Konzentration Lager Dachau (OSS Report – 7th US Army)

LIBERATION

The Americans came Sunday, April 29. The arrival of the Americans was preceded by several days of frenzy. Wednesday was the last day of work and there was no more going out of the compound. Scattered labor details living outside of the camp returned suddenly. Radios were taken away and there was no more communication with the outside. On Thursday, orders to evacuate the entire camp were given. Transports began to be organized on large scales, but the organization was poor and uncoordinated. The prisoners having jobs in the administrative department mislaid orders, suddenly did not understand commands, and generally seemed quite indifferent to the mounting nervousness of the few camp officials that were left. Only one transport got underway. It consisted of about 4000 men, and they hiked with heavy guard in the direction of the Tyrol. Then began the time of tense waiting. Rumors swept through the barracks of regiments and tanks just over the hill, of plans of mass annihilation of the prisoners by the remaining SS men, or Fallschirmjäger, and of an armistice. The prisoners organized a secret police force to keep order after the liberation they knew was coming. They built barricades to keep their comrades from getting in the way of the jumpy guards. And all time was at a standstill for three days while the prisoners waited and the guards paced, furtively, in their towers.

Sunday, just after the noon meal, the air was unusually still. The big field outside the compound was deserted. Suddenly someone began running toward the gate at the other side of the field. Others followed. The word was shouted through the mass of gray, tired prisoners. Americans! That word was repeatedly yelled over the shoulders in throaty Polish, Italian, Russian, Dutch, and the familiar ring of French. The first internee was shot down as he rushed toward the gate by the guard. Yet they kept running and shouting through eager lips and unbelieving eyes. Americans! And at the gate in front of the hysterical mob of men were not the regiments or the tanks they had expected, but one dark-complexioned, calm American soldier, an American Pole, pistol in hand, looking casually about him up at the towers where the SS guards watched frozen; behind him two or three other American boys about a hundred yards away; and into the flushed wet faces of those thousands surging about in front of him. A few shots were fired from behind the wall, and the guards in the first tower came down, hands above their heads, a white blanket was hung out from another tower, and they came down, but one of them had a pistol in his hand which he held behind his back, and the dark-complexioned soldier shot him down. At the far side of the compound, the guards were taken care of from the outside.

Then a jeep arrived. Where were the regiments and tanks? The first American was hoisted into the air and two others, a 19-year-old farmer from the West, and a 19-year-old university student, were dragged out of the jeep and carried around the grounds on the internees’ shoulders. A blond journalist in uniform was also in the jeep, and she climbed the tower by the gate with a young officer. Suddenly the prisoners produced flags and colors which had been buried under barracks or hidden in rafters. These flags and colors were improvised from sheets and scraps of colored cloth. It was a mardi-gras. Over the loudspeaker system, the blond journalist said ‘We are just as glad to see you as you are to see us’. And then a chaplain in broken German asked them to join him in the Lord’s Prayer. And for a few minutes in powerful earnest unison and with bowed reverent heads and clasped hands, they prayed. The words echoed through the compound and the hearts of the thousands still incredulous at the dark-complexioned American Pole, the 19-year old boy from the West, and the student, and at the regiments and tanks that never came.

LIFE AT DACHAU
RECEPTION OF INTERNEES

Internees arriving at Dachau were processed, screened, and segregated according to nations. Internees were transported like cattle to Dachau. One witness relates his journey from France. He was herded into a boxcar with 98 men. Three of them survived the slow, endless journey, and the other two died within a few days. During the screening, internees were beaten up and tortured to get certain information which the Politische Abteilung (Political Department) felt was being held back. They were assembled again, and placed into quarantine barracks, where they remained for 21 days. After 21 days, they were assigned to their permanent barracks (blocks) in Dachau or its subsidiary camps.

