Hermann Becker-Freyseng
Encyclopedia
Hermann Becker-Freyseng (born 18 July 1910 in Ludwigshafen - died 27 August 1961 in Heidelberg
) was a German
physician
and consultant for aviation medicine
with the Luftwaffe
. He was recognised as a leading specialist in aviation medicine. Becker-Freyseng was one of those convicted at the Doctor's Trial.
to take part in the Nazi human experimentation
programme that he oversaw. Becker-Freyseng's particular area of experimentation was low-pressure-chamber research, in which he worked alongside Ulrich Luft, Otto Gauer and Erich Opitz. The Department for Aviation Medicine was established in 1936 with Becker-Freyseng initially just attached before he was promoted to co-ordinator. Unlike some of his colleagues in military medical research he was a member of the Nazi Party. He also held the rank of Captain in the Medical Service.
The various experiments undertaken either by Becker-Freyseng or under his supervision during the course of his work resulted in a number of fatalities. In particular the high altitude experiments performed on inmates of Dachau concentration camp by Becker-Freyseng, Ruff and Hans-Wolfgang Romberg claimed a number of lives. One of the most well-known was that detailed in a paper published by he and Konrad Schäfer entitled "Thirst and Thirst Quenching in Emergency Situations at Sea". For the experiments the academics had personally asked Heinrich Himmler
for 40 healthy camp inmates who were then forced to drink salt water
or in some cases had it injected into their veins. Half the subjects were then given a drug called berkatit whilst all were subjected to an invasive liver biopsy
without anaesthetic. All subjects died, including those given the berkatit, which proved toxic.
who were to be brought to the United States
to assist in the development of American space medicine
. Along with Kurt Blome
, Siegfried Ruff and Konrad Schäfer he was taken to the USA and put to work on projects related to the space race
under a scheme known as Operation Paperclip
. Given responsibility for collecting and publishing the research undertaken by he and his colleagues, the resulting book, German Aviation Medicine: World War II, appeared just after Becker-Freyseng began his prison sentence.
Becker-Freyseng was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis
in 1960 and died from the condition the following year.
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and consultant for aviation medicine
Aviation medicine
Aviation medicine, also called flight medicine or aerospace medicine, is a preventive or occupational medicine in which the patients/subjects are pilots, aircrews, or persons involved in spaceflight...
with the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. He was recognised as a leading specialist in aviation medicine. Becker-Freyseng was one of those convicted at the Doctor's Trial.
Early research
Becker-Freyseng graduated as a physician from the University of Berlin in 1935 although his first notable research involvement did not come along until three years later when he worked with Hans-Georg Clamman on experiments on the effects of pure oxygen.Work with the Nazis
Becker-Freyseng was initially recruited by Hubertus StrugholdHubertus Strughold
Dr. Hubertus Strughold was a German doctor and prominent medical researcher during the early twentieth century. An emigre to the United States after World War II, he is also known as "The Father of Space Medicine". He was the author of over 180 papers in the field of space medicine...
to take part in the Nazi human experimentation
Nazi human experimentation
Nazi human experimentation was a series of medical experiments on large numbers of prisoners by the Nazi German regime in its concentration camps mainly in the early 1940s, during World War II and the Holocaust. Prisoners were coerced into participating: they did not willingly volunteer and there...
programme that he oversaw. Becker-Freyseng's particular area of experimentation was low-pressure-chamber research, in which he worked alongside Ulrich Luft, Otto Gauer and Erich Opitz. The Department for Aviation Medicine was established in 1936 with Becker-Freyseng initially just attached before he was promoted to co-ordinator. Unlike some of his colleagues in military medical research he was a member of the Nazi Party. He also held the rank of Captain in the Medical Service.
The various experiments undertaken either by Becker-Freyseng or under his supervision during the course of his work resulted in a number of fatalities. In particular the high altitude experiments performed on inmates of Dachau concentration camp by Becker-Freyseng, Ruff and Hans-Wolfgang Romberg claimed a number of lives. One of the most well-known was that detailed in a paper published by he and Konrad Schäfer entitled "Thirst and Thirst Quenching in Emergency Situations at Sea". For the experiments the academics had personally asked Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
for 40 healthy camp inmates who were then forced to drink salt water
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
or in some cases had it injected into their veins. Half the subjects were then given a drug called berkatit whilst all were subjected to an invasive liver biopsy
Liver biopsy
Liver biopsy is the biopsy from the liver. It is a medical test that is done to aid diagnosis of liver disease, to assess the severity of known liver disease, and to monitor the progress of treatment.-History:...
without anaesthetic. All subjects died, including those given the berkatit, which proved toxic.
Trial and work with the USA
Indicted at the Doctor's Trial, he was found guilty of charges 2 and 3 (war crimes and crimes against humanity). He sentenced to twenty years imprisonment. However in 1946 Becker-Freyseng's name was amongst a list of twenty drawn up by Harry George ArmstrongHarry George Armstrong
Harry George Armstrong , known as "the father of space medicine", was a United States Marine, a member of the United States Army Air Forces, a Major General in the United States Air Force, a physician, and an airman. Armstrong served in the Marines during World War I and the Army and Air Force from...
who were to be brought to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to assist in the development of American space medicine
Space medicine
Space medicine is the practice of medicine on astronauts in outer space whereas astronautical hygiene is the application of science and technology to the prevention or control of exposure to the hazards that may cause astronaut ill health. Both these sciences work together to ensure that...
. Along with Kurt Blome
Kurt Blome
Kurt Blome was a high-ranking Nazi scientist before and during World War II. He was the Deputy Reich Health Leader and Plenipotentiary for Cancer Research in the Reich Research Council...
, Siegfried Ruff and Konrad Schäfer he was taken to the USA and put to work on projects related to the space race
Space Race
The Space Race was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national...
under a scheme known as Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was the Office of Strategic Services program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States in the aftermath of World War II...
. Given responsibility for collecting and publishing the research undertaken by he and his colleagues, the resulting book, German Aviation Medicine: World War II, appeared just after Becker-Freyseng began his prison sentence.
Becker-Freyseng was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
in 1960 and died from the condition the following year.