NMT01-T696
Volume I · Page 696
[particu...] lar time and care were devoted to these sterilization experiments. Surgical sterilization was of course known in Germany and applied; this included castration. For mass application, however, this procedure was considered as too slow and too expensive. It was further desired that a procedure be found which would result in sterilization that was not immediately noticeable." (NO-440, Pros. Ex, 141.)
Sterilization experiments in order to ascertain the efficacy of a drug known as caladium seguinum (Schweigrohr) were suggested to Himmler by the defendant Pokorny in October 1941. Pokorny reported that Dr. Madaus had found, as a result of his research on medical sterilization of animals, that caladium seguinum produced sterility in animals when administered orally or by injection. Pokorny further stated in his letter that:
" * * * the immense importance of this drug in the present fight of our people occurred to me. If, on, the basis of this research, it were possible to produce a drug which after a relatively short time effects an imperceptible sterilization on human brings, then we would have a new powerful weapon at our disposal. The thought alone that the 3 million Bolsheviks, at present German prisoners, could be sterilized so that they could be used as laborers but be prevented from reproduction, opens the most, far reaching perspectives."He therefore, advocated immediate research on human beings in order to determine the dose and length of treatment, the cultivation of the plant caladium seguinum in hothouses, and chemical research in order to produce the drug synthetically on a large scale. (NO-035, Pros. Ex. 142.)
Himmler agreed to Pokorny's suggestions and requested Pohl, on 10 March 1942, to contact Dr. Madaus and to "offer him possibilities for doing research in cooperation with the Reich Physician SS (Grawitz) on criminals who would have to be sterilized in any case." He further ordered that the intended plan of research should be submitted to him. It was the defendant Rudolf Brandt who forwarded a copy of this letter to Grawitz (NO-036. Pros. Ex. 143) and furnished him, on 20 April, with a copy of Pokorny's report and information on the publications of Madaus concerning medicinal sterilization of animals. (NO-037, Pros. Ex 146.)
Brandt's office submitted Madaus' report on the studies of experiments on animals to SS Obergruppenfuehrer Heydrich, Chief of the Security Police and SD. The letter of transmittal. dated 23 April 1942, bears the same, file number as Himmler's letter to Pohl (752/5) and refers expressly to "the question of sterilization by medicine." (NO-147, Pros. Ex. 145.) In June 1942 Brandt requested a report from Pohl, Chief of the
