Chapter D: V. L., Berlin-Adlershof (6)

8. The selection of inmates to be used for the purposes of medical experiments in Block 46 by the Division for Typhus and Virus Research was as follows: Whenever Dr. Ding needed human beings for his work, a request was made to the office of the camp commandant and referred to me for action. Usually a man named Schober, an SS Hauptsturmfuehrer, notified me to select the necessary number of prisoners for these purposes. In accordance with this request I selected various inmates, at random, from the roster of the camp. They were placed on a list over my signature and returned to Schober, who often removed certain names from the list for political reasons. In the event of particular prisoners being removed from the list, I was requested to select substitutes in order to provide Dr. Ding with the desired number of victims. After I returned the completed list to Schober, it was given to Dr. Ding for approval. He made a final check to ascertain, from a medical point of view, the physical condition of the selected inmates and to determine whether or not they met with his requirements.

* * * * *

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-265
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 287

DIARY OF THE DIVISION FOR TYPHUS AND VIRUS RESEARCH AT THE INSTITUTE OF
HYGIENE OF THE WAFFEN SS, 1941 TO 1945 (DING DIARY)

_29 Dec 41_:

Conference between Army Sanitation Inspection [Inspector], General Chief Surgeon Professor Dr. Handloser; State Secretary for the Department of Health of the Reich, SS Gruppenfuehrer Dr. Conti; President Professor Reiter of the Health Department of the Reich; President Professor Gildemeister of the Robert Koch Institute (Reich Institute to Combat Contagious Diseases) and SS Standartenfuehrer and Lecturer [Dozent] Dr. Mrugowsky of the Institute of Hygiene, Waffen SS, Berlin.

It has been established that the need exists to test the efficacy of, and resistance of the human body to, the typhus serum extracted from the egg yolks. Since tests on animals are not of sufficient value, tests on human beings must be carried out.

_2 Jan 42_:

The concentration camp Buchenwald is chosen for testing the typhus vaccines. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Ding is charged with these tests.

_5 Jan 42_:

Preliminary test A:

Preliminary test to determine the surest and most practical way of infecting human beings artificially. Five experimental subjects received intramuscular and subcutaneous injections of vitelline membrane diluted 1:25 with an emulsified Rickettsia-Prowazeki strain from the Robert Koch Institute in doses of 1 cc. Infection was not possible.

DR. DING
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

_10 Jan 42_:

Preliminary test B:

Preliminary test to establish a sure means of infection: Much as in smallpox vaccination, 5 persons were infected with vitelline membrane culture virus (strain Rickettsia-Prowazeki, Robert Koch Institute) through 2 superficial and 2 deeper cuts in the upper arm.

All experimental subjects used for this test fell ill with genuine typhus. Incubation period 2 to 6 days.

_20 Jan 42_:

Preliminary report of reactions to vaccinations. Through continuous blood pictures a strong surplus of neutrophile myelocytes was discovered.

_20 Feb 42_:

Case history and charts of the preliminary tests to establish a sure means of infection sent to Berlin.

1 death out of 5 sick.

DR. DING
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

_6 Jan 42_:

_1 Feb 42_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Research Series I_

Vaccination for immunization against typhus using the following vaccines:

1. 31 persons with Weigl vaccine from the intestines of lice from the Institute for Typhus and Virus Research of the Army High Command, Krakow.

2. 35 persons with vaccine from vitelline membrane cultures made by the Cox, Gildemeister, and Haagen process.

3. 35 persons with vaccine “Behring Normal” (1 egg in an emulsion of 450 cc. vaccine. Mixture of 70 percent Rickettsia Mooseri and 30 percent Rickettsia-Prowazeki).

4. 34 persons with “Behring Normal” “Behring Strong” (1 egg emulsified in 250 cc. solvent).

5. 10 persons for control.

_3 Mar 42_:

All persons vaccinated for immunization between 6 Jan 42 and 1 Feb 42, and the 10 control persons were infected with a virus culture of Rickettsia-Prowazeki in the presence of Professor Gildemeister. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Ding infected himself in the process (laboratory accident).

_17 Mar 42_:

Visit of Professor Gildemeister and Professor Rose (Head of the Department for Tropical Medicine in the Robert Koch Institute) to the experimental station. All persons experimented on fell sick with typhus except two who, as was established later, had already had typhus during an epidemic at the police prison in Berlin. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Ding fell sick with typhus and is in the hospital in Berlin. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Hoven, station medical officer of the Waffen SS in Weimar, is supervising the stations in the meantime (Blocks 44 and 49).

_19 Apr 42_:

Final report on the 1st typhus vaccine research series: Stone Block 46 will be made available for the purpose of these typhus experiments.

5 deaths (3 control persons, 1 “Behring Normal”, and 1 “Behring Strong”).

DR. DING
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

_19 Aug 42_:

_4 Sep 42_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Research Series II_

Vaccination for immunization against typhus using the following vaccines:

1. 20 persons with vaccines made by the Durand and Giroud process (Pasteur Institute, Paris) from rabbit lungs.

2. 20 persons with vaccine made by the process of Combiescu, Zotta, and collaborators from dog lungs. (Producer: Cantacuzino, Bucharest.) This vaccine was made available by Professor Rose, who received it from Naval Doctor Professor Ruge from Bucharest.

_15 Oct 42_:

Artificial infection of all persons vaccinated for immunization between 19 September 1942 and 4 October 1942, and 19 persons for control with vitelline membrane virus (Rickettsia-Prowazeki).

_25 Oct 42_:

Infection has started with all persons experimented on.

_20 Nov 42_:

Charts and case history sent to Berlin.

4 deaths of control persons.

DR. DING
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

_10 Sep 42_:

_10 Oct 42_:

Unit of SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Ding ordered to the Pasteur Institute in Paris to Professor Giroud.

_22 Oct 42_:

_5 Nov 42_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Research Series III_

Vaccination for immunization against typhus of 20 persons with vaccine made according to the process of Giroud, Paris. (This vaccine was brought from Paris by SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Ding immediately after production.)

_30 Nov 42_:

Artificial infection with vitelline membrane material from the Robert Koch Institute of the 20 persons vaccinated for immunization and of 6 control persons. This research series was observed for 6 weeks and then abandoned without results, as no sickness broke out in the control group.

DR. DING
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

_27 Oct 42_:

_8 Nov 42_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Research Series IV_

Vaccination for immunization of 20 persons with a vaccine from intestines of lice made by the Weigl process (sent by lecturer Dr. Haas of the typhus institute “Emil v. Behring” in Lvov),

_30 Nov 42_:

To test the effect of the immunization, the infection is to be carried out with lice suffering from typhus. The lice and their cages must be burnt immediately, as the latter became leaky during transport, and therefore represent a danger of epidemic in Buchenwald camp.

