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MILITARY TRIBUNAL Volume I · Page 197 |
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| . | 5 June. The letter itself is,
unfortunately, not available. This letter, no doubt, says that the
chamber was removed from Dachau in May, while the prosecution alleges
that the experiments continued until August. Then there is a certain
pause in Rascher's and Himmler's efforts, because Rascher is busy with
the cold experiments. When the film is shown in Berlin in the Air
Ministry, Rascher does not forget to tell Milch again of his wishes in
regard to the low-pressure chamber. But hardly has the first phase of
the cold experiments — the series with Holzloehner — been
finished, when he writes to Himmler again on 9 October. (1610-PS,
Pros. Ex. 73.) he asks Himmler to get him the low-pressure chamber
so that be can continue his experiments and qualify as a professor. In
the letter of 21 October 1942 (NO-226, Pros. Ex. 75). Sievers
writes to Brandt about the continuation of the high-altitude experiments
which Himmler wants, but knowing of the existing difficulties, or for
other reasons, he adds that Himmler will no doubt have to write to Milch
personally in order actually to get the chamber. This happens on 27
November 1942 (NO-269, Pros. Ex. 78) — a letter from Wolff
to Milch, on behalf of Himmler. The definite request for the
low-pressure chamber, which is expressed in this letter, is given
definite emphasis by mention of the opposition of the Luftwaffe doctors.
I learned from a telephone call from Sievers, which he mentioned in his
testimony, that he was to buy a low-pressure chamber for Rascher on
behalf of Himmler. I was greatly astonished at this telephone call at
the time, because I knew very well that Rascher certainly didn't want to
have this made public in any way. Now, this telephone call has been
cleared up. Then I informed Ruff of this call and he had Becker-Freyseng
take further steps, as he said here yesterday. In an official letter to
various SS agencies, dated 13 December 1942 (1612-PS, Pros. Ex. 79),
Rascher is given the assignment by Himmler personally to carry out
high-altitude experiments. On 14 March 1943 (NO-270, Pros, Ex. 110),
Rascher tells of his discussions with Hippke and again says that he
wants to carry out low-pressure chamber experiments, together with me;
and finally, on 18 November 1943 (N0-1057, Pros. Ex. 463), he
tries again, through the Reich Research Council in agreement with
Himmler, to get a mobile low-pressure chamber in order to carry out
experiments. Those are Rascher's and Himmler's efforts but,
nevertheless, Rascher never again had a low-pressure chamber at his
disposal for experiments. Q. Well, what do you want to prove by these statements? A. This no doubt proves clearly how great Rascher's and Himmler's efforts were and that my conduct under these circumstances was not only not cowardly, but that it was much more clever and much more successful. Even if I had had any legal obligations to prevent him by force, if I had had any obligations to attack Rascher and if I had 835622 — 49 — vol. 1 — 15 |
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