Chapter VII: Extracts From Argumentation and Evidence of Prosecution and Defense (8)

Also in the experiments with _cardiazol_, _coramin_ and _lobeline_ we restricted ourselves primarily to determining whether injurious effects occurred in the case of relatively large doses. Four cc. of 10 percent coramin as well as 2 cc. of 1 percent lobeline were injected intravenously at various stages of recovery without any marked objective and subjective deterioration of the state of the heart, the breathing, and the general condition. But just as with strophanthin, it is impossible to rule out a possible therapeutically favorable effect because of the small number of experiments. We never observed such an effect. Especially the marked deepening of breathing and of the irritability of the trigeminal nerve which usually sets in very suddenly after coramin (for example, sneezing immediately after the injection) were always missing. Contrary to strophanthin, in the case of which we cannot advise against experimentation by intravenous injection under certain conditions, we believe on theoretical grounds that such experiments with _peripheral circulatory drugs_ which may heighten the vessel tonus are not indicated because of the following considerations: The damage to the heart is to be attributed, among other things, to an overloading, which is caused by a blocking of enlarged vessel areas, aside from an increase in viscosity. If the vessel tonus is further increased in the areas which have remained unimpeded, the conditions for the heart are thereby made worse.

The sceptical attitude toward the effect of drugs is strengthened above all by the observation that in the majority of the experiments in which no drugs were given, even the most severe disturbances of the peripheral circulation were reduced remarkably rapidly under intensive heat treatment. In this connection it must be emphasized that besides the recovery of body temperature through heat therapy an unloading of the heart takes place because the blocked areas open up. Contrary to earlier concepts, according to which there was danger of hemorrhage into the periphery during rapid rewarming, and according to which one sought to avoid this hemorrhage by wrapping up the extremities as well as by very slow warming, the “venalous bleeding into the periphery” may be life-saving under some circumstances. An exception, namely, loval pyperacmia after considerable rise in temperature and corresponding reestablishment of circulation has already been described in the reference to the danger in some cases of very prolonged treatment in the light cradle.

The familiar increase of peripheral blood volume as a result of alcohol leads one to expect that very intoxicated persons cool more rapidly. Figure 14[28] shows an experiment from which we may conclude that _actually acceleration of the cooling_ does set in after partaking _liberally of alcohol before the experiment_. It is very remarkable that in such an experiment, _the only exception among all cooling experiments_, irregularity was absent in a cooling to 28.1° C. [82.6° F.]. Even if it was not possible to reproduce this apparent protection against irregularity caused by partaking of alcohol in control experiments on other subjects, there remains the possibility that the distending of the peripheral vessels delays the overloading of the heart, just as on the other hand it increases the speed of cooling.

Our observations contradict the old seafaring custom of pouring _alcohol_ into a person _already cooled_, since, according to these observations the temperature tends, even in slight degrees of cooling, to sink further for a long time after rescue. As long as there is no active supply of heat from outside, the disadvantage of an increased heat loss will reduce the utility of stopping the peripheral vessel blockage. Also in _later stages_ of recovery one must obviously be very careful in giving alcohol; above all, this warning is emphasized by the possibility that one must reckon with a total irregularity after more than an hour, which may go unnoticed by the inexperienced experimenter.

* * * * *

_VIII. Preventive Measures_

* * * * *

_IX. Concerning Life Jackets_ [_Schwimmwesten_]

* * * * *

_X. Summary_

1. The curve of rectal temperature of human beings chilled in water of 2° C. [35.6° F.] to 12° C. [53.6° F.] shows a gradual drop to about 35° C. [95° F.], after which the drop becomes rapid. Death may occur at rectal temperatures below 30° C. [86° F.].

2. Death results from heart failure. The direct damage to the heart becomes evident from the total irregularity observed in all cases, setting in at approximately 30° C. [86° F.]. This cardiac damage is due to overloading of the heart, caused by the marked and regular increase in the viscosity of the blood, as well as by the marked throttling of large peripheral vascular areas; besides, a direct injury to the heart by the cold is also probable.

3. If the neck is also chilled, the lowering of the temperature is more rapid. This is due to interference with the temperature-regulating and vascular centers; cerebral oedema also makes its appearance.

4. The blood sugar rises as the temperature falls, and the blood sugar does not drop again as long as the body temperature continues to fall. This fact suggests an intermediary disturbance of metabolism.

5. Respiration of the chilled subject is rendered difficult due to the rigor of the respiratory musculature.

6. After removal from the cold water, the body temperature may continue to fall for 15 minutes or longer. This may be an explanation of deaths which occur after successful rescue from the sea.

7. Intensive rewarming never injures the severely chilled person.

8. Strophanthin treatment was not observed to have been successful. The question of the use of strophanthin remains open, however. Remedies which influence the peripheral circulation are definitely not advisable.

9. The most effective therapeutic measure is rapid and intensive heat treatment, best applied by immersion in a hot bath.

10. By means of special protective clothing, the survival time after immersion in cold water could be extended to double the survival time of subjects who were immersed without protective clothing.

11. Certain proposals for improvement of life jackets are being made.

Concluded on 10 October 1942.