_3 Dec 42_:

Newly sent lice applied to 15 persons (5 immunized and 10 persons for control). The lice must again be destroyed, as the cages are not tight.

Report made that infection with live typhus lice is not possible because the danger to the camp inmates is too great.

_4 Jan 43_:

Due to infection by lice on 3 December 1942, five persons show short nontypical illness.

The research series is concluded.

DR. DING
SS Hauptsturmfuehrer

_15-18 Dec 42_:

Unit of SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Ding ordered to the opening of the typhus research institute “Emil v. Behring” in Lvov in the General Government (lecturer Dr. Haas).

_28-31 Dec 42_:

Vaccination for immunization against diphtheria of the Reserve Battalion of the Leibstandarte SS “Adolf Hitler” (approx. 2,500 men), because of the outbreak of an epidemic.

Inspection of quarters and advice to the medical officer on the fighting of the epidemic.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer
_1943_

_1 Dec 42_:

_20 Dec 42_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Research Series V_

To determine the immunization effect, 20 persons are being actively vaccinated for immunization with “EM” vaccine of the Behring Works—Dr. Demnitz—(vaccine in which vitelline membrane as well as chicken embryos were used).

_26 Jan 43_:

Artificial infection with vitelline membrane virus OP No. 223 and 226 (Rickettsia-Prowazeki—strain from Robert Koch Institute).

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_9 Jan 43_:

By order of the Chief of the Medical Service of the Waffen SS, SS Gruppenfuehrer and Major General of the Waffen SS Dr. Genzken, the typhus research station at the Buchenwald concentration camp becomes the “Division for Typhus and Virus Research.” The head of the division will be SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding. During his absence, the station medical officer of the Waffen SS, Weimar, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Hoven, will supervise the production of vaccines. The Chief of the WVHA, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and Lt. General of the Waffen SS, Pohl, has ordered the extension of the block of stone buildings.

SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding is at the same time appointed chief departmental head for special missions in office XVI (Hygiene), of office group D (medical affairs of the Waffen SS) of the SS Main Operational Headquarters.

_10 Jan 43_:

_Therapeutic Experiments with Acridine and Methylene Blue_

At the suggestion of the I. G. Farbenindustrie A. G. the following were tested as typhus therapeutica:

_a._ Preparation 3,582 “Acridine” of the chemical pharmaceutical and sero-bacteriological department in Frankfurt-on-Main, Hoechst, Professor Lautenschlaeger and Dr. Weber.

(Therapeutic experiment A)

_b._ Methylene Blue, tested in an experiment on mice by Professor Kiekuth, Elberfeld.

(Therapeutic experiment M)

_26 Jan 43_:

Artificial infection with vitelline membrane virus OP Nos. 223 and 226:

20 persons for therapeutic experiment A: Acridine.

20 persons for therapeutic experiment M: Methylene Blue.

7 persons for control.

_20 Feb 43_:

The control persons from the typhus infections of the 26 January 1943 show no typical typhus symptoms; in the groups, vaccine “EM” of the Behring Works, Acridine, Methylene Blue, about ¼ are also not sick, the remainder have medium typhus.

The research series was designated to the manufacturer as “negative,” since the persons for control could not be infected properly.

One death in therapeutic experiment Acridine.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_10 Jan 43_:

_Yellow Fever Vaccine Tests_

The Behring Works, Marburg-Lahn, the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, and the Institute for Typhus and Virus Research of the Army High Command in Krakow were commissioned by the Army High Command to manufacture the yellow fever vaccine of Beltier and collaborators. Since a live virus is being handled, a test is to be performed on 5 persons for safety’s sake from each vaccine charge.

At the same time 50 persons are to be vaccinated _once_ with OP No. 25 of the Robert Koch Institute, which has already been tested for its harmlessness, to determine the decrease of working capacity.

The results of the yellow fever vaccine tests are to be sent to office XVI in the SS Main Operational Headquarters, in duplicate, who will forward one to the manufacturer, and one to the Army High Command, attention: Oberstabsarzt Dr. Schmidt, Army Medical Inspectorate.

_List of Tested OP Numbers_

Manufacturer │ │
No. 1. Behring Works, Marburg. │1, 2, 4. │13 Jan-26 Jan 43.
2. Robert Koch Institute, │28, 30, 37, 38, │11 Jan-26 Jan 43.
Berlin. │ 39. │
3. Robert Koch Institute, │46, 47, 48, 49, │30 Jan-8 Feb 43.
Berlin. │ 50. │
4. Behring Works, Marburg. │4, 5, 6, 7, 8, │30 Jan-8 Feb 43.
│ 9, 10, 11, 12,│
│ 13, 14, 15, │
│ 16, 17, 18, │
│ 19, 20, 21, │
│ 22, 23. │
5. Army High Command, Krakow. │19, 21, 22, 23, │9 Feb-22 Feb 43.
│ 25, 26, 27. │
6. Behring Works, Marburg. │24, 25, 26, 27, │11 Feb-22 Feb 43.
│ 28, 29, 30, │
│ 31, 32, 33. │
7. Behring Works, Marburg. │34, 35, 36, 37, │25 Feb-7 Mar 43.
│ 38, 39, 40, │
│ 41, 42, 43. │
8. Army High Command, Krakow. │28, 29, 30, 32, │25 Feb-7 Mar 43.
│ 34. │
9. Robert Koch Institute, │54, 55, 57, 58. │25 Feb-7 Mar 43.
Berlin. │ │
10. Behring Works, Marburg. │54, 55, 56, 57, │6 May-17 May 43.
│ 58, 59, 60, │
│ 61. │

Production is being abandoned for the time being because of the military situation.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_3 Feb 43_:

_Sterility Experiment with an Egg Vaccine_

A package was sent to us with a small bottle of 20 cc. typhus vaccine from egg-yolk cultures. Op No. 35 of 15 October 1942. A second injection on 8 December 1942, a third injection on 13 December 1942, of a typhus vaccination for immunization was carried out on Sister Lilli Boehm, born on 3 April 1912, by resident surgeon Dr. von Eysmond. Towards evening a temperature of 104° F. (40° C.). Forty-eight hours after the last vaccination, death in coma in the German clinic in Kovno.

_Section protocol_: Typhus (No. 2033, University of Kovno, pathological institute, Dr. Starkus).

_Investigation_: Material vaccinated on

1. 2 percent Schraegagar } 2. Bouillon } 3. 2 percent Glucose Bouillon} 4. Tarrozzi } No growth after 48 hours 5. Blood slide } 6. Klauberg slide }

During animal experiments, guinea pigs and mice were vaccinated intraperitoneally and under the skin of the back. No pathological symptoms at all.

