Translation of document 002-PS

SECRET

25 March 1943

President of Reich Research Dept.
Head of Executive Council
To the Reichsminister of Finance

Berlin W 8
Wilhelmplatz 1-2

Ref 503/43 G SR/GE

In regard to your correspondence of the 19th Dec (J 4761-174 I g III. Ang) to which I gave you a preliminary communication on the 19th Feb, I finally take the following position:

The Surgeon General-SS and Police, in a personal discussion, told me that the budget which he administers concerns primarily the purely military sector of the Waffen SS. As for the small part used for the enlarging of scientific research possibilities, it pertains exclusively to such affairs that can be carried out only with the material (prisoners), which is accessible to the Waffen SS and can therefore not be undertaken by any other experimental agency.

I cannot object therefore on the part of the Reich Experimental Counsel against the budget of the Surgeon General-SS and Police.

Signed: Mentzel
Ministerialdirektor

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SECRET

Reich Leader SS
Reich Surgeon SS and Police
File: 135/ Secret / 43 TG, NR 24/13 geh.

Berlin 26 Feb 43

Subj.: Scientific Institutes
Ref to: Correspondence of 19 Feb. 43 Rf. 234/43 SR. — To the Head of the Executive Counsel of the Reich Research Counsel Ministerialdirektor Mentzel

Berlin-Steglitz
Grunewaldstrasse 35

My dear Ministerialdirektor:

In acknowledgment of your letter of 19 Feb 1943, I am able to reply the following to it today:

The appropriation for the 53 key positions for my office which you made the basis of your memorandum as planned for peace times.

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The special institutes of the SS which are to be partly staffed through this appropriation are to serve the purpose to establish and make accessible for the entire realm of scientific research, the particular possibilities of research only possessed by the SS.

In view of the further developments of this war, I have already shelved this plan for the time being as the result of negotiations with the Reich Finance Minister in the past year, so that my authorized personnel amounts to 25 key positions only. Of these positions, only 5 are filled at present.

Under these circumstances our objections with regard to an unreasonable overlapping of work of scientific institutes for the war’s duration are void.

I will gladly be at your disposal at any time, however, to discuss the particular research aims in connection with the SS, which I would like to start after the war according to the direction of the Reich leader SS.

Furthermore, it is important that these researches — once their realization appears possible, will be tied in with the related research aims of the state.

Hoping to have served you with my preliminary summary, I remain with best greetings and

Heil Hitler
GRAWITZ

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25 March 1943

Pres. of Reich Research Counsel
Head of Executive Counsel
To the Surgeon General SS and Police SS Lt. Gen. Prof. Dr. Grawitz

Berlin W 15
Knesebeckstr. 51

Rf. 504./43 g SR/Ge.
Pertaining to: Letter of 26 Feb 43
File: 135/geh. 43-Tgb — Nr. 24/43 g.

I am sending the enclosed carbon copy of my letter to the Reichsminister of Finance in regard to the conversation of 11 March, this year, for your information

Heil Hitler!
[rubber stamp] Signed: Mentzel
Ministerialdirektor SS Major General

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Berlin-Steglitz
Grunewaldstr. 35
19 Feb 43

Pres. Reich Research Counsel
Head of Executive Counsel
To the Surgeon General SS and Police SS Lt. Gen. Prof. Dr. Grawitz
W 15 Knesebeckstr. 51

Sent on: 20 Feb 1943
Received on: 22 Feb 1943
[Seal]

[Signature illegible]
SS Lt. Col.
Signature of person receiving and opened registered letter

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SECRET

19 Feb 43

Reich Research Counsel
Rf. 234/43 Sr.
The Head of Executive Counsel of the Reich Research Counsel
To the Surgeon General SS and Police SS Lt. Gen. Pl of. Dr. Grawitz

Berlin W. 15
Knesebeckstr. 51

The Reich minister of finance told me that you requested 53 leading positions (BES. GR C3-C8) for your office, partly for a new research institute.

After the Reichsmarshall of the Great-German Reich had, as President of the Reich Research Counsel, taken over all German research he issued directives, among other things, that in the execution of militarily important scientific tasks, the available institutions, including equipment and personnel, should be utilized to the utmost for reasons of necessary economy of effort.