DAILY ROUTINE

The internees were gotten up at 0530 in the winter, and at 0400 in the summer. After washing, they all received a cup of black coffee, nothing else. Then they fell out according to barracks and were marched over to the assembly area where interminable roll call was taken. After this, the work commander would call out the various work details for the day, and the internees would reassemble according to their respective work groups. Every one of those placed on the work detail was given a slice of bread about one-quarter inch thick and a slice of sausage which had to last until noon. At 1130, they marched back into the camp, and back to their barracks, where they received their dinner, which consisted of a small portion of cabbage, carrots, and sometimes potatoes. At 1230, they marched out to work again and worked until 1800, and then back to camp. The evening appel (roll call) was taken, and then the men returned to their barracks for supper. The supper consisted of, three times a week, a little soup, and an eighth of bread; and two days a week, they received a slice of bread, and either a slice of sausage or a bit of cheese.

The numerous work details comprised upkeep of grounds and buildings, construction work details, outfitting works for uniforms for SS men, the paper factory in Dachau, the porcelain works in Allach, the small arms factory in the camp proper, and the ‘Plantage’… the farmland near the camp. It is estimated that approximately 3000 Jews died on the ‘Plantages’. When the camp officials felt that these internees were too ill and too weak to work, they would march them into a lake (since drained), regardless of the time of year. They were forced to stay in the water until dead. Those who remained conscious were placed in wheelbarrows and brought back to camp, where they died a few hours later. The Kiesgrube detail was considered the worst work detail the internees could be put on. They would have to load wagons with crushed rock at a speed that caused the internees to collapse and die on the spot.

EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS

SS Ahnenerbe: Jews were selected for this experiment. A truck, completely equipped, would roll up to between barracks 3 and 5. The internees selected for this experiment were placed in a cylinder, and the air pressure lowered to a point that coincided with air pressure at an altitude of 5000 to 8000 meters. The air pressure was then brought back to normal sea level pressure at a terrific speed. These conditions simulated a parachutist dropping at a terrific speed, much greater than can be encountered in reality. The reactions of men undergoing these experiments were observed and studied for future air force training. Not a single man was seen leaving this truck alive.

The SS-Ahnenerbe was a research organization established in 1935 by Heinrich Himmler, who was the leader of the Schutzstaffel (SS) in Nazi Germany. The organization’s name translates to ‘Ancestral Heritage’ or ‘Ancestral Inheritance’, and its mission was to research and promote the supposed superiority of the Aryan race through archaeological and anthropological research. The SS-Ahnenerbe conducted research in various fields such as archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, history, and medicine. Some of the organization’s more notable projects included expeditions to Tibet, Iceland, and the Arctic, as well as attempts to prove a supposed historical link between ancient Germanic tribes and the Aryan race. The organization was notorious for its association with Nazi ideology and its use of unethical and inhumane methods in its research. Some of its projects involved experiments on human subjects, including concentration camp prisoners, to prove the supposed superiority of the Aryan race. These experiments included forced sterilizations, the injection of lethal substances, and attempts to create living human ‘races’ with specific physical characteristics. After the end of World War II, the SS-Ahnenerbe was disbanded and many of its members were tried and convicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The organization’s legacy remains a dark chapter in the history of Nazi Germany and a reminder of the dangers of using science and research to promote racist and supremacist ideologies.

The Water Tank Exposure Experiments: There was a water tank about 12 feet deep, filled with cold water, the temperature of which was 1° Centigrade. Internees were forced to dive in and stay in at various lengths of time, until unconscious. Then they were placed in bed with female internees brought over from Ravensbrück Concentration Camp solely for this experiment, evidently to test the effectiveness of body temperature.

The Nazi Water Tank Exposure Experiments were a series of experiments conducted by Nazi doctors during World War II to study the effects of prolonged immersion in cold water, as might be experienced by pilots or sailors forced to bail out or abandon ship. The experiments were conducted on concentration camp prisoners, primarily at the Dachau Concentration Camp. In the experiments, prisoners were forced to remain submerged in ice water for hours at a time, with their body temperature and other physiological parameters monitored closely. The experiments were designed to simulate the conditions of a person who had fallen into the ocean and was awaiting rescue, and the goal was to determine the best way to re-warm the person and prevent hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition caused by a drop in body temperature. However, the experiments were conducted without any concern for the welfare or safety of the prisoners involved, who were subjected to extreme pain, suffering, and often death. Many prisoners died as a result of the experiments, either from exposure to cold water or from subsequent infections or complications. Despite the horrific nature of these experiments, the Nazi doctors who conducted them believed that the results would be useful for their military efforts, and continued them despite the obvious harm being inflicted upon their human subjects. After World War II, the doctors who conducted these experiments were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Doctors’ Trial in Nuremberg, Germany. Several of the doctors involved were convicted and sentenced to death or lengthy prison terms for their role in these and other heinous experiments conducted during the war.