_Results_: The vaccine not responsible for the death. Vaccination took place during the incubation period.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_8 Feb 43_:

Visit of Oberstabsarzt Dr. Eyer from the Institute for Typhus and Virus Research of the Army High Command in Krakow and Oberstabsarzt Dr. Schmidt from the Army Medical Inspectorate.

_22 Feb 43_:

_Examination of Unknown Bacteriological Material_

During August 1942 Soviet parachutists were dropped in the Marienburg district; they carried in their baggage amphiole material, which was turned over by the RSHA (Dept. IV A/2 Book No. 2152/439 on 25 Feb 1943). They were dysentery bacteriophaga which could be clearly diagnosed by animal and culture experiments; this can be used for therapeutic purposes in cases of diarrhea.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_28 Feb 43_: _6 Mar 43_:

Unit of SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding ordered to Paris to procure laboratory material for the Division for Typhus and Virus Research, and the Institute of Hygiene.

_23 Mar 43_:

Conference between SS Sturmbannfuehrer Barnewald, SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding and SS Hauptscharfuehrer Schlesinger of department W 5, W V H A concerning the breeding of rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice as experimental animals for the experimental department.

_25 Jan 43_: _28 Feb 43_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Research Series VI_

To determine the immunization effect, the following were actively vaccinated for immunization:

20 persons with vaccine “Zuerich” from the hygiene institute of the University of Zuerich (lungs of mice), and

20 persons with vaccine “Riga” from the serum institute of the University of Riga (Professor Darsin, from vitelline membrane cultures).

_31 Mar 43_:

Artificial infection with egg Rickettsia (Rickettsia-Prowazeki) of the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin.

_11 Apr 43_:

The infection of 31 March 1943 has not resulted in any sickness so far.

_28 Apr 43_:

Experimental series abandoned.

DR. DING
S Sturmbannfuehrer

_7 Mar 43_:

Examination of the water and inspection of the concentration camp Vught, near Hertogenbosch.

_8 Mar 43_: _10 Mar 43_:

Inspection of billets in Apeldoorn-Arnhem and vicinity. Advising chief surgeon of the commander of the Netherlands re a diphtheria epidemic in Apeldoorn.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_24 Mar 43_: _20 Apr 43_:

Carrying out of a large scale experiment on 45 persons by the process of the hygiene institute of the Waffen SS by SS Standartenfuehrer Lecturer Dr. Mrugowsky.

Vaccinations were made on 8 different days within 4 weeks against smallpox, typhoid, paratyphus A and B, cholera, typhus, and diphtheria.

Compatibility was generally good. Exact records and report were delivered on 27 April 1943 to department chief of office XVI.

It led partly to a strong decrease in working capacity, loss of strength, increase of temperature, and swelling of the lymph glands. Typhoid and smallpox were not vaccinated on the same side of the body, otherwise great swelling of the lymph glands takes places.

The diphtheria adsorbat vaccine led to about 20 cases of strong formation of abcesses. Where still in the camp, the persons were again vaccinated for smallpox within ¼ year.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_31 Mar 43_:

_Therapeutic Experiments “Acridine Granulate” and “Rutenol”_

For the therapeutic experiments “Acridine Granulate” (A. Gr) and Rutenol (R), 40 persons were infected with egg Rickettsia.

_11 Apr 43_:

After observation lasting several weeks, no sickness started. Report to SS Standartenfuehrer Lecturer Dr. Mrugowsky and President Professor Gildemeister. The strain “Matelska” of the Robert Koch Institute, which was highly virulent until a year ago, apparently is no longer pathogenic to humans. A new means of artificial infection must therefore be found, which will lead to typhus with certainty.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_11 Apr 43_:

Preliminary Experiment C:

To determine a sure means of infection, experiments with fresh blood from persons stricken with typhus were made. Infection took place as follows:

3 persons—2 cc. each of fresh blood intravenously.

2 persons—2 cc. each of fresh blood intramuscularly.

2 persons—2 cc. each of fresh blood subcutaneously.

2 persons—after scarification.

2 persons—with a vaccinating scalpel cutaneously.

Those infected intravenously contracted typical, serious typhus and died from failure of the circulatory system. The other experimental subjects complained only of minor discomfort, without becoming hospital cases.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_13 Apr 43_:

Preliminary Experiment D:

The following were infected:

6 persons with 2 cc. each of fresh blood intravenously.

6 persons with 2 cc. each of fresh blood intramuscularly.

6 persons with 2 cc. each of fresh blood subcutaneously.

6 persons by scarification.

6 persons by means of vaccinating scalpel cutaneously.

The 6 _intravenously_ infected persons again contracted very serious typhus; 5 died.

Of the 6 infected intramuscularly, one person contracted medium typhus. The others had no serious complications, and were not hospital cases.

The surest means of infection to produce typhus in humans is, therefore, the intravenous injection of 2 cc. fresh typhus-infected blood.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_13 and 14 Apr 43_:

Unit of SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding ordered to I. G. Farbenindustrie A. G., Hoechst. Conference with Professor Lautenschlaeger, Dr. Weber, and Dr. Fussgaenger concerning the experimental series “Acridine Granulate and Rutenol” in the concentration camp Buchenwald.

Visit to Geheimrat Otto and Professor Prigge in the Institute for Experimental Therapeutics in Frankfurt/Main.

_24 Apr 43_:

_Therapeutic Experiments Acridine Granulate (A-GR2) and Rutenol (R-2)_

To carry out the therapeutic experiments Acridine Granulate and Rutenol, 30 persons (15 each) and 9 persons for control were infected by intravenous injection of 2 cc. each of fresh typhus-infected blood. All experimental persons contracted very bad typhus.

_1 Jun 43_:

Charts and case history completed.

The experimental series was concluded.

21 deaths (8 with Acridine Granulate, 9 with Rutenol, 5 control).

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_27 Apr 43_: _1 May 43_:

Unit of SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding ordered to Paris to procure laboratory material for the Division for Typhus and Virus Research and the Hygiene Institute.

_10 Jun 43_:

_Typhoid-Therapeutic Experiment “Otrhomin”_

At the suggestion of the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin (Professor Dr. Lockemann) the effect of a new therapeuticum of the Rhoda series—Otrhomin is to be tested on humans. For this purpose, 20 persons of the series “Otrhomin” and 20 persons for control (10 immunized, 10 not immunized) were infected on 10 June 1943 and on 18 June 1943 with 2 cc. each of typhoid bacteria in a physical salt solution, given in potato salad. Of the 40 persons, 7 became slightly sick, 23 more seriously. Furthermore, there were 6 ambulatory cases. Four persons did not show any symptoms.

