I then had the task of carrying the rolls of the EKG apparatus from the dark room to the window of the morgue.
And coming down now to the question:
"Now, you have stated that there were certain volunteers for these high altitude experiments; and you have also stated that the first experiments were carried out on ten subjects. Were any of those first ten subjects volunteers?
"A. The first ten subjects were not volunteers; and they did not remain at the station only at the beginning but they stayed there during the entire period, that is, for the entire period that the low pressure chamber was there. Every one of these experimental subjects experienced twenty to thirty experiments.
"Now, witness, based upon what you observed and heard at Dachau, can you say that these experiments were conducted for the benefit of the Luftwaffe?
"A. Yes.
"Q. Do you remember seeing any officers of the Luftwaffe visit the experimental station in Dachau?
"A. Certainly. Very frequently high officers of the Luftwaffe, of the SS, and of the Wehrmacht visited the experimental station. However, I can only remember the names of the leading SS men who were there; and I know no name of any Luftwaffe officer who visited the experimental station.
And now coming to the question about seven questions on:
"Q. Now, witness, did you ever hear the name of Erhardt Milch mentioned in connection with these high altitude experiments?
"A. Yes.
"Q. On what occasion?
"A. I had the impression that Romberg tried intentionally to withdraw from these experiments. He was ill on numerous occasions; and he had often left on trips. Of course, the negative thing in that connection was that Rascher had to work all the more. I spoke to Romberg himself and I asked him how long the low pressures should remain; and he said that Milch was going to use them, and he would try to do everything to send them away as quickly as possible. That happened approximately the middle or the end of May. I remember that because this meant the time for me to try to make this chamber harmless."
And now coming down about ten more questions on:
"Q. Now, I understand you to say that the experiments continued after the chamber had been fixed again?
"A. Yes.
"Q. How much longer did they last?
"A. I'm sure it lasted another three weeks.
"Q. Were experimental subjects killed during the last three weeks?
"A. Yes. Rascher killed five persons on the last day. Now on page 626 of the original copy, the question beginning:
"Q. All right. Let's move on to the freezing *** experiments. When did tho freezing experiments start?
"A. During August or at the end of July the first freezing experiments started. They were conducted by Prof. Holzloehner, Dr. Finke and Dr. Rascher. The freezing experiments can be divided into two separate departments. One a series of Holzloehner-Finke which was later excluded and then a series where Dr. Rascher made these experiments himself.
"Q. All right; suppose you describe the experimental basin.
"A. The experimental basin was built of wood. It was two meters long and two meters high. It was about 50 centimeters above the floor and it was in Block No. 5. There were found in tho experimental chamber and basin 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 group's; one where Holz loehner 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. 280 to 300 experimental subjects were used for these freezing experiments. There were really 360 to 400 experiments that were conducted since many experimental subjects experienced more than one such experiment. Sometimes even 3.
421(a) "Q. Now, out of the total of 280 or 300 prisoners used approximately how many of them died?
"A. As a result of these freezing experiments approximately 80 to 90 subjects died.
"Q. Now, hew 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 the 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. Then Rascher conducted these experiments giving the reasons that he had to build a scientific basis for them and he prepared a lecture for University Marburg on that subject."
On, skipping, a question:
"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 ten inmates by name. That list was sent to the Camp Commander and was signed by the Camp Commander and they were then sent to Rascher's station and the subjects on that list had to be experimented on. The original list I could use as evidence material in the first Dachau trial as evidence.
"Q. Now do I understand then that the experimental subjects used in this freezing experiments were political prisoners?
"A. There were certainly a number of political prisoners and also a number of foreigners, but certainty there were also prisoners of war and also inmates who had been condemned to death.
"Q. These persons were not volunteers were they?
"A. No.
"Q. Now 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 three degrees, and the experimental subjects were either dressed in a flying suit or were placed into the ice water in a naked state. During the period when Holzloehner and Finke were active most experiments were conducted under narcotics while during the Rascher period he had always rejected 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 anesthetic. Now whenever the experimental subjects were conscious it took sometime until so-called freezing narcosis set in. The temperature was measured rectally and through the stomach through the Galvanometer apparatus. The sinking down of the temperature until 32 degrees was a terrible plight for the experimental subject. At 32 degrees the experimental subject lost consciousness. These persons were frozen down to 25 degrees 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. The death cases only occurred at that time during the revival or rather during the re-warning. The temperature was further cooled down which caused the heart failure, and this also occurred because of the flight therapy so that in contrast to the low pressure chamber experiments, it has to be said here that the death victims in the Finke-Holzloehner period were not in the basin having their full consciousness, while in the air pressure chamber each death case cannot be considered as an accident, but as wilfull 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 for so long a time until they were dead."