Blood Experimentation! Blood analysis was made of the internees chosen for these experiments. Their purposes are not clear, but all victims undergoing these blood experiments went insane. The day before American troops took over the concentration camp, all persons who had undergone these experiments were shot. The first two above (the air pressure and water tank) experiments were completed about a year ago. The last (blood experiments) were continued up to 4 weeks before American occupation.

The Nazi Blood Experimentation in Dachau refers to a series of horrific experiments conducted by Nazi doctors on concentration camp prisoners at the Dachau Concentration Camp during World War II. The experiments involved blood transfusions, where healthy prisoners were forced to donate blood, and the blood was then transfused into sick or injured prisoners. The purpose of the experiments was to test the compatibility of different blood types and to study the effects of various transfusion techniques. These experiments were conducted without any regard for the safety or well-being of the prisoners involved, who were often subjected to multiple transfusions in a short period. The doctors involved in the experiments would deliberately induce anemia in some of the prisoners to study the effects of blood loss and subsequent transfusion. The prisoners who were subjected to these experiments suffered greatly, with many experiencing severe pain, infections, and even death. In some cases, the transfusions caused the formation of blood clots, which could lead to heart attacks or strokes. The Nazi doctors involved in these experiments believed that their research would aid in the development of new medical techniques and treatments for soldiers on the front lines. However, the experiments were inhumane and unethical and caused untold suffering for the prisoners who were forced to participate. Again, after the war, many of the doctors involved in these experiments were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and several were convicted and sentenced to prison or executed for their role in these and other heinous experiments conducted during the war.

Malaria Experimental Station: All internees chosen for the malaria experiments had to be physically and mentally fit. Nearly all Polish priests had undergone malaria experiments. Two methods of malarial inoculation were used. The first was employing human blood infected by malaria and the second, was using infected mosquitoes and permitting them to bite the patients. The first group of experiments consisted of inoculating these individuals with malaria, permitting them to have varying numbers of chills. This was done in an attempt to determine whether or not the facilities of cure differed depending upon the number of attacks of fever. The second set of experiments consisted of inoculating healthy people with malaria, and when the prodromal symptoms developed, to start treatment before chills and fever had occurred. The third group of experiments was conducted using a drug known as ‘Pyramidon’ which suppressed the fever in malaria but did not cure the disease.

The Nazi Malaria Experimentation in Dachau refers to a series of experiments conducted by Nazi doctors on concentration camp prisoners at the Dachau Concentration Camp during World War II to study the effects of malaria and potential treatments. The experiments involved infecting healthy prisoners with malaria by injecting them with infected blood or mosquitoes carrying the disease. The doctors would then observe the course of the disease in the prisoners, often withholding treatment or giving them experimental drugs or herbal remedies to study their effectiveness. The prisoners who were infected with malaria suffered greatly, experiencing fever, chills, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with the disease. Many of them developed severe complications and some died as a result of the experiments. The Nazi doctors involved in these experiments believed that their research would aid in the development of new treatments for malaria, which was a significant health threat to soldiers in the field. However, their methods were inhumane and unethical, and the experiments caused immense suffering for the prisoners involved. After the war, many of the doctors involved in these experiments were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and several were convicted and sentenced to prison or executed for their role in these and other heinous experiments conducted during the war. The Nazi malaria experiments were one of many examples of the atrocities committed by the regime, and a reminder of the importance of ethical considerations in scientific research.

