Otto Ambros
Encyclopedia
Otto Ambros was a German chemist, notably involved with the research of chemical nerve agent
s.
. In 1920 he went to the University of Munich to study chemistry and agricultural science. In 1925 he gained a doctorate, studying under the 1915 Nobel Prize for Chemistry winner, Richard Willstätter
(who discovered the structure of the plant pigment chlorophyll
).
had taken place in 1921). In 1930 he spent a year studying in the Far East.
From 1934 he worked with IG Farben
. In 1935 he became head of their plant at Schkopau
. He worked for the part of IG Farben that developed chemical warfare chemicals, such as nerve agents, with his team discovering sarin
(in 1938) and soman
(in 1944), both nerve agent chemicals. He was an advisor to Carl Krauch
, a company executive.
He became plant manager of the factories at Dyhernfurth, that produced sarin and soman, and at Gendorf, that produced mustard gas, a skin irritant. In 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of War Merit Cross
. He was an expert on tabun
, an extremely lethal chemical.
early in 1952.
.
Nerve agent
Nerve agents are a class of phosphorus-containing organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanism by which nerves transfer messages to organs...
s.
Early life
He was the son of a university professor. He went to school and passed his Abitur exam in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. In 1920 he went to the University of Munich to study chemistry and agricultural science. In 1925 he gained a doctorate, studying under the 1915 Nobel Prize for Chemistry winner, Richard Willstätter
Richard Willstätter
Richard Martin Willstätter was a German organic chemist whose study of the structure of plant pigments, chlorophyll included, won him the 1915 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Willstätter invented paper chromatography independently of Mikhail Tsvet.-Biography:Willstätter was born in to a Jewish family...
(who discovered the structure of the plant pigment chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
).
Career
From 1926 he worked at BASF at Ludwigshafen (where the Oppau explosionOppau explosion
The Oppau explosion occurred on September 21, 1921 when a tower silo storing 4,500 tonnes of a mixture of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded at a BASF plant in Oppau, now part of Ludwigshafen, Germany, killing 500–600 people and injuring about 2,000 more.The plant began...
had taken place in 1921). In 1930 he spent a year studying in the Far East.
From 1934 he worked with IG Farben
IG Farben
I.G. Farbenindustrie AG was a German chemical industry conglomerate. Its name is taken from Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG . The company was formed in 1925 from a number of major companies that had been working together closely since World War I...
. In 1935 he became head of their plant at Schkopau
Schkopau
Schkopau is a municipality in the Saalekreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 4 km north of Merseburg, and 10 km south of Halle . During World War II, the Schkopau plant was the greatest producer of Axis synthetic rubber ....
. He worked for the part of IG Farben that developed chemical warfare chemicals, such as nerve agents, with his team discovering sarin
Sarin
Sarin, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound with the formula [2CHO]CH3PF. It is a colorless, odorless liquid, which is used as a chemical weapon. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in UN Resolution 687...
(in 1938) and soman
Soman
Soman, or GD , is an extremely toxic chemical substance. It is a nerve agent, interfering with normal functioning of the mammalian nervous system by inhibiting the cholinesterase enzyme. As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations according to UN...
(in 1944), both nerve agent chemicals. He was an advisor to Carl Krauch
Carl Krauch
Carl Krauch was a German chemist and industrialist. He was an executive at BASF ; during World War II, he was chairman of the supervisory board. He was a key implementer of the Reich’s Four-Year Plan to achieve national economic self-sufficiency and promote industrial production...
, a company executive.
He became plant manager of the factories at Dyhernfurth, that produced sarin and soman, and at Gendorf, that produced mustard gas, a skin irritant. In 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of War Merit Cross
War Merit Cross
The War Merit Cross was a decoration of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel...
. He was an expert on tabun
Tabun (nerve agent)
Tabun or GA is an extremely toxic chemical substance. It is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid with a faint fruity odor. It is classified as a nerve agent because it fatally interferes with normal functioning of the mammalian nervous system...
, an extremely lethal chemical.
Arrest
Ambros was arrested by the US Army in 1946. He had tested poisons and chemicals on concentration camp inmates, and had overseen the IG rubber plant at Auschwitz. He was trialled from 1947-8 in Nuremberg and sentenced to eight years. He was released from Landsberg PrisonLandsberg Prison
Landsberg Prison is a penal facility located in the town of Landsberg am Lech in the southwest of the German state of Bavaria, about west of Munich and south of Augsburg....
early in 1952.
Release from prison
After his release he became an advisor to chemical companies and Konrad AdenauerKonrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
.