_28 Jul 43_:

Charts and case history of the series “Otrhomin” completed and sent to Berlin.

_5 Aug 43_:

Charts and case history of the control series completed and sent to Berlin.

_10 Aug 43_:

Delivery of the records to Reich Senior Medical Counsellor Christiansen in the Reich Ministry of the Interior. The experimental series was concluded.

1 death (control not immunized).

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_28 May 43_: _18 Jun 43_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Experimental Series VII_

Carrying out of typhus vaccination for immunization with the following vaccine:

1. 20 persons with vaccine “Asid”.

2. 20 persons with vaccine “Asid Adsorbat” of the Anhaltinischen Serumwerke G. m. b. H., Berlin 7.

3. 20 persons with vaccine “Weigl” of the Institute for Typhus and Virus Research of the Army High Command, Army (OKH) Krakow (Eyer).

_27 Aug 43_:

Infection of—

20 persons in the series “Asid”.

20 persons in the series “Asid Adsorbat”.

20 persons in the series “Weigl”.

10 persons for control by intravenous injection of ¼ cc. each of fresh typhus-infected blood, strain Bu II, Passage I.

All experimental persons got very serious typhus.

_7 Sep 43_:

Chart and case history completed. The experimental series was concluded—

53 deaths (18 with “Asid”, 18 with “Asid Adsorbat”, 9 with “Weigl”, 8 control).

_9 Sep 43_:

Charts and case histories delivered to Berlin.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_8 Nov 43_: _17 Jan 44_:

_High Immunization Experiment with Fraenkel Vaccines_

According to an immunization plan of the Fraenkel high immunization for humans, the compatibility of Fraenkel-Formol-Toxoid (Formol-Toxin of bacterium perfringens) of humans was tested.

At first 15 experimental subjects were vaccinated 3 times at intervals of 14 days with 1 cc. Fraenkel-A1. F. T. (Fraenkel-Toxoid absorbed in aluminum hydroxide).

After an interval of 14 days, vaccinations with Fraenkel-Formol-Toxoid (Formol-Toxin of bacterium perfringens) as follows:

20 Dec 43 1 cc. subcutaneously left upper arm.
26 Dec 43 2 cc. subcutaneously right upper arm.
31 Dec 43 4 cc. subcutaneously left upper arm.
3 Jan 44 6 cc. subcutaneously right upper arm.
6 Jan 44 9 cc. subcutaneously right and left chest.
10 Jan 44 12 cc. subcutaneously both upper arms.
14 Jan 44 15 cc. subcutaneously right and left chest.

_17 Jan 44_:

Observation of vaccination reactions completed and sent away.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_19 Nov 43_: _25 Nov 43_:

_Phosphorus-Rubber Incendiary Bomb Experiment_

To test the preparation “R 17” on fresh phosphorus burns and to test “Echinacine” ointment and “Echinacine extern” for the later treatment of wounds from phosphorus burns (all from the Dr. Madaus Works in Dresden-Radebeul), burning tests were carried out on five experimental subjects on the above-mentioned dates with phosphorus, matter taken from an English incendiary bomb found near Leipzig.

_5 Jan 44_:

Records delivered to the Reich medical officer of the SS with the request to forward it to the Dr. Madaus Works.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_30-31 Dec 43_:

_Special Experiment on 4 Persons in the Koch-Hoven Case_

By order of SS Gruppenfuehrer Nebe, the experiment was carried out in the presence of Dr. Morgen and Dr. Wehner.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_21 Dec 43_: _16 Jan 44_:

_Control of Blood Plasma_

By order of the Military Academy of Medicine, Berlin, 18 capsules of blood plasma were tested on 18 experimental persons for their compatibility on humans.

_17 Jan 44_:

Test records sent away.

_25 Jan 44_: _19 Feb 44_:

_Control of Blood Plasma_

By order of the Military Academy of Medicine, Berlin, 30 more capsules of blood plasma were tested on 30 experimental persons for their compatibility on humans.

_22 Feb 44_:

Test papers sent to Reich medical officer of SS by courier.

DR. DING
SS Sturmbannfuehrer

_22 Jan 44_: _31 Jan 44_:

_Vaccine Preliminary Experimental Series “Weimar”_

To test compatibility and the immunization effect, five persons were immunized by three vaccinations with typhus vaccine “Weimar” (producer: Hygiene Institute of the Waffen SS, Division for Typhus and Virus Research). On 22 Jan 44, 0.5 cc., on 27 Jan 44, 1.0 cc., on 31 Jan 44, 1.0 cc. were injected subcutaneously in the left or right upper arm.

For comparison, 5 persons were immunized on the above-mentioned dates with 0.5 cc., 0.5 cc., and 1 cc. of typhus egg-culture vaccine “Asid” (Anhaltinische Serumwerke, Berlin) and 5 persons were immunized with typhus vaccine “Giroud” (produced by the Pasteur Institute, Paris, from rabbit lungs), 1 cc. each.

_25 Feb 44_:

Twenty persons (15 immunized and 5 for control) were infected by subcutaneous injection of 1/20 cc. fresh typhus-infected blood.

Donor: G * * * Nr 713, 36 years old (6th day of sickness)

Strain Bu IV/Passage 13.

All those infected fell sick with slight to serious typhus.

_5 Apr 44_:

Chart and case history completed.

_25 Apr 44_:

The experimental series was concluded—

5 deaths (1 Asid, 1 Weimar, 3 Control).

DR. DING

_8 Mar 44_: _18 Mar 44_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Experimental Series VIII_

Suggested by Colonel M. C. of the Air Corps, Oberstarzt Professor Rose the vaccine “Kopenhagen” (Ipsen-Murine vaccine), produced from mouse liver by the National Serum Institute in Copenhagen, was tested for its compatibility on humans.

20 persons were vaccinated for immunization by intramuscular injection into the Musculus Glutaeus Max. on the following dates: 8 Mar 44, 0.5 cc.; 13 Mar 44, 0.5 cc.; 18 Mar 44, 1.0 cc.

10 persons were contemplated for control and comparison.

4 of the 30 persons were eliminated _before_ the start of the artificial injection, because of intermittent sickness.

_16 Apr 44_:

The remaining experimental persons were infected on 16 Apr 44 by subcutaneous injection of 1/20 cc. typhus sick fresh blood. Donor: W * * * No. 763, 27 years old (6th day of sickness)

Strain Bu VII/Passage 1.

The following fell sick:

_a._ 17 persons immunized; 9 medium, 8 seriously.

_b._ 9 control persons; 2 medium, 7 seriously.

_2 Jun 44_:

The experimental series was concluded.

_13 Jun 44_:

Chart and case history completed and sent to Berlin.