[Signed] Prof. DR. HOLZLOEHNER
DR. RASCHER
DR. FINKE

* * * * *

_Behavior of the heart action under the influence of medication_

│ │Occurance of │ Therapy │Pulse becomes │ Total │
│ │Irregularity │ │ │ regular │ dura- │
Subj.│Water│ After│ At │ │ At│ After exper. │ tion │
│temp.│exper.│ body│ Mg. │ min.│time & admin. │of ir- │ Remarks
│ [°C]│ time│ temp.│stroph.│[min.]│ strophanthin │ regu- │
│ │[min.]│ [°C]│ │ │ │larity │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
* │ * │ * │ * │ * │ * │ * │ * │ *
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
B. L │ 4│ 55│ 30│0.25 │ 65│ — │ — │Death in
│ │ │ │ mg., │ │ │ │ the
│ │ │ │ 4 cc.│ │ │ │ seventie
│ │ │ │ coram│ │ │ │ th
│ │ │ │ in. │ │ │ │ minute,
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ten
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ minutes
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ after
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ removal
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ from
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ water.
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
L. H │ 4│ 30│ 31.5│0.25 │ 60│ — │ — │Death
│ │ │ │ mg., │ │ │ │ (heart
│ │ │ │ intra│ │ │ │ stopped)
│ │ │ │ cardi│ │ │ │ five
│ │ │ │ al. │ │ │ │ minutes
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ after
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ administ
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ering
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ strophan
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ thin,
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ten
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ minutes
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ after
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ removal
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ from
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ water.
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
V. E │ 5.2│ 60│ 30.3│0.25 │ 68│ — │ — │Death
│ │ │ │ mg., │ │ │ │ (heart
│ │ │ │ heart│ │ │ │ stopped)
│ │ │ │ , │ │ │ │ in the
│ │ │ │ masag│ │ │ │ sixty-si
│ │ │ │ e, │ │ │ │ xth
│ │ │ │ coram│ │ │ │ minute
│ │ │ │ in, │ │ │ │ during
│ │ │ │ cardi│ │ │ │ removal
│ │ │ │ azol,│ │ │ │ from
│ │ │ │ artif│ │ │ │ water.
│ │ │ │ icial│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ respi│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ ratio│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ n. │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
S. M │ 6│ 75│ 31.4│Artific│ 82│ — │ — │Death
│ │ │ │ ial │ │ │ │ (heart
│ │ │ │ respi│ │ │ │ stopped)
│ │ │ │ ratio│ │ │ │ in the
│ │ │ │ n, │ │ │ │ eighty-s
│ │ │ │ cardi│ │ │ │ eventh
│ │ │ │ azol.│ │ │ │ minute,
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ seven
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ minutes
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ after
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ removal
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ from
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ water.
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
L. O │ 4.5│ 30│ 31.2│L. P │ 57│ — │ — │Death
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ (heart
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ stopped)
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ in the
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ sixty-fi
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ fth
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ minute,
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ eight
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ minutes
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ after
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ removal
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ from
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ water.
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │

FIGURE 13.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1609-PS
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 92

LETTER FROM HIMMLER TO RASCHER, 24 OCTOBER 1942, AND NOTE BY RUDOLF
BRANDT

Reich Leader SS Nr 1397/42

Field Command Post, 24 Oct 1942

Dr. Sigmund Rascher Munich, Trogerstr. 56

Top Secret

3 copies
2d copy

Dear Rascher!

I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th and 10th and both notes of 16 October 1942.

I have read your report regarding cooling experiments on humans with great interest. SS Sturmbannfuehrer Sievers should arrange the possibility of evaluation at institutes which are connected with us.

I regard these people as guilty of treason and high treason, who, still today, reject these experiments on humans and would instead let sturdy German soldiers die as a result of these cooling methods. I shall not hesitate to report these men to the offices concerned. I empower you to make my opinion on this known to the offices concerned.

I invite you to a personal conference in November as I cannot make it sooner despite my great interest.

SS Obergruppenfuehrer Wolff will once again get in touch with Field Marshal Milch. You are empowered to make a report to Field Marshal Milch—and, of course, to the Reich Marshal if he has time—concerning those who are not doctors.

I think that covers which have heat packets or something similar sewed in their lining are the best for the warming of those who were stranded at sea and were picked up in boats or small vessels and where there is no possibility of placing these chilled people in a hot bath. I take it for granted that you know these heat packets which we also have in the SS and which were used by the Russians a great deal. They consist of a mass which develops a warmth of 70° to 80° upon addition of water and retains it for hours.

I am very curious as to the experiments with body warmth. I personally take it that these experiments will probably bring the best and lasting results. Naturally, I could be mistaken.

Keep me informed on future findings. Of course we will see each other in November.

Heil Hitler!
Yours
[Signed] H. HIMMLER

2. SS Obergruppenfuehrer Wolff

Sent with request for acknowledgment. I present the report with the request for acknowledgment and return since the Reich Leader SS in Munich wants these copies again.

[Signed] BRANDT
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-323
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 94

MEMORANDUM OF RASCHER ON WOMEN USED FOR REWARMING IN FREEZING
EXPERIMENTS, 5 NOVEMBER 1942

Sigmund Rascher, M. D.

Munich, Trogerstrasse 56, 5 November 1942
Subject: Requested report on concentration camp prostitutes.

For the resuscitation experiments by animal warmth after freezing as ordered by the Reich Leader SS I had four women assigned to me from the women’s concentration camp Ravensbrueck.

One of the assigned women shows unobjectionably Nordic racial characteristics: blond hair, blue eyes, corresponding head and body structure, 21¾ years of age. I asked the girl why she had volunteered for the brothel. I received the answer: “To get out of the concentration camp, for we were promised that all those who would volunteer for the brothel for half a year would then be released from the concentration camp”. To my objection that it was a great shame to volunteer as a prostitute, I was told: “Rather half a year in the brothel than half a year in the concentration camp”. Then followed an account of a number of most peculiar conditions at camp Ravensbrueck. Most of the reported conditions were confirmed by the three other prostitutes and by the female warden who had accompanied them from Ravensbrueck.

