NMT01-T761
Volume I · Page 761
[Novem...] ber 1942 Greiser informed Himmler that the examinations which were to be carried out in order to separate the curable and incurable would be executed by Professor Hohlfelder and his X-ray battalion. He estimated that the first utilization of the method would be in approximately six months. He further stated:
"In this stage of the proceedings, Professor Dr. Blome, in his capacity as Deputy Chief of the Public Health Office [Hauptamt fuer Volksgesudheit] of the NSDAP is raising some objections as to its execution, as he states in a letter of 18 November. These objections are expressed only now, although Dr. Blome and Dr. Hohlfelder and myself have spent months of preliminary work on examination, clarification, and straightening out the whole procedure.In this letter, Blome stated that among the Polish population of the province, at least 35,000 persons were suffering from open tuberculosis, and besides this number, about 120,000 consumptives were in need of treatment. This constituted an enormous danger to the German settlers in all parts of the province. In order to make further German immigration possible, counter measures were to be taken soon. Blome then outlined the three ways for the practical elimination of the danger of infection:
"I enclose a copy of Blome's letter of 18 November for your information * * *." (NO-249, Pros. Ex. 202.)
"1. Special treatment [Sonderbehandlung] of the seriously ill persons.As to the first proposal he stated
"2. Most rigorous isolation of the seriously ill persons.
"3. Creation of a reservation for all tubercular patients."
"The approximately 35,000 Poles who are incurable and infectious will be 'specially treated'. All other Polish consumptives will be subjected to an appropriate cure in order to save them for work and to avoid their causing contagion." (NO-249, Pros. Ex. 202.)Blome pointed out that one of the practical difficulties of outright extermination of all tubercular Poles was that it might provide excellent propaganda material for the enemies of Germany, especially with regard to the strong Catholic feelings of the Italian nation and "all the physicians of the world." He therefore considered it necessary that Hitler himself personally decide on this step. Should Hitler consider this radical solution as unsuitable, preparations for the execution of the plan as outlined in points 2 and 3 should be made. The exclusive settlement of all tubercular Poles, irrespective of whether they were curable or incurable, would remove the danger of infection for the German settlers. These Poles should be used for labor. Not only the tubercular Poles of the Warthegau, but also those