6 deaths (3 Kopenhagen, 3 Control).

DR. DING

_26 May 44_: _12 Jun 44_:

_Taking of Blood to Produce Typhus Convalescent Serum (FFRS)_

To produce FFRS, 6,500 cc. blood were taken from 15 typhus convalescents between the 14th and 21st day after the fever had subsided, and sent by courier to the SS Main Operational Headquarters, office group D, office XVI (blood conservation) attn: SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Ellenbeck, in Berlin-Lichterfelde.

DING

_22 May 44_: _16 Jun 44_:

_Control of Blood Plasma_

By order of the Military Academy for Medicine, Berlin, 44 capsules of blood plasma were tested on 44 experimental persons for their compatibility on humans.

_19 Jun 44_:

Test protocol sent to the senior hygienist of the Reich Medical Office of the SS and Police, Berlin.

DING

_17 Jul 44_: _27 Jul 44_:

_Typhus Vaccine, Experimental Series IX_

The typhus vaccine “Weimar”, produced by the Division for Typhus and Virus Research of the Hygiene Institute of the Waffen SS, Weimar-Buchenwald, was tested according to orders for its efficacy on humans.

This vaccine was produced from rabbit lungs according to the process Durand-Giroud. It contains virus (Rickettsia-Prowazeki) of self-isolating types deadened and suspended in 2/00 Formol.

20 persons were immunized on the following dates with 1 cc. each: 17, 22, 27 July 1944.

The vaccinations were made subcutaneously on the right or left upper arm.

For comparison 20 persons were immunized at the same time with “Weigl” vaccine, produced from lice by the Army High Command in Krakow according to regulations.

Furthermore, 20 persons were provided for control purposes.

_6 Sep 44_:

The 60 experimental persons were infected by subcutaneous injection of 1/10 cc. fresh typhus-infected blood each into the right upper arm.

All persons fell sick as follows:

_a._ “Weimar”—9 slightly, 7 slightly to medium, 4 medium.

_b._ “Weigl”—6 slightly to medium, 8 medium, 6 seriously.

_c._ Control—1 medium, 19 seriously.

_17 Oct 44_:

The experimental series was concluded.

_4 Nov 44_:

Chart and case history completed.

24 deaths (5 “Weigl”, 19 Control).

DR. SCHULER

_13 Oct 44_: _31 Oct 44_:

_Taking of Blood to Produce Typhus Convalescent Serum (FFRS)_

To produce FFRS, 20.8 liters of blood were taken from 44 typhus convalescents between the 14th and 21st day after the fever had subsided, and sent by courier to the SS Main Operational Headquarters, office group D, office XVI (blood conservation)—SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ellenbeck, Berlin-Lichterfelde.

SCHULER

_26 Oct 44_:

Special experiment on 6 persons according to instructions of SS Oberfuehrer Lecturer Dr. Mrugowsky and RKPA (report on this orally).

SCHULER

_13 Nov 44_:

_Therapeutic Experiment with Typhus Vaccine_

By order of the senior hygienist of the Waffen SS of 12 August 44, it is to be determined whether the course of typhus can be tempered by the intravenous or intramuscular injection of typhus vaccine.

For the experimental series 20 persons were considered, of these, 10 for intravenous injection (Series A), 10 for intramuscular injection (Series B) and, in addition, 5 persons for control.

On 13 Nov 44, the 25 experimental persons were infected by subcutaneous injection of 1/10 cc. each fresh typhus-infected blood. All persons fell sick as follows: Series A—10 serious; Series B—1 medium 9 serious; Control—5 serious.

_22 Dec 44_:

The experimental series was concluded.

_2 Jan 45_:

Chart and case history completed.

19 deaths (9 Series A, 6 Series B, 4 Control).

DR. SCHULER

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-257
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 283

EXTRACT FROM THE AFFIDAVIT OF DR. ERWIN SCHULER, 20 JULY 1945,
CONCERNING TYPHUS EXPERIMENTS

* * * * *

_Hoven’s Share in Block 46_

In February 1942 the order to conduct typhus experiments came through. I was chosen to carry out these experiments. Since I had my office in Berlin, a deputy had to be appointed for my absence in Buchenwald. Reichsarzt SS Dr. Grawitz, in agreement with the leading doctor of the concentration camps, Lolling, appointed SS 1st Lt. Dr. Hoven as station doctor at Buchenwald. My presence in Buchenwald always lasted only a few days, while the experiments and the typhus epidemic lasted about 10 weeks.

Dr. Hoven had orders to get the prisoners (professional criminals sentenced to death), who had been released for the experiments from the Reich Security Office and the chief of the concentration camps, for vaccination or infection after an examination of their physical fitness.

As deputy, he often ordered Dr. Plaza to take over the guard of Block 46. Dr. Plaza, in addition, continued to work independently under Kapo Dietzsch.

For experiments that did not result in death, such as the effectiveness of yellow fever vaccine, 200 to 300 volunteers stood in readiness. This I know from rosters that Dietzsch showed me once. Such experiments did not only take place in the block but also, in a certain case, in the camp itself. For that experiment about 80 Dutchmen were taken; they did not have to work and they were given extra rations. For that they had to have their temperature taken three times daily and every two days they had to give 10 cc. blood for a blood count.

Hoven worked as my deputy until my permanent entrance into Buchenwald in August 1943. In September he was arrested.

In the year 1942 he had to work a lot by himself, since I contracted typhus and after that was sent to a rest home. Immediately after that I was detailed to the Pasteur Institute in Paris. During this time the sick reports bore the signature of Hoven or Plaza.

[Signed] DR. SCHULER

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-571
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 285

1943 WORK REPORT FOR DEPARTMENT FOR TYPHUS AND VIRUS RESEARCH

Weimar-Buchenwald, January 1944.

