“N. d. H. M.”
[Lightly penciled notation, meaning copy for the Minister.]
“Wet 25/10” [in ink]
PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT KARL
BRANDT 18
KARL BRANDT DEFENSE EXHIBIT 15
EXTRACTS FROM THE AFFIDAVIT OF DR. WERNER KIRCHERT, 29 JANUARY 1947,
STATING THAT KARL BRANDT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE EUTHANASIA PROGRAM
* * * * *
As a former medical officer of the Waffen SS, I had in 1939 a clinical
assignment as medical assistant in the University Clinic of the Charité
in Berlin. In September 1939 Reich Physician SS Dr. Grawitz summoned me
and asked me to make a list of the German lunatic asylums and the number
of their inmates, based on the data in the Reich medical calendar. The
reason, I was told, was the fact that, due to the evacuation of the West
Wall zone, the inmates had to be transferred to other asylums. After I
had finished compiling the list and had handed it in, Grawitz sent me to
Dr. Hevelmann at the Chancellery of the Fuehrer. There I learned that it
was actually a matter of _euthanasia_ of the insane, and that the
transfer was only a pretext. It was pointed out to me that it was on
direct orders from the Fuehrer and that Reichsleiter Bouhler had been
instructed to carry it out.
* * * * *
At first, three institutions in different parts of Germany were
mentioned. The insane people who were to come under the program were to
be selected, and Heyde, as chief expert, reserved the final decision for
himself. Everything was to be based on strictly medical views and only
such persons were to be selected who in a psychiatric sense could be
called “siech” (incurably ill).
* * * * *
During all the negotiations the names which were mentioned of the
persons who took part were Grawitz, Hevelmann, Heyde, Blankenburg,
Brack, and Bouhler. Not a single word was said about Dr. Karl Brandt.
Everything at that time was still in the early stages.
Later the problem arose again, when I was department head with Reich
Health Leader Dr. Conti; that was at the end of the summer of 1941 when
the Fuehrer’s order came that _euthanasia_ should be stopped. But here
too the name of Professor Dr. Karl Brandt was never mentioned.
* * * * *
TRANSLATION OF KARL BRANDT DOCUMENT 19
KARL BRANDT DEFENSE EXHIBIT 16
AFFIDAVIT OF ALFRED RUEGGEBERG, 23 JANUARY 1947, CONCERNING RADIO
DISCUSSIONS ON EUTHANASIA
I, Alfred Rueggeberg, factory owner in Marienheide, have been told by
the certifying notary that I am liable to punishment if I make a false
statement under oath.
I declare under oath that my statement is true and is being made to be
presented as evidence to the Military Tribunal I, at the Palace of
Justice in Nuernberg, Germany:
In summer 1945 I listened to a BBC broadcast from England, which was an
interview between the English radio commentator (as far as I remember it
was Mr. Robert Graham) and Pastor von Bodelschwingh of Bethel.
In the course of this interview Pastor von Bodelschwingh pointed out
that a number of years ago the place now occupied by the radio
commentator had been occupied by Professor Brandt and Herr Bouhler who,
under Hitler’s orders, were discussing questions on euthanasia.
Questioned by the commentator, Pastor von Bodelschwingh said almost
literally—in any case in effect—the following:
“You must not picture Professor Brandt as a criminal, but rather
as an idealist.”
This radio talk left me under the impression that Pastor Bodelschwingh
did not agree with the nature of Professor Brandt’s activities, yet he
had a favorable opinion of his human qualities.
Gummersbach, 23 January 1947.
[Signed] ALFRED RUEGGEBERG
TRANSLATION OF KARL BRANDT DOCUMENT 23
KARL BRANDT DEFENSE EXHIBIT 19
AFFIDAVIT OF EDUARD WOERMANN, 18 JANUARY 1947. CONCERNING DISCUSSIONS OF
KARL BRANDT AND PASTOR BODELSCHWINGH ON EUTHANASIA
The Director of the Institution Bethel
Dpt. Bethel-office
Bethel, near Bielefeld, 18 January 1947
AFFIDAVIT
I, the undersigned Pastor Eduard Woermann in Bethel near Bielefeld, have
been informed that I am liable to punishment if I should give a false
statement under oath. I hereby affirm the following:
The director of the Bodelschwingh institutions in Bethel near Bielefeld,
Pastor D. Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, who died 4 January 1946, had
several discussions with Professor Dr. Karl Brandt on the question of
“the extirpation of life not worth living”, in February 1941 and during
the following months. Pastor D. Bodelschwingh reported about this only
very discreetly within a very close circle of coworkers, to which I
belonged.