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CORRESPONDENCE OF THE AHNENERBE
The letters that follow are English translations of exhibits produced at the Nuremberg tribunal.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-085 PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 175
LETTER FROM SIEVERS TO RUDOLF BRANDT, 9 FEBRUARY 1942, REPORT BY HIRT CONCERNING THE ACQUISITION OF SKULL JEWISH-BOLSHEVIK COMMISSARS
The Ahnenerbe
The Reich Business Manager
To: SS Sturmbannfuehrer Dr. Brandt
Berlin SW 11, Prinz Albrecht Strasse 8
Secret
Berlin, 9 February 1942
G/R/2 page 1
Dear Comrade Brandt:
For the reason that Professor Dr. Hirt has in the meantime come seriously ill, I regret that I have been unable to submit any sooner Dr. Hirt's report which you requested in your letter of December 1941, Journal No. AR/493/37. He was stricken with pulmonary hemorrhages, the diagnosis was "cystlung", so at least not TB. In addition to that he suffered from circulatory asthenia. At present he is still in the hospital, but hopes that the doctor release him soon so that he can, at least to a limited degree, resume his work. Due to those circumstances Professor Hirt was able to furnish only a preliminary report which, however, I still should to submit to your attention. The report concerns--
1. his research in the field of microscopy of living tissues, the covery of a new method of examination, and the construction new research microscope, and
2. a proposal for securing skulls of Jewish-Bolshevik Commissars. As a supplement to report 1, some special publications are attached ; of which the two parties from the "Zeiss Nachrichten" #10 (Vol. II) and 1-5 (Vol. III) facilitate most rapid general orientation, whereas other publications deal with difficult, individual scientific studies.
Sincerely yours
Heil Hitler !
[Signed] Sievers
Enclosure
Subject: Securing skulls of Jewish-Bolshevik Commissars for the purpose of scientific research at the Reich University of Strasbourg.
There exist extensive collections of skulls of almost all races and peoples. Of the Jewish race, however, only so very few specimens of skulls are at the disposal of science that a study of them does not permit precise conclusions. The war in the East now presents us with the opportunity to remedy this shortage. By procuring the skulls of the Jewish-Bolshevik Commissars, who personify a repulsive yet characteristic subhumanity, we have the opportunity of obtaining tangible scientific evidence.
The actual obtaining and collecting of these skulls without difficulty could be best accomplished by a directive issued to the Wehrmacht in the future to immediately turn over alive all Jewish-Bolshevik (Commissars to the field police [Feldpolizei]. The field police in turn is to be issued special directives to continually inform a certain office of the number and place of detention of these captured Jews and to guard them well until the arrival of a special deputy. This special deputy, commissioned with the collection of the material (a junior physician attached to the Wehrmacht or even the field police, or a medical student equipped with car and driver), is to take a prescribed series of photographs and anthropological measurements, and is to ascertain, insofar as is possible, the origin, date of birth, and other personal data of the prisoner. Following the subsequently induced death of the Jew, whose head must not be damaged, he will separate the head from the torso and will forward it to its point of destination in a preserving fluid in a well-sealed tin container especially made for this purpose. On the basis of the photos, the measurements and other data on the head and, finally, the skull itself, comparative anatomical research, research on racial classification, pathological features of the skull formation, form and size of the brain, and many other things can begin. In accordance with its scope and tasks, the new Reich University of Strasbourg would be the most appropriate place for the collection of and research on the skulls thus acquired.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-086 PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 177
LETTER FROM SIEVERS TO RUDOLF BRANDT, 2 NOVEMBER 1942, REQUESTING WITH HIMMLER'S APPROVAL, 150 SKELETONS
The Ahnenerbe
The Reich Business Manager
Berlin, 2 November 1942
[stamp]
Personal Staff Reich Leader SS
Registration of Files Secret 5/116
Secret
To: SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Brandt Berlin
Dear Comrade Brandt !
The Reich Leader SS once ordered, as you know, that SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Prof. Dr. Hirt should be provided with all necessary material for his research work. I have already reported to the Reich Leader SS that for some anthropological studies 150 skeletons of inmates or Jews are needed and should be provided by the Auschwitz concentration camp. It is only necessary for the Reich Security Main Office to be furnished now with an official directive by the Reich Leader SS; by order of the Reich Leader SS, however, you could issue it yourself.
Sincerely yours,
Heil Hitler I
[Signed] Sievers
1 enclosure:
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 089
The Reichsfuehrer-SS Personal Staff Diary No. 41/1/43 Secret.
(1) To the RSHA
Field Command Post 6.11.42.
SECRET
Department IV B4
For the attention of SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann
Berlin SW 11
Prinz-Albrecht-Str. 8
Re: Establishment of a collection of skeletons at the Anatomical Institute at Strassburg.
The Reichsfuehrer-SS has issued a directive to the effect that SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Prof. Dr. Hirt, who is the director of the Anatomical Institute at Strassburg and the head of a department of the institute for Military Science Research in the Ahnenerbe Society, be furnished with everything he needs for his research work. By order of the Reichsfuehrer-SS, therefore, I ask you to make possible the establishment of the planned collection. SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Sievers will get in touch with you with regard to straightening out the details.