And two questions further on:
424(a) "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 over carried out. From the bunker two Russian, officers were carried out. We were forbidden to speak to them. They arrived in the afternoon at approximately 4 o'clock. Rascher had them undressed and they had to go into the basin in a naked state. Hour after hour passed and when usually after a short time, 60 minutes, the freezing would have set in, these two Russians were still conscious even after two hours. All of our appeals to Rascher asking him to give them an injection was without purpose. Approximately in the third hour one Russian said to the other: 'Comrade, tell that officer that he may shoot us.' Then the other one replied, 'Don't expect any mercy from this Fascist dog.' Then both shock hands and they said, 'Goodbye, Comrade.' And how can one imagine that we inmates also had to be witnesses of such a death and could do nothing against it, then you can really estimate how terrible it is to be condemned to work in such an experimental station. After these words, which were translated to the Russians by a young Polo in a somewhat different form, Rascher went back into his office. The young Pole immediately tried to give them an anesthetic with chloroform, but Rascher returned immediately. He threatened us with a pistol, and he said, 'Don't dare interfere and approach these victims.' The experiment lasted at least five hours until death set in.
Both corpses were sent to Munich for autopsy in the Schwabisches Hospital there.
"Q. Witness, how long did it normally take to kill a person in these freezing experiments?
"A. The length of the experiment varied, according to the individual case. It always varied considering the fact whether 425(a) the subject was clothed or unclothed.
If his physical construction was weak and if, in addition to that, he was naked, death often set in already after 80 minutes. But there were a number of cases where the experimental subject lived up to three hours, and remained that way in the water until finally death set in."
At this time there was a recess until the next day.
THE PRESIDENT: At this time we will recess for fifteen minutes.
A recess was taken.
THE MARSHAL: The persons in the court room will rise. The Tribunal is again in session.
MR. DENNY: Your Honors, I have a few more excerpts that I would like to read into the record, from the testimony of Walter Neff, given on the 18th of December, 1946, before the American Military Tribunal in the matter of the United States of America against Earl Brandt, et al, defendants, sitting in Nuernberg, Germany.
This is entitled: NOKW-450, and I will begin reading on page 57 of the English Document Book and on page 82 of the German Document Book.
THE PRESIDENT: Will you give this a central exhibit number?
MR. DENNY: No, Your Honor. I would like to give this just one exhibit number for the two documents so far presented.
THE PRESIDENT: 101?
MR. DENNY: 101. (Reading) Beginning with the question:
"Q Now, witness, didn't Rascher also make reports to the Luftgau No. 7 in Dachau?
A In Dachau to Air District No. 7 and the Sanitary Department of No. 7 final reports. These were reports which were handled as top secret and they were sent to Reichsfuehrer SS, Sievers, and to the Sanitary Department of the Air District.
Q Tell the Tribunal, witness, what this Luftgau No. 7 in Munich was.
A That I cannot explain. I only know that the designation Luftgau Sanitaetsamt No. 7 existed, and that the offices were on Prinzregentenstrasse, and that Rascher was receiving instruction from there, too. To whom the reports were handed directly and to whom they were passed on is something I do not know.
Q But you do know that Luftgau No. 7 was a medical installation of the Luftwaffe, isn't that so?
A Yes.
Q And was it not on the occasion of the delivery of one of these reports when you went with Rascher to Luftgau No. 7 and on that occasion that you saw the defendant Waltz?
A. Whether it was on that occasion when a report was delivered or some other occasion, since Rascher visited Luftgau No. 7 quite frequently, is something I cannot recollect exactly. I don't want to state that it was just the day when a top secret matter was handed over.
Q. Was Rascher well known in Luftgau No. 7 in Munich?
A. Yes, because before Rascher was the head of the experimental station in Dachau he had an experimental station dealing with "E" measures at Schongau, also coming under Luftgau No. 7.
Q. Now, witness, let's move along to the dry freezing experiments. When were they first conducted, do you know?
A. According to my recollection, the air freezing experiments were carried out in January, February, and March, 1943. First of all, one experiment was made when the prisoner was placed on a stretcher at night and put outside the block. He was covered with a linen sheet but a bucket of cold water was poured over him hourly. That experimental subject remained there under these conditions until the morning and the temperature of that experimental subject was taken with a thermometer. Later Rascher said that it had been a mistake to cover the person with a linen cloth and pour water over him since that had produced wrong results as the air could not get at the body of the person and therefore, in the future experimental subjects were not allowed to be covered up any longer. The next experiment was a mass experiment when ten prisoners were also put outside naked at night. The temperature of one of then was measured with a galvanometer, the others with a thermometer. Rascher was present during approximately eighteen to twenty experiments of that type but I cannot remember exactly how many deaths occurred and if deaths occurred in connection with these experiments. I would like to say with certain reservations that approximately three deaths occurred during that period."