Hygiene Institute of the Waffen SS Department for Typhus and Virus Research

_Work Report for the Year 1943_

I. _Division for Typhus and Virus Research, Clinical Section_

1 December 42 to 20 Experiment with typhus vaccines “EM” of the Behring
February 43 Works, carried out on 20 experimental subjects.
10 January to 20 Experiment with typhus therapeutics, Acridine and
February Methylene Blue, carried out on 47 experimental
subjects.
10 January to 17 May Tests with yellow fever vaccines, carried out on 435
experimental subjects.
25 January to 28 Experiment with typhus vaccines “Riga” and
April “Zuerich,” carried out on 40 experimental
subjects.
24 March to 20 April Performance of a large-scale experiment according to
the scheme of the Hygiene Institute of the Waffen
SS, carried out by SS Standartenfuehrer Lecturer
Dr. Mrugowsky, with smallpox, typhoid, paratyphus
A and B, cholera, typhus, and diphtheria, on 45
experimental subjects.
31 March to 11 April Experiment with typhus therapeutics Acridine
Granulate and Rutenol, carried out on 40 persons.
11 April to 24 May Preliminary experiments with fresh blood infected
with typhus for the purpose of investigating an
infallible method of infection, carried out on 41
persons.
11 April—not yet Infections with typhus so far applied to 47 persons.
terminated
24 April to 1 June Experiment with typhus therapeutics Acridine
Granulate (2) and Rutenol (2) carried out on 40
experimental subjects.
28 May to 9 Experiment with typhus vaccines “Asid,”
September “Asid-Adsorbat,” and “Weigl” carried out on 70
persons.
10 June to 8 August Experiment with typhoid therapeutics “Otrhomin,”
carried out on 40 experimental subjects.
8 November—not yet Gangrene—high immunization experiment, carried out
terminated on 15 experimental subjects.
19 November—not yet Experiments with burns by means of phosphorus rubber
terminated incendiary bombs carried out on 5 persons.
21 November—not yet Control of blood conservation.
terminated
23 December to 31 Special experiment carried out on 4 persons.
December

II. _Division for Typhus and Virus Research, Production of Vaccines_

10 August Termination of the exterior alterations on the
prisoners’ Block 50 in Buchenwald concentration
camp.
16 August Opening of the Division for Typhus and Virus
Research. Transfer of the head of the department,
SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding to Buchenwald.
Beginning of the preliminary work for production.
20 September First infection of 3 guinea pigs with
typhus-infected blood, strain Bu I. Up to the end
of the year 8 successful infections from this
strain and positive adaptation of the strain to
mice (with only 2 infections due to lack of these
experimental animals), as well as to the lungs of
rabbits through mice with the brains of guinea
pigs as starting material.
24 September Isolation of the strain Bu II on 3 guinea pigs with
typhus-infected blood. After successful adaptation
at the end of the year 8th infection. Performance
of 4 infections of mice. Great quantities of
standard type Rickettsia. Furthermore successful
adaptation of the strain Bu II to the lungs of
rabbits through mice.
9 October Due to lack of mice experiment to adapt the mixed
strains Bu I and Bu II directly from infected
brains of guinea pigs to the lungs of rabbits. At
the end of the year this strain is contained fully
virulent in the 6th infection of rabbits. Since
the 5th infection, particularly, great quantities
of Rickettsia on the lungs of rabbits. The results
of the direct adaptation experiments are being
checked by pathogenic and skin virulence tests.
12 October Reported to the Hygiene Institute of the Waffen SS
that the experiments for the breeding of
Rickettsia strains on the lungs of rabbits were
successful and production was only handicapped by
the lack of the refrigerator and of the Calabeius
meat-triturator model.
22 October Isolation and transfer to guinea pigs of the strain
Bu IV of subjects infected with typhus after
strain Bu III had died during the first infection.
In this case the lack of mice was once more
especially noticeable.
First half of Outbreak of an epidemic among 375 recently supplied
November mice to which 289 animals succumbed within a few
days. As the remaining mice were not healthy
either, they were killed.
11 November Vaccination of rabbits with infected lungs of mice.
Later on, performance of two more infections of
rabbits. Experiments are a complete success; large
quantities of Rickettsia with well-developed
bacilli-shaped elements on the lungs of the
rabbits.
30 November Successful direct adaptation of the strain Bu IV
from the brains of infected guinea pigs to the
lungs of rabbits. After performance of another
infection of rabbits, mixing of the strain with
the strain Bu I and Bu II. All infections continue
to be successfully carried out.
4 December Experiment, by making use of the night frosts and by
using the handshake technique without refrigerator
and without Calabeius, to produce the first sample
of vaccine. For this purpose, lungs of rabbits of
the 5th or 6th infection series of the mixed
strain Bu I and Bu II, which are rich in
Rickettsia, were used.
14 December Centrifugation of the suspension produced on 4
December.
15 December Starting of the refrigerator which had arrived in
the meantime. Result of the examination of the
sediment of the vaccine produced on 4 December:
after 2 hours of centrifugation great quantities
of Rickettsia (bacilli-shaped, point-shaped,
dumbell-shaped). The sterility control proved the
suspension free from bacteria.
17 December 4 guinea pigs were given intraperitoneal injections
of 1 cc. of vaccine each, in order to check
whether the vaccines produced on 4 December agreed
with them. The guinea pigs did not show any
alterations of voracity nor of temperature and
were still alive at the end of the year.
24 December Vaccination of a series of 10 guinea pigs, with our
own vaccine and Giroud vaccine, in order to infect
them later on with typhus-infected blood.
29 December The reactions for skin virulence according to Giroud
show a virulence of the suspension at a dilution
of 1:2.000 to 1:4.000.

For the performance of the breeding experiments 56 mice, 134 guinea pigs, and 112 rabbits were used up to the present date.

In the serological department 1226 proteus OX 19 agglutinations, 3 Gruber-Widal tests, and 4 Takata-Ara reactions were performed for the SS infirmary and Buchenwald concentration camp and its branch camps.

For our own requirements up to this date, about 1,500 cubic cm. of typhoid-paratyphus B deposits have been produced, in order to reduce the power of resistance of the experimental animals.

III. _Inspections of the Division for Typhus and Virus Research_

8 February Inspection of the clinical section by Oberstabsarzt
Dr. Eyer of the Institute for Typhus and Virus
Research of the Army High Command, Krakow and by
Oberstabsarzt Dr. Schmidt of the Army Medical
Inspectorate.
24 August Inspection of the department by the Director of the
Central Building Section of the Waffen SS and
Police, SS Obersturmfuehrer Huehnefeld, and
discussion of necessary improvements.
26 August Inspection by the Higher SS and Police leader in
Kassel, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of the
Waffen SS, the Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, and
by the commandant of Buchenwald concentration
camp.
3 September Inspection by the head of the Hygiene Institute of
the Waffen SS, SS Standartenfuehrer Lecturer Dr.
Mrugowsky.
29 September Inspection by the Chief of Office D III in the SS
Economic and Administrative Main Office (WVHA), SS
Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Lolling and Professor Dr.
Schenk.