It hurts my racial feelings to expose to racially inferior concentration camp elements a girl as a prostitute who has the appearance of a pure Nordic and who could perhaps by assignment of proper work be put on the right road.

Therefore, I refused to use this girl for my experimental purposes and gave the adequate reports to the camp commander and the adjutant of the Reich Leader SS.

[Signature] DR. S. RASCHER

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-320
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 103

LETTER FROM SIEVERS TO BRANDT, 28 JANUARY 1943, AND
RASCHER’S REPORT ON HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH GRAWITZ AND
POPPENDICK

The Ahnenerbe The Reich Business Manager

To the Reich Leader SS Berlin, 28 January 1943 Personal Staff G/R/8 S 1/Sb [illegible shorthand notes]

Attention: SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. R. Brandt Berlin S. W. 11, Prinz Albrecht Str. 8

Secret!

Subject: Research of Dr. Rascher. Dear comrade Brandt!

I submit to you enclosed a documentary note of Dr. Rascher on his discussion with the Reich Physician SS [Reichsarzt SS] of 13 January 1943. I would be much obliged to you if you could advise us as to what attitude we or Dr. Rascher are to take in the future. I am slightly astonished about the course of the discussion, for the orders of the Reich Leader SS were especially to the effect that we—that is the Ahnenerbe—were to take Dr. Rascher’s work under our care. The argument of SS Gruppenfuehrer Grawitz, that it constituted an unbearable situation to have a non-physician give information on medical matters, is not pertinent. I have never claimed to be a judge of medical matters, nor do I consider it as one of my duties. My duty merely consists of smoothing the way for the research men and seeing that the tasks ordered by the Reich Leader SS are carried out in the quickest possible way. On one thing I certainly can form an opinion—that is, on who is doing the quickest job.

If things are to go on in the future as SS Gruppenfuehrer Grawitz desires, I am afraid that Dr. Rascher’s work will not continue to advance as fast and unhampered as hitherto.

With comradely greetings,
Heil Hitler!
Yours
[Signature] SIEVERS

[Stamp]: Personal Staff RF SS / Enclosure Received on: 4th Feb. 1943 1 Journal No: 1786/43

To: RB Please turn!
COPY

_Documentary note_ on discussion Reich Physician SS [Reichsarzt
SS] Dr. Grawitz—SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Poppendick—SS
Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher, 13 January 1943.

RASCHER: Reports on freezing experiments with water and emphasizes that they have been concluded practically, but not in theory.

GRAWITZ: Question about the memorandum. Whether Rascher believes this to be absolutely established for dry freezings, too?

RASCHER: No, a lot of theoretical work is still to be done, primarily many practical experiments have still to be conducted.

GRAWITZ: That is my opinion, too. We cannot distribute a memorandum to the troops, abolishing all former views, if this is not entirely well-founded, as otherwise uncertainties will arise among the troops. I shall write to Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Brandt that I am asking the Reich Leader SS not to distribute the memorandum before a well-founded method of treatment of dry frozen persons has been established.

RASCHER: Very well, that’s why the Reich Leader SS gave me the order of 13 December 1942. But I urgently want to emphasize that the results of the freezing experiments with water have been established and are well-founded.

GRAWITZ: Well, now, this had to be mentioned in the letter to Brandt so that you are not blamed in any way! You see, from my former activities (mention of some hospital) I know so much about metabolism that I am almost a specialist in this field and can help you enormously.

RASCHER: As I understood, Gruppenfuehrer, that’s why I am to turn to your office for glass materials, chemicals, etc.

GRAWITZ: No. Not only for that. You have to turn to me in all medical matters, since after all, I am Reich Physician SS and all medical affairs are subordinate to me. It is absolutely necessary that all medical matters destined for the Reich Leader SS go through my office.

RASCHER: I don’t know, Gruppenfuehrer, if this was the intention. I am under the direct orders of the Reich Leader SS and I have always reported directly to him. I have never received orders to another effect.

GRAWITZ: You certainly will be transferred to the Waffen SS?

RASCHER: Yes, I hope so. The transfer is under way.

GRAWITZ: There you are. Then you will be under my orders as a physician at any rate and all matters will have to go through my office, otherwise the situation would be unbearable.

RASCHER: But I am under the orders of the Ahnenerbe! Am I to report to you, too, what I have to report to the Ahnenerbe?

GRAWITZ: Certainly! At least a copy on all medical matters has to be sent to me for my information. For it is an unbearable situation to have a non-physician, such as Standartenfuehrer Sievers, inform me on medical matters if he does not have the adequate special medical education. I have nothing against Sievers. Well, yes, I know you are of the Ahnenerbe. I don’t say anything against your work for the Ahnenerbe, but I want you to work with the Ahnenerbe for the Reich Physician. I shall also write to Brandt on that matter.

POPPENDICK: Well, I already had to ask Standartenfuehrer Sievers several times to come to me to receive information. In the long run all medical matters wind up with us, anyway.

GRAWITZ: You see, this is the point! When the Reich Leader SS does not understand a medical matter clearly he hands the matter over to me, anyway.

RASCHER: Of course, I am grateful for every kind of help, but I believe that I am primarily under the orders of the Ahnenerbe.