By order
[signed] Brandt
SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer
2. To the "Ahnenerbe" Society Berlin, 27 November 1942.
Berlin-Dahlem
Puecklerstrasse 16
Copy sent with request that cognizance be taken thereof. I refer to your letter of 2.11.42.
By order
[signature illegible]
SS-Obersturmfuehrer.
[in pencil] 27.11
[in pencil] M
TRANSLATION DOCUMENT NO 087 PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 181
LETTER FROM SIEVERS TO EICHMANN {COPY TO RUDOLF BRANDT), 21 JUNE 1943, CONCERNING SELECTION OF SUBJECTS FOR A SKELETON COLLECTION
Ahnenerbe Office Institute for Military Scientific Research G/H/6, S2/He.
[Handwritten] XI a 56
Berlin-Dahlem, Puecklerstrasse 16, 21 June 1943
Top Secret
To Reich Security Main Office
Office IV B 4
Attention: SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann,
Berlin SW 11, Prinz Albrecht Strasse 8
Subject: Assembling of a skeleton collection.
With reference to your letter of 25 September 1942, IV B 4 3576/42 g 1488, and the personal talks which have taken place in the meantime on the above matter, you are informed that the coworker in this office who was charged with the execution of the above-mentioned special task, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Bruno Beger, ended his work in the Auschwitz concentration camp on 15 June 1943 because of the existing danger of infectious diseases.
A total of 115 persons were worked on, 79 of whom were Jews, 2 Poles, 4 Asiatics, and 30 Jewesses. At present, these prisoners are separated according to sex and each group is accommodated in a hospital building of the Auschwitz concentration camp and are in quarantine.
For further processing of the selected persons an immediate transfer to the Natzweiler concentration camp is now imperative; this must be accelerated in view of the danger of infectious diseases in Auschwitz. Enclosed is a list containing the names of the selected persons.
It is requested that the necessary directives be issued.
Since with the transfer of the prisoners to Natzweiler the danger of spreading diseases exists, it is requested that an immediate shipment of disease-free and clean prisoners' clothing for 80 men and 30 women be ordered sent from Natzweiler to Auschwitz.
G.R.Z.I. A.H. Sk No. 10 5 copies-2d copy no enclosures
At the same time one must provide for the accommodation of the 30 women in the Natzweiler concentration camp for a short period.
[Signature] SIEVERSevers
SS Standartenfuehrer
Carbon copies to--
a. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Beger
b. SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Prof. Dr. Hirt
c. SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Brandt
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 088
The Reichsfuehrer-SS
Personal Staff
Department A
Teleprint
To SS-Standartenfuehrer Ministerialrat Dr. Brandt
Personal Staff of the Reichsfuehrer-SS
Berlin
Waischenfeld/Ofr., 5.9.44.
Top Secret.
[Marginal notes in shorthand]
Re: Collection of Jewish Skeletons.
According to the proposal of 9/2/42 and your approval of 23/2/42 AR/493/37, Prof. Dr. Hirt has assembled the skeleton collection which was previously non-existent. Because of the vast amount of scientific research connected therewith, the job of reducing the corpses to skeletons has not yet been completed. Since it might require some time, Hirt requested 80 copies of the directives pertaining to the treatment of the collection stored in the morgue of the Anatomical Institute, in case Strassburg should be endangered.
The Collection can be defleshed and thereby rendered unidentifiable. This however, would mean that at least part of the whole work had been done for nothing and that this singular collection would be lost to science, since it would be impossible to make plaster casts afterwards. The skeleton collection as such is inconspicuous. The flesh parts could be declared as having been left by the French at the time we took over the Anatomical Institute and would be turned over for cremating. Please advise me which of the following three proposals is to be carried out:
1. The collection as a whole is to be preserved.
2. The collection is to be dissolved in part.
3. The collection is to be completely dissolved
[Signed]
Sievers,
SS-Standartenfuehrer.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 091
[Marginal notes in shorthand]
Note:
On 12.10.1944, I had a telephone conversation with SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers and asked him if the Strassburg Skeleton collection had been completely dissolved, as directed by SS-Standartenfuehrer Baumert. SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers could not advise me on that matter, since he had not as yet heard anything further from Prof. Hirt. I told him that in case the dissolution had not yet been carried out, a certain part of the collection should be preserved. However, guarantee should be given that a complete dissolution could be made in time in case the military situation should endanger Strassburg. SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers promised me that he would find out about it and let me know.
[signed] Berg.
SS. Hauptsturmfuehrer.
15.10.1944
Bg/HM
Note for SS-Standardtenfuehrer Dr. Brandt.
During his visit at the Operational HQ on 21.10.1944, SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers told me that the collection in Strassburg had been completely dissolved in the meantime in conformance with the directive given him at the time. He is of the opinion that this arrangement is for the best in view of the whole situation.
[signed] Berg
SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer.
26.10.1944,
Bg/HM
These exhibits were produced after Sievers testified at Nuremberg during the trial of the "organizations", especially that of the SS, where the question was to determine if the SS was a criminal organization or not.
Oddly Sievers was called to the stand as a witness for the defense; neither the accused nor Sievers expected the production of these letters, which Sievers must certainly have thought destroyed (as he believed that the bodies had been likewise, see the last message from Berg where Sievers affirmed this).
The effect of the production of these exhibits was naturally disastrous for the defense. Sievers was hung in 1948 by the Americans.
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