Nazi Experiments Essay Research Paper 2

Nazi Experiments Essay, Research Paper

The Validity of Nazi Hypothermia Experimentations:

The Question of Ethics Versus Scientific Knowledge.

This essay deals with medical experiments conducted by the Nazis during the Second

World War. Many types of experimentation occurred in the Third Reich, they include

euthanasia, hypothermia, high pressure, and genetics. However, most of the experiments carried

out in Nazi Germany are viewed as little else than another method of torture imposed upon

involuntary subjects. The question can be posed: Do any of the Nazi.s medical experiments

contain valid scientific information, and if so, should this information be used. Due to the broad

field of Nazi experimentation, I will explore this question dealing with, mainly, one type of Nazi

experimentation – hypothermia.

Overall, these medical experiments contained no medically valid or scientifically valid

information. Speculation has appeared as to the validity and ethical aspect of the experiments

that were performed. Should any of the information that was obtained from the from these

experiments be used considering the circumstances in which the information was gathered.

Several debates arise concerning the ethical use, as well as the scientific use of these

experiments. This will be addressed later in the essay.

According to Baruch Cohen, three main types of experiments existed in the Third Reich,

which includes Medico-Military Research, Miscellaneous – Ad Hoc Experiments, and Racially

Motivated Experiments. (no pp). Hypothermia experiments fall into the category of Medico-

Military research due to the use of the information that was recorded from these experiments

dealing with medical or military advances. Miscellanies – Ad Hoc experiments dealt with

research that had no scientific purpose, poison experiments are an example of these experiments.

Racially Motivated experiments which dealt with experiments dealt with genetic and racial

interests, sterilization experiments fell into this category.

The use of hypothermia experiments originated from the need for new technology.

During the Second World War, air warfare had not been widely used, this led to a need for

science to quickly attempt to make improvements upon the standards of air warfare.

Hypothermia experiments were conducted in large vats of freezing liquid. This simulated the

conditions of the North Sea, where main pilots died after descending into the cold waters.

Another method to conduct hypothermia experiments involved strapping subject to a stretcher

and to leave them outside – often naked – in sub-zero conditions. In the course of this essay, we

will refer to the latter method of the hypothermia experiments.

These experiments were similar to other types of experiments performed in Nazi

Germany because of the inhumane methods employed to gain the results of the experiments.

Even though the hypothermia experiments began out of a need to advance an aspect of air

warfare, an element of torture always accompanied the research techniques. This was caused by

Nazi physicians having the attitude that the subjects of these experiments were destined to die in

the concentration camps. Therefore, by performing experiments on them, the doctors believed

that they may actually be aiding these people by bringing death faster. As an example of the

torturous experiments being used by some Nazis concerns two Russian men, that were believed

to have made a comment to the SS officer conducting the experiment. These two men withstood

the temperature in the freezing solution longer than previously recorded, when this was noted, the

SS officer raised the temperature slightly in order to prolong their pain; this led to their

death.(Rosenberg. no pp).

Hypothermia experiments carried out in the Third Reich differ slightly from other

experiments that were performed. The important difference is the presence of a scientific

purpose present in the experiment. Research experiments, such as hypothermia and pressure,

began out of a need for innovation, while racially motivated experiments, such as sterilization

and euthanasia, originated from anti-Semitic movements.

Medical research was performed in the hope that a discovery would establish the Third

Reich as a world leader. The methods of experiments that were conducted in Germany during

this time cannot be justified; the subjects were treated in a sub-human fashion, and if the Nazi.s

medical experiments are viewed in today.s standards, these experiments would not be excusable

if performed on animals. The inhumane experiments were conducted because the government

wanted to advance the Third Reich, there was very little accurate scientific emphasis placed upon

problems. Nevertheless, hypothermia experiments may contradict the general condemnation of

the medical experiments in Nazi Germany by offering a relatively valid scientific source. Thus,

is the data

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