The founding of new institutes is therefore only possible in as far as there are no institutes available for the furtherance of important war research tasks.

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As I don’t know your personal purpose and have insufficient information from the explanation the Reich finance minister gave me about the planned institute, I would be thankful if you would further explain your plans and purposes.

I will gladly be at the disposal of one of your co-workers for an interview or would be ready to call upon you personally.

I wish you would inform me as to when and where these discussions may take place.

Heil Hitler!
[rubber stamp ] Signed: Mentzel
Ministerialdirektor SS Major General

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SECRET 19 Feb. 1943

REICH RESEARCH COUNSEL Rf. 232/43 Sr. To the Reich Minister of Finance Head of Executive Counsel of the Reich Research Counsel

Berlin W. 8 Wilhelmplatz 1-2

You notified me on the 19th Dec. (J4761-174 I g III, Ang) concerning the research work by the Surgeon General SS and Police, and asked me what stand I take. Since the work of the state chief of research started originally in the armament department, I was unable to clear up any questions pertaining to the medical department, which came up in the last weeks. But I shall do so in the near future, and I believe I can already say that the new institutes requested by the surgeon general of SS and police will be unnecessary since other institutes can cover these planned missions.

I shall have a conference with the surgeon general SS and police pertaining to details of this planned work and, at that time, I shall let you know what my final stand will be. I would like to suggest, therefore, to defer the decisions at this time.

In this connection I state that the health officer, State Secretary Conti approached the president of the research counsel requesting funds to establish an institute for virus research in Frankfurt on Main.

Investigations to date have shown that the institute is not necessary since the planned work can, without doubt, be done ***

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Pres. Reich Research Counsel
Head of Executive Counsel

Berlin-Steglitz 19 Feb 43
Grunewaldstr .35.

To the Reichsminister of Finance
W. 8, Wilhelmplatz 1-2

Sent on: 2 Feb 1943
Received on:

Received 22 Feb. 43 Reich Finance Minister
[Seal]
[Signature illegible]
Signature of person receiving and opening

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SECRET

The Reich Minister of Finance
J4761-174 I g III, Ang

Berlin 19 Dec. 1942

Wilhelmplatz ½ Tel. 120015 Postal Check Acct. Berlin Nr. 25956
Assumption of Research Mission By the Surgeon General SS and Police

The surgeon general SS and police has requested 53 key positions for the new organization of his office ( Bes. Gr. C3-38 ). The organization plan shows that the surgeon general SS and police plans not only special experts for “Research” in pharmaceutical chemistry, in dental and clinical services and a special section of scientific service, but also that plans are desired for a string of institutes which likewise deal mainly with research work:

1. Central Institute for Medical Scientific Exploitation
2. Institute for the History of Medicine
3. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Institute
4. Pharmacy for Military Requirements
5. Special Institute Sachenhausen
6. Pathological Institute
7. Hygienic Research Institute

In the informal discussions it was referred to the fact that the plans for the research arrangements for the Waffen-SS can only

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be granted if the research missions which the Surgeon General SS embarked upon are not already undertaken by other independent institutes, resp. by the universities, or belong to their sphere.

The Hygienic Institute, according to the proposed plan, includes the following seven divisions:

1. Division for combating epidemics with bacteriological and serological laboratories
2. Division for hygiene with corresponding laboratories
3. Division for chemistry with chemical laboratories
4. Division for geology and hydrology
   [Reich Research Counsel In care of Ministerialdirektor, Prof. Dr. Mentzel]
5. Division for climatology and geography, especially in preparation for cultural waging of war in subtropical and tropical lands in Africa
6. Division for statistics and epidemic forecast which will, with new developments, work against the spreading of epidemics for the coming years
7. Division for the elimination of epidemics which will chiefly concern itself with new installation of apparatus for delousing and sterilization of drinking water for the fighting troops

I lack accurate data for other institutes. I have set aside the decision on this budget.

Regarding the decree of the Fuehrer of the 9th June 42, (RGBL. I, 389), and the emphasized necessity of coordinated scientific research, I ask for your immediate opinion on the matter.

By order of

Signed: Dr. Bender
Certified Cunsich Chief Tax Secretary

(RGBL I 389)