My behavior towards all patients was very considerate, and I was very careful in the operations to follow standard professional procedure.
In May 1943, on the occasion of the Fourth Conference of the Consulting Physicians of the Wehrmacht, a report was made by Professor Gebhardt and myself as to these operations. This medical congress was called by Professor Handloser, who occupied the position of Surgeon General of the Armed Forces, and was attended by a large number of physicians, both military and civilian.
In my lecture to the meeting I reported on the operations frankly, using charts which demonstrated the technique used, the amount of sulfanilamide administered, and the condition of the patients. This lecture was the focal point of the conference. Professor Gebhardt spoke about the fundamentals of the experiments, their performance and their results, and then asked me to describe the technique. He began his lecture with the following words: “I bear the full human, surgical, and political responsibility for these experiments.”
This lecture was followed by a discussion. No criticism was raised. I am convinced that all the physicians present would have acted in the same manner as I.
Subsequent to my repeated urgent requests, I went to the front as surgeon immediately after this conference. Only after I was wounded did I return as a patient to Hohenlychen. I never entered the Ravensbrueck camp again. I protested vigorously against these experiments on human beings, endeavored to prevent them, and to limit their extension after they had been ordered. In order not to be forced to participate in these experiments, I repeatedly volunteered for front-line service. Insofar as it was in my power, I tried to dissuade Doctor Koller and Doctor Reissmayer from performing these experiments. I declined habilitation at the University of Berlin because I felt that it might result in my being obliged to carry on additional experiments at Ravensbrueck. After I succeeded in scientific discoveries of the highest practical importance, that is, the solution of the cancer problem and its therapy, I did not communicate this fact to Professor Gebhardt and did not publish this work in order not to be ordered again to carry out experiments.
Fritz Ernst Fischer
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-472
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 234