MR. DENNY: Now, going to the next page, to the question beginning:
"Q. Now, were these experimental subjects selected in the same manner as those for the wet freezing and high altitude experiments?
A. Yes.
Q. In other words, some of these experimental subjects were political prisoners, some were criminal prisoners and not all of them had been condemned to death; that correct?
A. Of the experimental subjects subjected to air cooling experiments, none were people who were sentenced to death. They were prisoners of various nationalities. There were also German political prisoners and "green" prisoners.
Q. And these prisoners had not volunteered? Had they?
A. No.
Q. Now, witness, tell us to the best of your ability, tell us how long Dr. Rascher was a member of the Medical Service of the Luftwaffe?
A. I can only say that up until the end of 1943 Rascher appeared in the SS uniform. On the other hand, I know that as early as the beginning of these freezing experiments, they were carried out by the Ahnenerbe Institute and the finances of the Ahnenerbe Institute paid the expenses.
Q. How do you know that they paid the expenses?
A. I know that from the correspondence, which Rascher had with the Ahnenerbe Institute since the clerk working in the office was telling us currently about most important matters. He too, you know, was a prisoner.
Q. But, Rascher did up until the end of 1943 wear the uniform of a Luftwaffe officer; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. So that all during the high altitude experiments, the freezing experiments in water and the air freezing experiments, Rascher was wearing the uniform of a Luftwaffe officer; is that right?
A. Yes, he was a captain or staff medical officer in the Luftwaffe.
MR. DENNY: That completes the reading of the testimony given at the trial, your Honor.
I would like now to offer in evidence an affidavit sworn to by the same Walter Neff. This will be part of the same exhibit No. 101, and is on page 53 of the English document book, and on page 78 of the German document book. This is NOKW-426 Statement -- "I, Walter Neff, swear, state and declare: That I was born on 22 February 1909, in Westheir in the vicinity of Augsburg (Germany); That I was seized by the Nazis in the year 1938 and brought to the concentration camp Dachau, because I had prevented an SS bomb-outrage (SS-Bombenattentat) on an Austrian police officer. On 1 February 1942 I was assigned as ward supervisor in Dr. Rascher's Experimentation department. I was charged with the duty of supervising the ten subjects for experiments, confined in this station, and was responsible for order and cleanliness. It was part of my duties to present a report to Dr. Rascher at the end of each month. At the conclusion of each report the number of casualties which occurred within the course of the month are given. Sixty to seventy involuntary subjects for experiments died as a result of the High Altitude Experiments (Hoehenversuche). Seventy to eighty were killed during the later freezing experiments. (Unterkuehlungsversuchen). In the middle of 1942 the cars with low pressure chambers were taken away."
MR. McMAHON: It should be 'taken away' instead of 'received'.
"On this day, the beginning of July 1942, 5 persons were killed. The name of Fieldmarshal Milch was frequently mentioned in Dachau. Every time I asked Dr. Romberg how long the cares and the pressure chambers would remain in Dachau, he said, that Milch would attend to everything, he assured me that he had communicated with Milch personally and that the cars would remain in Dachau as long as he specified. I am certain that Milch knew Dr. Rascher. The low-pressure chamber was brought to Dachau and taken away again on the basis of orders for which Milch was responsible. I have read the above statement consisting of one page in the German language and declare that it is the complete truth according to the best of my knowledge and belief. I had an opportunity to make alterations and collections in the above statement. I made this statement voluntarily and without any promise of reward, and I was subjected to no force or threat whatsoever.
Signed Walter Neff, at Nurnberg 23rd day of December, 1946."
MR. McMAHON: The next document which the Prosecution wishes to introduce will be exhibit No. 102 and is Document No. 1581 PS, found on page 79 of the English document book, and 109 of the German copy. This document is a letter from Nini Rascher, Dr. Rascher's wife, which is dated 13 April 1942, written to Dr. Brandt. Mrs. Rascher asks permission to take colored pictures of autopsies since heretofore only black and white photos had been permitted. This letter demonstrates beyond a doubt that fatalities ensued frequently from the medical experiments. The letter reads as follows: "Dear Dr. Brandt: My husband asks you to get him the permission, if possible of the Reichfuehrer to take immediate colored photos of his new preparations (Frischpruefarate) (of persons just dissected). As a rule only black -- white photographing is permitted in the camp. As he wants to evaluate the preparations later on, these photos would be very important for his work. May I ask you for a short early answer? This letter is forwarded by courier. With best regards and many thanks I remain with -- Heil Hitler, yours respectful Nini Rascher." This is Prosecution Exhibit No. 102.