GRAWITZ: Certainly not when you are a member of the Waffen SS. I am able to be of much use to you through my knowledge and I shall inform Brandt to that effect. It isn’t that I bear a grudge against you or your work, but all things have to follow their course. Don’t be afraid, scientific thefts don’t occur with us. As I know, you have to acquire the right of giving lectures at universities as a qualified academic teacher under Pfannenstiel. And you will need support. Do you want to be supported by me?

RASCHER: Of course, I thank you most obediently. Where I need support, I gladly accept it.

GRAWITZ: Well, we shall wait then with the memorandum until you have a few hundred cases, then we shall continue. Of course, I would not like the Reich Leader SS to believe that I want to impede you. But if something has not yet been proved to a great extent, we cannot distribute anything to the troops that might spread uncertainty among the responsible authorities!

Everything may be true for freezing by water, but we don’t have that in the Waffen SS. So you agree to wait with the distribution of the memorandum.

RASCHER: Gruppenfuehrer, anyway it is entirely your affair, whether the memorandum is issued now, as you are responsible for it. I composed the memorandum on the basis of these few cases of dry freezing, because the Reich Leader SS pressed for its publication. In composing the memorandum, I was fully aware of the necessity that many experiments still have to be carried out, and I also submitted this view on the occasion of a discussion with the Reich Leader SS in Dachau. But the Reich Leader saw the results in Dachau and in wanting to help the troops ordered the memorandum to be drawn up.

GRAWITZ: In composing a memorandum or in any other scientific work you should not let anybody press you, not even the Reich Leader SS, that will never do! Well now, you’ll send me a copy of all your medical correspondence with the Ahnenerbe, and you’ll no longer write directly to the Reich Leader SS in medical matters but write to me, as it comes to me anyway. Will you do that?

RASCHER: I’ll have to discuss the matter with Standartenfuehrer Sievers first, this comes too much as a surprise.

GRAWITZ: Well, I shall send you a copy of my letter to Dr. Brandt so that you can get a clear picture. I am very pleased to have established such a close contact with you.

This is a certified true copy.

[Signature] WOLFF
SS Untersturmfuehrer

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1616-PS
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 105

LETTER FROM RASCHER TO HIMMLER, 17 FEBRUARY 1943, AND
SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENTS FOR REWARMING OF CHILLED
HUMAN BEINGS BY ANIMAL WARMTH, 12 FEBRUARY 1943

Dr. S. Rascher SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

Munich, 17 February 1943

To the Reich Leader SS and Chief of the German Police Heinrich Himmler

Berlin SW 11, Prinz Albrecht Str. 8 Dear Reich Leader,

Enclosed I present to you in condensed form a summary of the results of the experiments made in warming up people who have been cooled off by using animal heat.

Right now I am attempting to prove through experiments on human beings that it is possible to warm up people cooled off by dry cold just as fast as people who were cooled off by remaining in cold water. The Reich Physician SS, SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Grawitz, doubted very much that that would be possible and said that I would have to prove it first by 100 experiments. Up to now I have cooled off about 30 people stripped in the open air during 9-14 hours at 27°-29°. After a time corresponding to a transport of 1 hour, I put these subjects in a hot bath. _Up to now_ every single patient was completely warmed up within 1 hour at most, though some of them had their hands and feet frozen white. In some cases a slight fatigue with slightly rising temperature was observed on the day following the experiments. I have not observed any fatal results from this extremely fast warming up. I have not so far been able to do any warming up by “Sauna” as ordered by you, my dear Reich Leader, as the weather in December and January was too warm for any experiments in the open air, and right now the camp is closed on account of typhoid and I am not allowed therefore to bring in subjects, for “Sauna” experiments.

* * * * *

With most obedient greetings and sincere gratitude, and

Heil Hitler!
Yours very devotedly
RASCHER
(enclosure)

* * * * *

Secret
_Experiments for rewarming of intensely chilled human beings by
animal warmth_

A. _Purpose of the Experiments_

To ascertain whether the rewarming of intensely chilled human beings by animal warmth, i. e., the warmth of animals or human beings, is as good or better than rewarming by physical or medical means.

B. _Method of the Experiments_

The experimental subjects were cooled in the usual way—clad or unclad—in cold water of temperatures varying between 4° C. and 9° C. The rectal temperature of every experimental subject was recorded thermoelectrically. The reduction of temperature occurred within the usual span of time varying in accordance with the general condition of the body of the experimental subject and the temperature of the water. The experimental subjects were removed from the water when their rectal temperature reached 30° C. At this time the experimental subjects had all lost consciousness. In eight cases the experimental subjects were then placed between two naked women in a spacious bed. The women were supposed to nestle as closely as possible to the chilled person. Then all three persons were covered with blankets. A speeding up of rewarming by light cradles or by medicines was not attempted.

C. _Results_

1. When the temperature of the experimental subjects was recorded it was striking that an after-drop of temperature up to 3° C. occurred, which is a greater after-drop than seen with any other method of rewarming. It was observed, however, that consciousness returned at an earlier point, that is, at a lower body temperature than with other methods of rewarming. Once the subjects regained consciousness they did not lose it again, but very quickly grasped the situation and snuggled up to the naked female bodies. The rise of body temperature then occurred at about the same speed as in experimental subjects who had been rewarmed by packing in blankets. Exceptions were four experimental subjects who, at body temperatures between 30° C. and 32° C., performed the act of sexual intercourse. In these experimental subjects the temperature rose very rapidly after sexual intercourse, which could be compared with the speedy rise in temperature in a hot bath.

