Affidavit by Kirchert. According to this there was general
cessation in the summer of 1941. (_Karl Brandt 18, Karl Brandt
Ex. 15._)
Affidavit by Asam-Bruckmueller. (_3865-PS, Pros. Ex. 365._)
According to this euthanasia was also discontinued in Ansbach.
Affidavit by Jordans. (_3882-PS, Pros. Ex. 371._) Hereby
euthanasia was also discontinued in other institutions in 1942.
(The statements regarding date of cessation may be erroneous inasmuch as
they were made long after the end of 1941. It is also possible that in
spite of the order to cease, some places still carried on upon the
instruction of the local authorities.)
A new purpose for euthanasia is presented, which begins after the
cessation. The motive is no longer medical and also has no more
connection with the authorization.
Letter from Liebehenschel to the concentration camp of
Gross-Rosen of 12 December 1941 on the discharge of prisoners.
(_1151-PS, Pros. Ex. 411._)
Correspondence of Mennecke. (_NO-907, Pros. Ex. 412._) Therein a
report is made about the cooperation of a new group, concerned
with extermination. Under the date of 15 June 1942 Mennecke
speaks about the “re-commencement” of euthanasia.
Statement of Brack. The witness reports of Bouhler’s worry that
before requesting the euthanasia commission on 1 September 1939,
Bormann and other powers might wish to use the opportunity and
he feared they might abuse it (wild euthanasia).
_Legal foundations._ Karl Brandt is not acquainted with the legal
foundation for such proceedings after expiration of the authorization of
1 September 1939. After the cessation of euthanasia in August 1941, the
powers held on the basis of the authorization of 1 September 1939 could
no longer be exercised.
Statement of Karl Brandt. (_Tr. p. 2421._) According to this,
Karl Brandt, in 1944 learned of two cases in Saxony and of one
in Pomerania where euthanasia was carried out. He forwarded this
report to Hitler, Bormann, and Bouhler because he felt that
within Bormann’s sphere extremists were at work.
_Organization._ The old organization was abandoned or considerably
reduced. (Compare the indictment of the Hadamar Case[107] regarding the
liquidation office.)
The physicians were dismissed in August 1941 from the Office,
Tiergartenstrasse 4.
Letter from Brack to Himmler of 23 June 1942. (_NO-205, Pros.
Ex. 163._) Here he refers to the former transfer of personnel
and once more offers people from the remaining personnel.
It seems that the organization was now under the influence of Himmler.
Karl Brandt was eliminated by the cessation in 1941.
Affidavit of Beringer. (_NO-808, Pros. Ex. 425._) The witness
says, “it was an open secret in the Gau that Mennecke was
charged by _Himmler_ to search the mental institutions of
Germany for insane persons.”
_Activity of the former organization._ Registration sheet.
Letter of the Reich Ministry of the Interior of 1 August 1940.
(_3871-PS, Pros. Ex. 359._) According to this all sick persons
are now to be reported. The letter is addressed to the private
clinic of Hertz at Bonn.
Testimony of Mennecke. (_Tr. p. 1902._) According to this, the
program was not resumed again in its original form.
Some of the experts had retired.
The killing no longer took place by carbon monoxide but by other means
and by other methods.
In part the dead were not burned anymore but buried (as at Hadamar).
_Elimination in the Concentration Camps_
_Position taken in the indictment_
* * * * *
_Position of the defense_
Motive is not reconcilable with medical authorization; this does not
allow euthanasia for political or economic reasons.
Testimony of Mennecke. (_Tr. p. 1913._) The witness explains
that the execution was a complete breach of the directive at the
start of euthanasia. “At least it had nothing to do with the
euthanasia of lunatics.”
Testimony of Karl Brandt.
_Time._
Testimony of Mennecke. (_Tr. p. 1933._) According to this Brack
spoke of undertaking an examination in the KL [concentration
camp] Oranienburg for the first time in the summer of 1940.
Testimony of Roemhild. (_Tr. p. 1659._) The witness says that a
second action 14 f 13 started in 1943 (therefore an independent
action after the suspension of 1941). From that the independent
character of the “first action 14 f 13” must be concluded, and
it is to be assumed that it was ordered by the Reich Criminal
Police Office, Berlin, as was the second action 14 f 13.
According to the testimony of Mennecke (_Tr. p. 1914_), Action
14 f 13 did not start with the first visit in 1940, but at first
it was only an expert opinion according to medical points of
view. In 1940 prisoners were examined by him in the
concentration camp Buchenwald and registration forms filled out.
At that time the examination extended to phychoses and
psychopathy.
Affidavit of Muthig. According to this a transport went from
Dachau to Mauthausen in December 1941 after examination by
Heyde. (_NO-2799, Pros. Ex. 497._)
_Order._ There were two parallel orders:
The order of the office of Bouhler in accordance with the Euthanasia
Program, according to which from 1940 on the lunatics in the
concentration camps were examined according to the directions.
Testimony of Mennecke. (_Tr. p. 1935._) According to this, the
order to visit the concentration camps was issued in the summer
of 1940.
The order of Himmler to submit to the special treatment of action 14 f
13, or to kill undesirable prisoners, regardless of these examinations.
Letter of 10 December 1941 regarding the special action 14 f 13.
(_1151-PS, Pros. Ex. 411._)
Affidavit of Hoven. Order by Himmler was at hand for the
execution of these actions. (_NO-429, Pros. Ex. 281._) Further
testimony of Hoven.
Report of Dr. Morgen in the proceedings against Hoven: “The
right to decide about the life or death of prisoners in the
concentration camps is assigned to the Reich Leader SS
_Himmler_.” (_NO-2366, Pros. Ex. 526._)
_Organization._ Two organizations working side by side have to be
distinguished: (1) Organization for the selection of real lunatics
according to the authorization of 1 December 1939. Here the organization
of Bouhler is active up to summer 1941 within the framework of the
former directives. (2) Organization for extermination contrary to the
former directives, exclusively by Himmler and the Reich Security Main
Office.