IV. _Official Trips by the Head of the Division for Typhus and Virus Research_

28 February to 6 SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding ordered to Paris
March for the purchase of laboratory equipment for the
Division for Typhus and Virus Research
Weimar-Buchenwald, and for the Hygiene Institute
of the Waffen SS.
27 April to 1 May Once more on detached service to Paris for the same
purpose.
25 June to 15 August Ordered sick leave at Sellin on Ruegen.
27 August Conferences with the Zeiss firm at Jena, with the
Landesgewerbearzt and in the University Library.
4 September Inspection in the village of “X” with the Head of
the Hygiene Institute, SS Standartenfuehrer
Lecturer Dr. Mrugowsky, with the Standortarzt of
the Waffen SS Weimar-Buchenwald, and with the
adjutant of the commandant of the Buchenwald
concentration camp.
8 September Another inspection in the village of “X”.
16September Purchase of laboratory requisites at Jena,
conference with the Zeiss firm concerning the
alteration of 2 microscopes.
23 September Purchase of laboratory requisites at Erfurt.
29 September to 4 Conference in Berlin with the Head of the Hygiene
October Institute of the Waffen SS, SS Standartenfuehrer
Lecturer Dr. Mrugowsky.
13 October Inspection at “Dora” and “Laura” with the commandant
of the Buchenwald concentration camp.
21 October Inspection of the branch commands Leipzig
Wernigerode, Schoenebeck, and “Dora” with the camp
commandant.
25 October to 15 On detached service with the German Hygiene
November Institute for the Eastern Territories in Riga, and
subsequently conference with the Madaus firm in
Dresden at the instance of SS Obergruppenfuehrer
and General of the Waffen SS von Woyrsch.

SS Sturmbannfuehrer.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-121
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 293

LETTER FROM HAAGEN TO HIRT, 15 NOVEMBER 1943, CONCERNING PRISONERS TO BE
USED AS EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS FOR TESTS WITH TYPHUS VACCINE

15 November 1943
_Secret_

To: Professor Dr. Hirt Anatomical Institute of the Reich University Strasbourg

On 13-11-43, an inspection was made of the prisoners that were furnished to me in order to determine their suitability for the tests which have been planned for the typhus vaccines. Of the 100 prisoners that have been selected in their former camp, 18 died during transport. Only 12 prisoners are in such a condition that they can be used for these experiments, provided their strength can first be restored. This should take about 2-3 months. The remaining prisoners are in such a condition that they cannot be used at all for these purposes.

I might point out that the experiments are for the purpose of testing a new vaccine. Such experiments only lead to fruitful results when they are carried out with normally nourished subjects whose physical powers are comparable to those of the soldiers. Therefore, experiments with the present group of prisoners cannot yield usable results, particularly since a large part of them are apparently afflicted with maladies which make them unsuitable for these experiments. A long period of rest and of good nourishment would not alter this fact.

I request, therefore, that you send me 100 prisoners, between 20-40 years of age, who are healthy and who are so constituted physically that they furnish comparable material.

Heil Hitler!
STABSARZT PROF. DR. E. HAAGEN

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-122
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 298

LETTER DICTATED BY ROSE, ADDRESSED TO HAAGEN, 13 DECEMBER 1943,
CONCERNING EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS FOR VACCINE EXPERIMENTS

Professor Rose, Chief Surgeon.

O. U., 13 December 1943.

Stabsarzt Professor Haagen Institute of Hygiene of the Reich University Strasbourg, Alsace, Adolf Kussmaulstrasse 3

Dear Herr Haagen,

Many thanks for your letter of 8 December. I regard it as unnecessary to make a renewed special request to the SS Main Office in addition to the request you have already made. I request that, in procuring persons for vaccination in your experiment, you requisition a corresponding number of persons for vaccination with the Copenhagen vaccine. This has the advantage, as also appeared in the Buchenwald experiments, that the testing of various vaccines simultaneously gives a clearer idea of their value than the testing of one vaccine alone.

With best wishes,
Heil Hitler!
Yours
(Dictated by Prof. Rose and signed after his departure)
By order
[Signed] SCHWARZE
Private, 1st Class (Med. Corps)

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-123
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 303

LETTER FROM HAAGEN TO HIRT, 9 MARCH 1944, CONCERNING EXPERIMENTS
CONDUCTED WITH TYPHUS VACCINE AND REQUESTING EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS

9 May 1944

Main Office SS through Professor Dr. Hirt Anatomical Institute of the Reich University Strasbourg

I enclose herewith a carbon copy of a paper on our experiments with a dry typhus vaccine. The paper was sent to the Chief of the Luftwaffe Medical Service as a manuscript, with the request for permission to publish it. It constitutes a report concerning further experiments with a typhus vaccine which has not been made sterile by chemical agents or by heating. As may be seen from the results, it has been possible to produce a vaccine which provides not only an antitoxic immunity but also a definite anti-infection immunity which is of particularly practical significance. However, it is clearly pointed out that vaccination is followed by a rather long fever reaction and, therefore, its introduction cannot yet be recommended. Further tests are now in progress to alter the vaccine so that, without losing its antigenic property, it will produce so weak a reaction that no general indisposition will result. These tests will be made by reducing the dose or by storing the vaccine for a longer interval.

To carry out this research, experimental subjects will again be needed. I, therefore, again request that subjects be furnished to me for this purpose. In order to obtain results which are accurate and which can be statistically evaluated, I ask that 200 persons be furnished to me for inoculation. I may point out that they must be in a physical condition similar to that of members of the armed forces.

It is highly desirable that I again be permitted to carry out these experiments at camp Natzweiler.

PROFESSOR DR. E. HAAGEN

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-139
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 317

LETTER FROM DR. GRUNSKE TO HAAGEN, 7 MARCH 1944, CONCERNING REPORTS ON YELLOW FEVER VIRUS EXPERIMENTS REQUESTED BY A JAPANESE MEDICAL OFFICER

High Command of the Navy Flottenarzt Dr. Grunske

Berlin, 7 March 1944
Landgrafenstr. 12
Tel: 24 9591 Ext 241

To: Professor Dr. Haagen Strasbourg Hygiene Institute of the University

Dear Professor:

In connection with my letter of 26 February and your long distance telephone call of 6 March, I must advise you that the Japanese Oberstabsarzt has in the meantime contacted Oberstarzt Professor Dr. Rose of the Luftwaffe Medical Service, and that the latter has promised to secure for him from Strasbourg all the accounts concerning the yellow fever virus experiments which are important to him. Therefore, Oberstartz Dr. Rose will give you further details. I therefore ask that the matter be considered closed between us.

With fraternal esteem and
Heil Hitler!
Respectfully yours
[Signed] DR. GRUNSKE
Flottenarzt

TRANSLATION OF ROSE DOCUMENT 16
ROSE DEFENSE EXHIBIT 12

EXTRACTS FROM THE AFFIDAVIT OF PROFESSOR OTTO LENZ, DIRECTOR OF THE
ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE IN BERLIN

* * * * *

Professor Rose was not the “typhus expert” of the Robert Koch Institute, nor did he work on typhus there. But he was the Chief of the Department of Tropical Medicine, and was in this capacity, with the exception of one field of research, (that of the transmission of dysentery and typhoid bacilli by insects) exclusively concerned with tropical diseases and parasites (insects).

