Trials of war criminals before the Nuernberg military tribunals under control council law no. 10, volume IIVarious
Philosophy
Trials of war criminals before the Nuernberg military tribunals under control council law no. 10, volume II
Various
Nuremberg Trial of Major German War Criminals, Nuremberg, Germany, 1945-1946; War crime trials -- Germany -- Nuremberg
Rudolf Brandt is charged, as in the indictment set forth, with special
responsibility under the above heading. The means by which sterilization
experiments or processes were to be made or utilized included X-ray
treatment, surgery, and drugs.
No specific instances of any drug being actually used have been clearly
shown by oral testimony, or exhibits herein submitted in evidence. In
reference to the X-ray and surgery methods of sterilization, however,
Rudolf Brandt is shown by the evidence to have taken a moving part in
the preparation of plans, and in their execution, sufficient to justify
the Tribunal in finding his criminal connection therewith. An affidavit
executed by the defendant Rudolf Brandt reads as follows:
“Himmler was extremely interested in the development of a cheap,
rapid sterilization method which could be used against enemies
of Germany, such as the Russians, Poles, and Jews. One hoped
thereby not only to defeat the enemy, but to exterminate him.
The capacity for work of the sterilized persons could be
exploited by Germany, while the danger of propagation would be
eliminated. This mass sterilization was part of Himmler’s racial
theory; particular time and care were devoted to these
sterilization experiments.”
We learn from the record that persons subjected to treatment were
“young, well-built inmates of concentration camps who were in the best
of health, and these were Poles, Russians, French, and prisoners of
war.”
It goes without saying that the work done in conformity with the plans
of Himmler, substantially aided by the cooperation of Rudolf Brandt,
brought maiming and suffering to great numbers of people.
TYPHUS EXPERIMENTS
Medical experiments ostensibly conducted to benefit Germany in the
prevention of typhus fever were carried on in the Natzweiler
concentration camp beginning with the year 1942. The details of these
experiments have been dealt with elsewhere in this judgment.
In the evidence it is proved that not less than 50 experimental subjects
died as a direct result of their participation in these typhus
experiments. Persons of all nationalities were used as subjects.
Regarding these enterprises, Rudolf Brandt, in his own affidavit, admits
that these experimental subjects did not volunteer but were conscripted
and compelled to serve without their consent being sought or given.
Inasmuch as information on the typhus experiments, both before and after
their performance, was furnished, as a matter of course, to Himmler
through Brandt, the defendant’s full knowledge of them is regarded as
definitely proven.
Here, again, the managing hand of the defendant is shown. The smooth
operation of these experiments is demonstrated to have been contingent
upon the diligence with which Rudolf Brandt arranged for the supply of
quotas of suitable human experimental material to the physicians at the
scene of the experiment.
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