2. Another set of experiments concerned the rewarming of intensely chilled persons by one woman. In all these cases rewarming was significantly quicker than could be accomplished by two women. The cause of this seems to me that in warming by one woman only, personal inhibitions are removed, and the woman nestles up to the chilled individual much more intimately. Also in these cases, the return of complete consciousness was strikingly rapid. Only one experimental subject did not return to consciousness and the warming effect was only slight. This person died with symptoms suggesting cerebral hemorrhage, as was confirmed by subsequent autopsy.

D. _Summary_

Rewarming experiments of intensely chilled experimental subjects demonstrated that rewarming with animal warmth was very slow. Only such experimental subjects whose physical condition permitted sexual intercourse rewarmed themselves remarkably quickly and showed an equally strikingly rapid return to complete physical well-being. Since excessively long exposure of the body to low temperatures implies danger of internal damage, that method must be chosen for rewarming which guarantees the quickest relief from dangerously low temperatures. This method, according to our experiences, is a massive and rapid supply of warmth by means of a hot bath.

Rewarming of intensely chilled human beings by human or animal warmth can therefore be recommended only in such cases in which other possibilities for rewarming are not available, or in cases of specially tender individuals who possibly may not be able to stand a massive and rapid supply of warmth. As for example, I am thinking of intensely chilled small children, who are best rewarmed by the body of their mothers, with the aid of hot water bottles.

Dachau, 12 February 1943.
[Signature] DR. S. RASCHER
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-268
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 106

LETTER FROM HIPPKE TO HIMMLER, 19 FEBRUARY 1943, ON
FREEZING EXPERIMENTS IN DACHAU

The Inspector of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe

Berlin W8, 19 February 1943
Leipziger Strasse
Phone numbers: [illegible]
Cable address: Reichsluft Berlin

File No. 55 No. 81038/43 (2 IIB) Reich Leader,

The experiments conducted in Dachau concerning protective measures against the effects of freezing on the human body by immersion in cold water have led to results of practical use. They were conducted by the Stabsaerzte [Captains] of the Luftwaffe, Professor Dr. Holzloehner, Dr. Fink, and Dr. Rascher in cooperation with the SS, and are now finished. The results were reported upon by those who worked on them during a conference on medical problems arising from distress at sea and winter hardships, on 26 and 27 October 1942, at Nuernberg. The detailed report on the conference is at present in state of preparation.

I thank you most gratefully for the great assistance that the cooperation of the SS has meant for us in conducting the experiments, and beg you to express our thanks, too, to the commander of the Dachau camp.

Heil Hitler!
[Signature] PROF. DR. HIPPKE

2 [?] Feb 1943 1509/43 RF [stamp illegible] [figures 1509/43 handwritten]

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1580-PS
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 107

LETTER FROM HIMMLER TO RASCHER, 26 FEBRUARY 1943, ON
FREEZING EXPERIMENTS IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS
AUSCHWITZ AND LUBLIN

The Reich Leader SS
1516/43

26 February 1943
Secret
Dear Rascher,

Best thanks for your letter of 17 February[29] with report on warming-up experiments. I agree to experiments being made at Auschwitz or Lublin, although I believe that the time for the cooling-off and warming-up tests under natural conditions of cold weather has nearly passed for this winter.

I am sending this letter at the same time to SS Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl, whom I request to order the execution of your experiments at Lublin or Auschwitz.

Kind greetings and
Heil Hitler!
Yours
[Signed] H. HIMMLER
2. SS Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl

Transmitted with request to take note and to take the necessary steps.

By order,
[Signature (illegible)]
SS Obersturmbannfuehrer

PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-292
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 111

LETTER FROM RASCHER TO RUDOLF BRANDT, 4 APRIL 1943,
REPORTING ON DRY-FREEZING EXPERIMENTS IN DACHAU

Dr. med. Sigmund Rascher [4 April 1943] To Herr Oberregierungsrat SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. R. Brandt Berlin SW 11, Prinz Albrecht Strasse 8 Much esteemed Obersturmbannfuehrer!

* * * * *

The question of the saving of people frozen in the open air has in the meantime been cleared up, since, thank goodness, there was once again a period of heavy frost weather in Dachau. Certain people were in the open air for 14 hours at -6° C., reached an internal temperature of 25° C. with peripheral freezings, and were _all_ able to be saved by a hot bath. As I said: it is easy to contradict! But before someone does so, he should come and see for himself. Moreover, a report about freezing in the open air will be sent to the Reich Leader in the next few days.

With best wishes,
Heil Hitler!
Yours gratefully,
[Signature] S. RASCHER

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-322
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 114

LETTER FROM RASCHER TO KEINDL, 28 APRIL 1943, ABOUT PREVIOUS FREEZING
EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED AT SACHSENHAUSEN

Dr. med. S. Rascher, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Personal Staff Leader SS Division (Abteilung) Chief at the Institute for Military Scientific Research Office A (Amt A)

Dachau 3K, 28 April 1943

To the Commander of the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Keindl Sachsenhausen, near Oranienburg

Obersturmbannfuehrer!

By order of the Reich Leader SS, I have been conducting freezing experiments on human beings in the Dachau concentration camp for more than a year. Today I learned from an experimental subject that I was not the only one conducting these experiments, but that, on the contrary, already in October and November 1938, similar experiments were conducted in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Samenstrang is said to have frozen experimental subjects—that is prisoners—in cold water, and subsequently revived them by means of warm water or hot compresses. As I was to work out and have worked out a prescription for the Waffen SS for the resuscitation of frozen persons (for the campaign in the East), knowledge of all preliminary experiments in my field of work is of great importance for me.

I therefore request that if possible you let me know what kind of experiments were conducted in your camp, and, if possible, what results were obtained in connection with these experiments.

