experimental subjects had suffered
serious pain and had incurred wounds from 2 to 2.5 centimeters deep,
which led to the formation of extensive scars. I show you now Document
NO-579, Prosecution Exhibit 288 and ask you to comment on this document
and Dr. Kogon’s testimony?
(The document is handed to the witness.)
A. The first part of this document deals with the rabbit experiments. In
the second part, however, there are pictures of experiments on human
beings. These pictures show the place on the arm where the experiment
was made. Kogon said that this burning was done in such a way that the
mass of phosphorus was burning for quite awhile. The document, however,
proves exactly the contrary. The length of time during which the matter
was burning was not long, but the period between the time when the
mixture was applied and the time it was ignited was long; that is
possibly the reason for this misunderstanding. Moreover in the
description of the individual cases, it can be seen that already on 29
December, in other words four days after the experiment, the burn was
almost healed, or had greatly reduced in size. In one case there was
still an open wound of 0.5 centimeter but there is no mention anywhere
of any deeper wounds, but only of purely superficial epidermal wounds.
There is constant mention of the fact that the wounds healed over nicely
and in some cases the wound was completely healed four days after the
experiments. Wounds 2½ centimeters deep, or large scars could not have
occurred and that testimony of Kogon is false. In this case let me point
out that he was not speaking from his own knowledge. During the first
discussion of these incendiary bomb experiments, he said he had seen the
experimental subjects, and then in the same interrogation he later says
this was not the case. In other words, he is reporting what he has heard
and not what he knows at first hand.
Q. I am submitting to the Tribunal Mrugowsky 56, and it will be
Mrugowsky Exhibit 50. I should like to read from page two:
“Treatment of phosphorus burns with ‘R 17.’
“The dropping of phosphorus incendiary bombs made it necessary
to find an adequate method of treatment. As the copper-sulphate
solution hitherto in use did not give satisfactory results, the
firm of Dr. Madaus in Dresden looked for a different solvent and
produced a liquid carbon tetrachloride which was called ‘R 17.’
The efficacy of R 17 had been proved by means of experiments on
rabbits carried out by the firm of Dr. Madaus.
“After the completion of these rabbit tests, Dr. Madaus asked
the Higher SS and Police Leader von Woyrsch, Dresden, to come
and see the tests. As my emergency office was in the building of
Gruppenfuehrer von Woyrsch, he asked me to accompany him to the
firm of Madaus in my capacity as a doctor and to watch these
tests. That was in the autumn of 1943. At the request of
Gruppenfuehrer von Woyrsch and the firm of Madaus, I reported to
the Reich Physician SS and Police the results achieved by the
firm of Madaus in the treatment of phosphorus burns and
suggested that the drug R 17 be made known to the air-raid
precaution dispensaries. Grawitz promised to have another test
made.
“Some time afterward he sent Dr. Ding to Dresden for this
purpose in his capacity as health expert, and instructed me to
make arrangements for Ding to see the results achieved there, by
the firm of Madaus, with R 17. I arranged this. Ding came to
Dresden and saw the above-mentioned tests in my presence, on the
premises of the Madaus firm. Afterward he declared that, on the
orders of the Reich Physician SS in Buchenwald, he would also
test the efficacy of the drug on rabbits. He requested the firm
of Madaus to put the drug R 17 at his disposal. Immediately
after inspecting the firm of Madaus he left Dresden.
“I also know that Dr. Ding asked the office of the Higher SS and
Police Leader to procure for him the filling of an English
incendiary bomb, which as far as I know was done through the
Commissioner of the Police of Leipzig. Dr. Ding had the drug R
17 and the incendiary bomb collected.
“I also know that Ding made a report on his experiments. I know
this because Dr. Ding asked my office in Dresden several times,
in writing and by telephone, if they had this report, as he
could not find it. It was supposed to be a report with
photographs. I do not know if the report went through my office,
as I was in Dresden only one day a week. At the time when Ding
was looking for the report it was not in my office. I assume,
therefore, that he sent it direct to the firm of Madaus, as they
were interested in the results of his test.
“When, after a considerable time, I still had not heard from the
Reich Physician whether the drug R 17 was to be made known to
the air-raid precaution dispensaries, I asked the Reich
Physician about it at a meeting. He then declared that the drug
would not be introduced, as it only possessed
phosphorus-dissolving properties, but did not directly
contribute to the healing of the burns. However, a drug was in
preparation elsewhere that combined both qualities and this
would be introduced.”
I submit further the last paragraph of Dr. Morgen’s affidavit.
(_Mrugowsky 23, Mrugowsky Ex. 26._) Dr. Morgen says here:
“While I was making observations in Block 46 I paid repeated
surprise visits in order to inspect the running of the Block.
Once, when I paid a surprise visit to Block 46, examinations on
the treatment of wounds caused by phosphorus incendiaries were
being carried out.
“As I arrived a big strong prisoner came into the room laughing.
On each of his two upper arms there were applied on a space
about 1 centimeter wide and 5 centimeters long, some parts of
the contents of a phosphorus incendiary bomb. These spots on
both upper arms were treated with various ointments. During the
discussion with Dr. Ding I was informed that the experimental
persons volunteered for the experiment. They received the diet
for sick persons, a packet of cigarettes, and for one month they
did not have to work. In the case of the inmate whose treatment
I witnessed by chance, I had the definite impression that he was
a volunteer.”
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[71] United States _vs._ Oswald Pohl, et al. See Vol. V.
[72] Complete testimony is recorded in mimeographed transcript, 6, 7, 8
Jan 1947, pp. 1150-1290.
[73] Complete testimony is recorded in mimeographed transcript, 27, 28,
31 March and 2, 3 April 1947, pp. 5000-5244, 5334-5464.