20 Dec. 45
MAJOR FARR: There appears to be no date on the English
translation. The original document bears the notation of a speech in
April 1943.
At a later stage in this case, evidence of some of the details of this
program of experiments will be presented. It is not my purpose to deal
with those experiments from the substantive aspect. I shall show only
that they were the result of SS direction and that the SS played a vital
part in their successful execution.
The program seems to have originated in a request by a Dr. Sigmund
Rascher to Himmler for permission to utilize persons in concentration
camps as material for experiments with human beings in connection with
some research he was conducting on behalf of the Luftwaffe. I refer to
our Document 1602-PS, a photostatic copy of a letter dated 15 May 1941,
addressed to the Reichsführer SS, and signed "S. Rascher."
I offer it as Exhibit Number USA-454. I shall quote from the second
paragraph of the translation, the fourth paragraph of the original
letter. I quote:
"For the time being I have been
assigned to the Luftgaukommando VII, Munich, for a medical course.
During this course where researches on high-altitude flights play a
prominent part (determined by the somewhat higher ceiling of the
English fighter planes), considerable regret was expressed at the fact
that no tests with human material had yet been possible for us, as
such experiments are very dangerous and nobody volunteers for them. I
put, therefore, the serious question: Can you make available two or
three professional criminals for these experiments? The experiments
are made at Bodenständige Prüfstelle für Höhenforschung
der Luftwaffe, Munich. The experiments, by which the subjects may, of
course, die, would take place with my co-operation. They are essential
for researches on high-altitude flight and cannot be carried out, as
has been tried, with monkeys, who offer entirely different
test-conditions. I have had a very confidential talk with the deputy
of the Surgeon of the Air Force, who makes these experiments. He is
also of the opinion that the problem in question could only be solved
by experiments on human persons. (Feeble-minded could also be used as
test material.)"
Dr. Rascher
promptly received assurance from the SS that he would be allowed to
utilize concentration camp inmates for his experiments.
I refer to our Document 1582-PS, a letter dated 22 May 1941, addressed
to Dr. Rascher, and bearing the stamp of the Personal Staff of the
Reichsführer SS, and the initials, "K Br," which initials
are those of SS Sturmbannführer Karl Brandt. I offer this letter