As you might not know anything about me, please make inquiries about me, if necessary, either at the Personal Staff of the Reich Leader SS (Obersturmbannfuehrer Baumert) or from the Commander of the Dachau concentration camp, SS Sturmbannfuehrer Weiss.

Yours sincerely
Heil Hitler!

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-231
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 116

LETTER FROM RASCHER TO SIEVERS, 17 MAY 1943, CONCERNING,
A CONFERENCE WITH GEBHARDT ON FREEZING EXPERIMENTS

Copy
By Messenger!

Dr. med. Rascher, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer
Dachau 3K, 17 May 1943

To: Reich Business Manager of the Ahnenerbe Society Attn: SS Standartenfuehrer Sievers Berlin-Dahlem, 16 Pueckler Street

Dear Standartenfuehrer!

The following contains a short account of my report to SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Gebhardt.

On 14 May 1943, I reported to SS Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. Gebhardt at Hohenlychen. I had hardly arrived, when SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Gebhardt asked me in a very loud voice to explain how I dared to submit specialist medical reports directly to the Reich Leader SS (he was referring to the treatise on “The Cooling of Human Beings Outdoors”). I actually did not even get a chance to speak and practically couldn’t reply anything. Then, when I tried to reply, Prof. Dr. Gebhardt said that if I wanted to defy him, my train would be leaving for Berlin at 3 o’clock. When I was finally given the opportunity to speak I was able to point out to Prof. Dr. Gebhardt that the report in question was not meant to be a strictly scientific work, but simply was a short information for the Reich Leader SS on the results of the experiments conducted up to now. Dr. Gebhardt had taken the view that the report was unscientific, and if a student of the second term dared to submit a treatise of that kind, he would throw him out. Later on I was able to tell him that of course all the physiological-chemical experiments that could be carried out in Dachau with the available instruments had indeed been conducted. Whereupon Dr. Gebhardt replied: “I can imagine that you did a lot of work; one can tell it from this job. If I had not believed that you did a lot of work, I would not have asked you to come at all.”

In addition Dr. Gebhardt said that he intended to merge all the groups of physicians working independently within the SS, since that would suit the Reich Leader SS much better than individual people working on their own. Besides that, he said that I somehow ought to learn university methods of working since very likely I did not yet have the proper training. He suggested that it was necessary for me to get out of Dachau since there I was quite left to myself and had no guidance whatsoever; that since I intended to enter upon a university career, I would by all means have to complete the training of a university assistant first. He further said that all those SS physicians, who are qualified to enter upon a university career, had the duty to do so. Upon my reply that for that reason I was already in touch with Professor Pfannenstiel, Professor Gebhardt replied that these matters ought to be processed by a centralized agency. In future it would not do that I send any reports directly to the Reich Leader SS, but that further reports to serve their purpose would have to be transmitted through him to the Reich Leader. If the report had reached a suitable stage, he would first inform the Reich Leader SS, and then go to see the Reich Leader SS together with me. Finally Dr. Gebhardt asked me to give him data on my personal and scientific career to enable him to make further arrangements. He requested me to call again in the afternoon.

When I called in the afternoon, I was, as in the morning, accompanied by SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Fischer. This time Dr. Gebhardt was extremely amiable. He asked me whether I now agreed with his arrangements; it would be by far the best I could do, if I joined him. I should not worry, but just continue my work in Dachau, until I had finished my jobs. Later, one would see what was to be done for the future. Upon my question, what it was all about, and who was my superior, whether the Reichsarzt SS, SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Grawitz, who had come for an inspection several days ago, the Reich Leader SS, as he personally had promised me, or the Ahnenerbe, of which I had been a member for years, Dr. Gebhardt suggested that all that will be straightened out. Just trust it to me. But I’ll need your curriculum vitae soon, since I have to report to the Reich Leader SS on 23 May.

May I ask you, Standartenfuehrer, under whom I am actually working? Under the Reich Leader SS, the Ahnenerbe, the Reich Physician SS or Dr. Gebhardt? Dr. Gebhardt has already asked me why I am not a member of the Waffen SS. Upon my answer that Dr. Hippke does not like to let me go, he declared that I was too able for him to let me go. Standartenfuehrer! If the same tug of war starts in the Waffen SS as has been going on between Luftwaffe and the SS, I’d rather do without a transfer to the Waffen SS. I was promised that I would continue to work under the Reich Leader SS or under the Ahnenerbe. But I cannot serve several masters at the same time. Of course I am convinced that SS Gruppenfuehrer Prof. Dr. Gebhardt has the best of intentions. His assistants are enthusiastic about him. If I am compelled to ask Prof. Dr. Gebhardt’s advice each time I am going to start a new experiment, I will get so much involved in the academic routine that I won’t even be allowed to experiment with such a method as rapid resuscitation which overthrows all the established clinical experiences because the results contradict Prof. Dr. Gebhardt’s methods which are based upon centuries-old clinical experiences. Also the cooperation with Professor von Luetzelberg would thus come to an end, as these experiments are from the very start contradictory to the hitherto recognized clinical experiences. I think, this arrangement would stop everything that really ought to be experimented.

I pray you with all my heart, Standartenfuehrer, to handle this affair in such a way that Prof. Dr. Gebhardt, who is a very close friend of the Reich Leader SS does not become my enemy. I think that Prof. Dr. Gebhardt can and will be an extremely disagreeable adversary. Before I get into trouble with him, I would rather resign my job and ask for an immediate transfer to the Luftwaffe for combat service. I therefore ask you again to deal with this affair with as much circumspection as it actually requires, because in addition I am convinced that Prof. Dr. Gebhardt (apart from his personal ambition) really has good intentions.