We now turn to Document No. 218, on page 80 of the English book and 110 of the German book, and is Prosecution's Exhibit No. 103. This is a letter from Rascher to Himmler, describing an experiment which resulted in the death of an experimental person named Wagner. The letter is dated 16 April 1942. The letter reads: "Highly esteemed Reichsfuehrer: May I thank you for your letter of 13 April. I have been delighted with the great interest which you, highly esteemed Reichsfuehrer, are taking in the experiments and their results. I thank you for the inspirations you have given me in your letter.
"The experiment described in the report of 4 April was repeated 4 times each time with the same results. When Wagner, the last VP (experimental subject) had stopped breathing I let him come back to life by increasing pressure. Since the VPW was assigned for a terminal ("Terminal" meaning death-resulting in this case) experiment, since a repeated experiment held no prospect for new results, and since I had not been in possession of your letter at that time, I subsequently started another experiment through which VP Wagner did not live.
Also in this case the results obtained by electrocardiographic registration (Herzstromabschreibung) were extraordinary.
"In accordance with your orders, I tried to contact Dr. Fahren Kamp immediately upon receipt of your letter, however, I could not speak to him since he is layed up with angina. In a few days I shall ask again if Dr. Fahren is available.
"Meanwhile, at times together with Dr. Romberg I carried out falling experiments from heights of from 16 to 20 kilometers. There, contrary to theoretical assumptions, it was proved that falling through space after jumping from an airplane in the stratosphere (Druckkabinenflugzeugpressure cabin plane) is quite possible, as after severe unconsciousness the VP regained complete consciousness in each case, at between 7 and 8 kilometers height when the parachute lever, installed in the chamber, was pulled.
"Within the next few days I shall report at length on the experiments as well as on the above mentioned VP Wagner.
"I also have a request to make: may I take pictures of the various dissection preparations in the dissecting room of the concentration camp, to make a record of the strange formations of air embolism. In this connection, my wife has already written to SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Brandt.
"Highly esteemed Reichsfuehrer, allow me to close by assuring you that your active interest in these experiments has a tremendous influence on one's working capacity and initiative. I am with devoted greetings and Heil Hitler, yours gratefully devoted, signed Rascher."
We now turn to Document No. 1613 PS, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit No. 104, and which appears on page 82 of the English and 117 of the German document books. This is a letter from Rascher to Himmler, dated 16 October 1942, which accompanies the final report on freezing experiments at Dachau. It reads as follows: Highly esteemed Reichsfuehrer: -- "Permit me to submit the attached final report on the super-cooling experiments performed at Dachau.
432-a This report does not contain the course and results of a series of experiments with drugs, as well as experiments with animal body heat (animalisher-Waerme) which are now being conducted.
Likewise this report does not contain the microscopic pathological examinations of the brain tissues of the deceased; I was surprised at the extraordinary microscopic findings in this field, I will carry out experiments with the start of the conference in which the effect of cooling will be discussed and I hope to be able to present further results by that time. My two coworkers left Dachau about 8 days ago. In the hope that you, highly esteemed Reichsfuehrer, will be able to spare a quarter of an hour to listen to an oral report, I remain, with the most obedient regards and, Hell Hitler. Yours respectfully, Signed S. Rascher."
This completes the Document Book 5-A, your Honors, and we will now turn to Book 5-B, Document No. 428, and which will be introduced as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 105. This is a final report on freezing experiments, and the thing is on page 84 of the English and on the 4th page of the German document book. It is signed by Professor Hoslinger, Rascher, Fink, and is a report on experiments on human beings. I shall read the under the table contents Roman No. I, problems of the experiment. It is on page 85 of the English and I think page 4 of the German book. It reads: "Up to the present time there has been no basis for the treatment of shipwrecked persons who have been exposed for long periods of time to low water temperatures. These uncertainties extended to the possible physical and pharmacologial methods of attack. It was not clear, for example, whether those who had been rescued should be warmed quickly or slowly. According to the current instructions for treating frozen people, a slow warming up seemed to be indicated.
Certain theoretical considerations could be adduced for a slow warming. Well-founded suggestions were missing for a promising medicinal therapy.
"All these uncertainties rested in the last analysis upon the absence of well-founded concepts concerning the cause of death by cold in human beings. In the meantime, in order to clarify this question, a series of animal experiments were started. And, indeed, these officials who wished to make definite suggestions.
433a to the doctors in the sea rescue service had to assume a great deal of responsibility if it came to a question of convincing and consistent results in these animal experiments.