Sigmund Rascher

Sigmund Rascher child

Sigmund Rascher (12 February 1909 – 26 April 1945) was a German SS officer and physician involved in Nazi human experimentation during World War II. He conducted deadly experiments on prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp.

Early Life

Rascher was born in Munich, Germany. He studied medicine and became a doctor before joining the Nazi Party and the SS.

Nazi Human Experimentation

Rascher is infamous for his role in Nazi human experimentation. He conducted a series of brutal and often lethal experiments on prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp. These experiments included:

• High-Altitude Experiments: Rascher conducted experiments to determine the effects of high altitude on the human body. Prisoners were placed in low-pressure chambers to simulate high-altitude conditions, often resulting in death.
• Freezing Experiments: Rascher also conducted experiments to find ways to treat hypothermia. Prisoners were subjected to freezing temperatures, and various methods were tested to rewarm them, often leading to severe suffering and death.
• Blood Coagulation Experiments: Rascher investigated the effects of a coagulant called Polygal on severe bleeding. Prisoners were shot or had limbs amputated to test the effectiveness of the substance.

Arrest and Execution

Rascher's unethical practices eventually led to his downfall. He was arrested by the SS in 1944 for fraud and other charges. He was executed by the SS on 26 April 1945, shortly before the end of World War II.

Legacy

Rascher's experiments are considered some of the most horrific examples of medical malpractice and war crimes in history. His actions have been widely condemned, and he is remembered as a symbol of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

Related Pages

• Nazi human experimentation
• Dachau concentration camp
• Schutzstaffel
• Holocaust
• War crimes