* * * * *

Very respectfully yours and
Heil Hitler!
Yours very devotedly
[Signature] S. RASCHER

This is to certify that the above copy is true:

[Signature] SIEVERS
SS Standartenfuehrer.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-432
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 119

LETTER FROM RASCHER TO NEFF, 21 OCTOBER 1943, CONCERNING
DRY-FREEZING EXPERIMENTS

Dr. S. Rascher
Dachau, 21 October 1943

To Police-Rottwachtmeister Walter Neff Police Training Battalion I Dresden-Hellerau

Dear Neff:

Your letter dated 11.10 reached me here on 15.10. First of all many thanks for your decision to write such a detailed letter. I really was very pleased about it. To come right away to the affair concerned: I am very sorry to hear that you are being bullied, especially as there exists no reason at all for it. Please let me know the name, rank, and address of your commanding officer because I most certainly will take the matter up. There is no purpose at all in your getting stuck there. Finally I too know how the general condition of your health had been, when you were still here, and I also am able to judge that you cannot go through heavy infantry training. I am glad that you have become accustomed to the ideals of the place and I am convinced that you would be glad to go to the front. But on the other hand, I believe that I need you more urgently than you are needed at the front. As a matter of fact I need you for the following: _From the Reich Research Council_ [Reichsforschungsrat] I got the order to carry out open country freezing experiments and I think they will take place on the Sudelfeld. Now I need urgently a most reliable man, acquainted with the material, and that is you in this case. During the next few days I will go with Sievers to the Fuehrer’s Headquarters [Fuehrerhauptquartier], and report there in this sense, and will let you know immediately.

* * * * *

I expect your notice soon, and remain until then with sincerest comradely regards,

Your old chief,
[Initialed] R.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-690
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 120

LIST OF RESEARCH PROJECTS FROM THE FILES OF THE
REICH RESEARCH COUNCIL

Cancer Research—70—copies 15 [pencil notation]

25th copy.
Worked on by: Professor Dr. K. Blome
Berlin SW 68
Lindenstr. 42 77 [pencil notation]
Telephone: 174871 929 [pencil notation]

Priority: “SS”

SS-No. │ Requested by— │ Topic │Registration│Degree of
│ │ │ No. │ secrecy
│ │ │ │
0453 │Schwarz, Kruft │Combating of │ 2058/15 │
│ │ potato bug. │ │
│ │ │ │
0496 │Seel, Poznan │Investigation of │ 2118/15 │
│ │ means for │ │
│ │ combating │ │
│ │ agricultural │ │
│ │ parasites and │ │
│ │ for disinfection│ │
│ │ of the soil. │ │
│ │ │ │
0328 │Rascher, Munich │Rewarming after │ 1879/15 │
│ │ general freezing│ │
│ │ of the human │ │
│ │ body; healing │ │
│ │ after partial │ │
│ │ freezings; │ │
│ │ adjustment of │ │
│ │ the human body │ │
│ │ to low │ │
│ │ temperatures. │ │
│ │ │ │
0329 │Hirt, Strasbourg │Changes in the │ 1881/15 │
│ │ living organism │ │
│ │ under the │ │
│ │ influence of │ │
│ │ poison gases. │ │
│ │ │ │
0415 │von Borstell, Colonel,│Development of │ 1975/15 │ Secret.
│ Weimar-Nohra. │ aircraft │ │
│ │ apparatus for │ │
│ │ insecticides and│ │
│ │ fungicides which│ │
│ │ can be sprayed. │ │

Cancer Research
Worked on by: Prof. Dr. K. Blome
Berlin SW 68
Lindenstr. 42
Telephone: 174871
Deputy: Dr. Breuer
Berlin-Steglitz
Grunewaldstr. 35
Telephone: 726071

No. │ Requested by— │ Topic
│ │
0454/1857/15│Zipf, Koenigsberg │Tests of food colors for their
│ │ cancer-causing effect on
│ │ animals.
0473/1838/15│Spek, Heidelberg │Physio-chemical investigations
│ │ on living cells.

[Stamp] Top Secret
The Reich Research Council 22 [pencil notation]

The Director of the Business Management Committee Cancer Research

3d copy
Authorized person:
Prof. Dr. Kurt Blome
Berlin SW 68, Lindenstr. 42

“Nesselsted” Prof. Dr. Blome, Commissioner for Cancer Research, Berlin SW 68. Lindenstr. 42

DE 1413—RPS—VLI/44
SS 4891—0242 (1739/15) 44

EXTRACTS FROM THE TESTIMONY OF TRIBUNAL WITNESS
WALTER NEFF[30]

_EXAMINATION BY PROSECUTION_

* * * * *

MR. MCHANEY: When did the freezing experiments start?

WITNESS NEFF: The first freezing experiments started during August or at the end of July. They were conducted by Prof. Holzloehner, Dr. Finke, and Dr. Rascher. The freezing experiments can be divided into two separate classes, the Holzloehner-Finke series, which were later dropped, and a series where Dr. Rascher conducted these experiments himself.

Q. All right. Suppose you describe the experimental basin.

A. The experimental basin was built of wood. It was 2 meters long and 2 meters high. It was raised about 50 centimeters above the floor and it was in Block No. 5. In the experimental chamber and basin there were many lighting instruments and other apparatus which were used in order to carry out measurements.

Q. Now, you have stated that you can divide the freezing experiments into two groups, one where Holzloehner and Finke were working with Rascher and then the period after Holzloehner and Finke had left?