Phlegmone: These experiments were begun in 1942, and were carried out in Block 1 B. Six Jews were injected with germs and died. Another group of ten internees were injected inter-muscularly in the legs and contracted Phlegmonia. Then they received new injections in the other leg, and those who remained alive received new injections in the arm. None of this group survived. In October 1942, further experiments were carried out. Twenty prisoners were selected from Block 20. They received inter-muscular injections of pus. Some of these were treated with bio-chemical pills, eight with sulfonamide, four were treated for wounds. Six died. Subsequently, a group of 40 priests were subjected to these experiments. Half of them were treated bio-chemically, the other half with sulfonamide, but all prophylactically. In the first group, nine died from resultant complications. One intern admits that a large group of patients with severe cases of phlegmon was treated with bio-chemical pills, without being operated on, until the wounds opened, or the patient died. Bio-chemical pills were used for different kinds of diseases such as ascites, pneumonia, and others. All patients undergoing these experiments were photographed each week or every two weeks. According to the male intern, these experiments were ordered by the Reichs leaders, and controlled by someone from Munich. The total number of victims of these experiments is estimated to be 300. About 56 died during the experiments and about 30 from complications. The chief surgeon read a letter from Himmler in which it was stated that this research by the doctors was being sabotaged by them. The doctors conducting these experiments believed that these researches were of unscientific nature.

The Nazi Phlegmone Experiments in Dachau were a series of experiments conducted on concentration camp prisoners during World War II to study the effects of various infections on the human body. The experiments involved injecting prisoners with bacteria that caused a type of severe skin infection known as phlegmon. The doctors would then observe the progression of the infection, often withholding treatment or giving the prisoners experimental drugs to study their effectiveness. The prisoners who were subjected to these experiments suffered greatly, experiencing severe pain, fever, and other symptoms associated with the infection. Many of them developed serious complications, including sepsis, gangrene, and death. The Nazi doctors involved in these experiments believed that their research would aid in the development of new treatments for infectious diseases and wounds, which were common in wartime. However, their methods were inhumane and unethical, and the experiments caused immense suffering for the prisoners involved. After the war, many of the doctors involved in these experiments were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and several were convicted and sentenced to prison or executed for their role in these and other heinous experiments conducted during the war. The Nazi Phlegmone experiments were one of many examples of the atrocities committed by the regime, and a reminder of the importance of ethical considerations in scientific research.

EXECUTIONS

Gaz Chambers: The internees who were brought to Dachau for the sole purpose of being executed were in most cases Jews and Russians. They were brought into the compound, lined up near the gas chambers, and screened similarly as internees who came to Dachau for imprisonment. Then they were marched to a room and told to undress. Everyone was given a towel and a piece of soap, as though they were about to take a shower. During this whole screening process, no hint was ever given that they were to be executed, for the routine was similar upon the arrival of all internees at the camp. Then, they entered the gas chamber. Over the entrance, in large black letters, was written Brause Bad (showers). There were about 15 shower faucets suspended from the ceiling from which gas was then released. There was one large chamber, the capacity of which was 200, and five smaller gas chambers, the capacity of each being 50. It took approximately 10 minutes for the execution. From the gas chamber, the door led to the Crematory to which the bodies were removed by internees who were selected for the job. The dead bodies were then placed in 5 furnaces, two to three bodies at a time.

During the Holocaust, the gas used for the mass execution of men, women, and children was known as Zyklon B. This toxic gas was used by the Nazi regime to kill millions of people, mostly Jews, in gas chambers at concentration and extermination camps such as Dachau, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Majdanek, and Treblinka. This gas was made of hydrogen cyanide and was originally used as a pesticide, but was later repurposed as a killing agent. The gas was typically released into gas chambers from canisters or pellets dropped into vents, and the victims would inhale the poisonous fumes. The reaction of the prisoners to the gas varied depending on the circumstances. Many of the victims were forcibly crowded into gas chambers and had little time to react or prepare for their impending death. The gas caused a painful and terrifying death, as it attacked the respiratory system and caused suffocation. Victims would experience burning sensations in their eyes, nose, and throat, followed by seizures, unconsciousness, and ultimately, death. Others who were aware of what was happening to them would attempt to resist or escape but were often met with violence from the guards. Many victims were forced to remove their clothing and were told that they were being taken to shower facilities, only to be locked in gas chambers and killed. Overall, the use of Zyklon B for mass murder was a horrific and inhumane practice, and a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. The experiences of the victims serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, empathy, and respect for human dignity.