The typhus expert of the institute was rather Professor Haagen, the Chief of the Virus Division. After his departure, following his appointment to the Chair of Hygiene at Strasbourg University, Professor Gildemeister, the then President of the Institute, continued the research on typhus.

Thus, various physicians, among them Dr. Ding, received instruction on typhus from Professor Haagen in the Virus Division, but _not_ from Professor Rose.

Owing to the destruction by air raids of many of the files of the Robert Koch Institute, I can no longer ascertain whether Professor Rose was associated with the decisions taken on typhus experiments.

Several of the men who were at that time departmental chiefs, however, assured me unanimously, that this had _not_ been the case.

* * * * *

Finally, nothing is known of Professor Rose’s having had the opportunity to become aware of Geheimrat Lockemann’s chemo-therapeutical experiments (chemo-therapy of abdominal typhoid with otrhomin). The only research on abdominal typhoid carried on in Rose’s department consisted of the experiments on the role of the house fly in the transmission of dysentery caused by bacteria and of abdominal typhoid.

* * * * *

TRANSLATION OF ROSE DOCUMENT 46
ROSE DEFENSE EXHIBIT 20

EXTRACT FROM A CERTIFIED STATEMENT, 4 MARCH 1947, OF J. OERSKOV, M. D.,
DIRECTOR OF THE STATE SERUM INSTITUTE IN COPENHAGEN

* * * * *

In answer to questions asked us about the visit of Professor Rose, I can say the following:

to 1. Did Professor Rose, when he visited the Institute at the end of September 1943, request the Copenhagen Institute to take up the production of the typhus vaccine from R. pr. in order to help overcome the great shortage of typhus vaccine? Yes.

to 2. Was this request refused by Director Oerskov for valid reasons? Yes.

to 3. Was R. then taken to visit Dr. Ipsen’s section?

I do not remember this, but it is apparent from Dr. Ipsen’s experimental records that Professor Rose actually was in Dr. Ipsen’s laboratory on 24 September and probably discussed these problems with him. Unfortunately, Dr. Ipsen is at present in America on a study trip and will not return before June or July. It is, however, apparent from our records that if Profesor Rose ever received samples of our vaccine it could only have been a small quantity, and neither I nor Dr. Ipsen’s colleagues have ever heard anything of the possible effects of our vaccine.

Through the Danish Red Cross we sent our vaccine to Danish as well as to Norwegian prisoners of war camps, so that the vaccine was given only to Danish or Norwegian colleagues. We heard from Danish colleagues that the effect of these vaccinations was good.

I can add that I am grateful to Professor Rose because he probably helped to prevent our Institute’s being compelled to take over the production of typhus vaccine. It is entirely unpredictable what calamities might have arisen if we had been forced to take up the production of this vaccine.

[Signed] J. OERSKOV
Director of the State Serum Institute
Not. K. J. No. 1974/47
EXTRACTS FROM THE TESTIMONY OF PROSECUTION WITNESS EUGEN KOGON[63]

_DIRECT EXAMINATION_

* * * * *

MR. MCHANEY: Now, will you please explain to the Tribunal in your own words exactly how these typhus experiments were carried out.

WITNESS KOGON: After 40 to 60 people, sometimes up to 120, had been detailed for a series of experiments, one-third of them were separated, and the other two-thirds were either vaccinated with a protective treatment, or it was otherwise administered to them, if it was a chemical therapeutical treatment. Those people who were protected against typhus remained in Block 46 for several weeks until their infection with Rickettsias Prowazeki, the typhus agent. The first selection, that is to say, the first third, was also infected together with them. They served as so-called control persons, with the help of whom it was possible to ascertain whether the infection took and what course the disease took in their cases, so that this course could be compared with that of those who had been vaccinated and then infected. The infection was performed in various ways. Either typhus was transferred through fresh blood injected intravenously or intramuscularly. At the beginning, too, by scratching the skin, or by making a small incision in the arm. In the initial stages, two cubic centimeters of fresh blood infected with typhus were used for the infection, unless the infection concerned was one with an infectious solution. Two cubic centimeters of fresh blood containing typhus were then usually injected into the veins. Later on that dosage was reduced to 1/20 of 1 cubic centimeter because the large quantity of 2 cubic centimeters would penetrate any security achieved by the vaccination. Even 1/20 of a cubic centimeter of fresh blood containing typhus was usually enough to produce a very high degree of typhus if injected into the veins. In the course of years the typhus cultures used at Buchenwald had been cultivated from man to man and had increased their strength, their virulence to a considerable degree, so that the very smallest quantity was sufficient. I suggested to Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Ding in 1944 that in order to increase the scientific value he should reduce the quantity of these injections to the extreme minimum so that the so-called threshold value could be ascertained—in other words, so that the artificial infection should be as similar to normal infection by lice as possible. He turned this suggestion down because he believed that then no convincing proof could be achieved of the real strength of the protective treatment used. A third category of the experimental persons was used to maintain the typhus cultures. Those were the so-called passage persons, amounting to three to five persons per month. They were merely infected for the purpose of ensuring a constant supply of fresh blood containing typhus. Very nearly all those persons died. I do not think I am exaggerating if I say that 95 percent of these cases were fatal.

Q. Witness, do you mean to say that they deliberately infected three to five persons a month with typhus just to have the viruses alive and available in blood?

A. Just for that particular purpose.

Q. Can you tell the Tribunal approximately how many of those persons died who were infected just to keep the viruses alive?

A. From the so-called passage persons, as I have already said, between three to five were used per month, that is, when I was working for Dr. Ding-Schuler—every month until the end of the Buchenwald concentration camp. That is to say, from April 1943 until March 1945. As far as the previous period is concerned, I only know that passage persons had been used, but I do not know the figures.

Q. Now, Witness, were experimental persons also infected with lice?

A. As far as I know, only one single experiment took place in Buchenwald where an original infection with typhus was performed with lice. The infected lice were brought from the OKH Institute in Krakow by a courier and were taken to Block 46. There they were kept in small cages which were applied to the thighs of the experimental persons, and a number of persons, I do not know how many, were infected. Some of our comrades let a few lice escape in a room of Block 46, but they kept them under control and reported to the Kapo that infected lice had escaped from the cages. Kapo [inmate trusty] Arthur Dietzsch immediately reported this to the camp physician, Dr. Hoven, who was deputizing at that time for Dr. Ding-Schuler. Dr. Hoven, following Dietzsch’s advice, then ordered the destruction of these infected lice. A second delivery from Krakow was also burned because it was not desired that experiments should be performed which entailed such danger for the camp.

* * * * *