A. Yes.

Q. Now, will you tell the Tribunal approximately how many persons were used over the whole period? That is, including both groups that you have mentioned.

A. Two hundred and eighty to three hundred experimental subjects were used for these freezing experiments. There were really 360 to 400 experiments that were conducted, since many experimental subjects were used for more than one such experiment—sometimes even for three.

Q. Now, out of the total of 280 or 300 prisoners used, approximately how many died?

A. Approximately 80 to 90 subjects died as a result of these freezing experiments.

Q. Now, how many experimental subjects do you remember that they used in the Holzloehner-Finke-Rascher experiments?

A. During that period of time approximately 50 to 60 subjects were used for experimental purposes.

Q. Did any of these experimental subjects die?

A. Yes. During that period of time there were about 15, maybe even 18 cases of death.

Q. When was that experimental series concluded?

A. It was concluded in the month of October. I think it was at the end of October. At that time Holzloehner and Finke discontinued these experiments, giving the reason that they had accomplished their purpose and that it was useless to carry out further experiments of that kind.

Q. And then Rascher continued experiments on his own?

A. Yes. Rascher conducted these experiments saying that he had to build a scientific basis for them and he prepared a lecture for Marburg University on the subject.

Q. How long did Rascher continue to experiment with freezing by cold water?

A. Until May 1943.

Q. Now, were the experimental subjects for the freezing experiments selected in the same way as for the high-altitude experiments?

A. No. Here Rascher turned to the camp administration and told them that he needed so and so many experimental subjects. Then the political department of the camp selected 10 inmates by name. That list was sent to the camp commandant and was signed by the camp commandant and they were then sent to Rascher’s station and the subjects on that list had to be experimented on. I was able to use the original list as evidence in the first Dachau trial.

Q. Do I understand then that the experimental subjects used in the freezing experiments were political prisoners?

A. There were a number of political prisoners and also a number of foreigners, but there were also prisoners of war and inmates who had been condemned to death.

Q. These persons were not volunteers, were they?

A. No.

Q. Suppose you describe to the Tribunal exactly how these freezing experiments were carried out, that is what tests they made, how they measured the temperature and how the temperature of the water was lowered in the basin and so forth?

A. These basins were filled with water, and ice was added until the water measured 3°, and the experimental subjects were either dressed in a flying suit or were placed into the ice water naked. During the period when Holzloehner and Finke were active, most experiments were conducted under narcotics because he maintained that you could not find the exact condition of the blood, and that you would exclude the will power of the experimental subject if he was under an anaesthetic. Now whenever the experimental subjects were conscious, it took some time until so-called freezing narcosis set in. The temperature was measured rectally and through the stomach through the Galvanometer apparatus. The lowering of the temperature to 32° was terrible for the experimental subject. At 32° the experimental subject lost consciousness. These persons were frozen down to 25° body temperature, and now in order to enable you to understand this problem, I should like to tell you something about the Holzloehner and Finke period. During the period when Holzloehner and Finke were active, no experimental subject was actually killed in the water. Deaths occurred all the more readily because during revival the temperature dropped even further and so heart failure resulted. This was also caused by wrongly applied therapy, so that in contrast to the low-pressure experiments, deaths were not deliberately caused. In the air-pressure chamber on the other hand, each death cannot be described as an accident, but as willful murder. However, it was different when Rascher personally took over these experiments. At that time a large number of the persons involved were kept in the water until they were dead.

Q. Now, Witness, you have identified the defendant Weltz in the defendants’ dock. On what occasion did you meet Weltz?

A. I met Weltz in Munich. I saw him there once. According to my recollection it was in Luftgau Kommando VII, Prinzregenten Strasse No. 2, and I saw him speak to Rascher there, and at a later date Rascher told me that that was Professor Weltz. I remember this incident especially since Rascher often discussed Weltz and his animal experiments, which he carried out with reference to freezing. I never saw Professor Weltz in Dachau or anywhere in the camp.

Q. Do you know, Witness, whether Rascher and Weltz exchanged information on freezing problems?

A. I don’t know that. I would assume so, since Rascher discussed Professor Weltz’ experiments, and he certainly must have had some discussions with Weltz on the subject. However, I know of no correspondence with Weltz.

Q. Do you recall the occasion when two Russian officers were experimented upon in the freezing experiments?

A. Yes.

Q. Will you relate that incident to the Tribunal?

A. Yes. It was the worst experiment which was ever carried out. Two Russian officers were carried out from the bunker. We were forbidden to speak to them. They arrived at approximately 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Rascher had them undressed and they had to go into the basin naked. Hour after hour passed and while usually after a short time, 60 minutes, freezing had set in, these two Russians were still conscious after 2 hours. All our appeals to Rascher asking him to give them an injection were of no avail. Approximately during the third hour one Russian said to the other, “Comrade, tell that officer to shoot us.” The other replied, “Don’t expect any mercy from this Fascist dog.” Then they shook hands and said “Goodbye, Comrade.” If you can imagine that we inmates had to witness such a death, and could do nothing about it, then you can judge how terrible it is to be condemned to work in such an experimental station.

After these words were translated for Rascher in a somewhat different form by a young Pole, Rascher went back into his office. The young Pole tried at once to give them an anesthetic with chloroform, but Rascher returned immediately and threatened to shoot us with his pistol if we dared approach these victims again. The experiment lasted at least 5 hours until death occurred. Both corpses were sent to Munich for autopsy in the Schwabing Hospital.

Q. Witness, how long did it normally take to kill a person in these freezing experiments?