Nazi human experimentation: Difference between revisions

From about March 1941 to about January 1945, sterilization experiments were conducted at Auschwitz, [[Ravensbrück]], and other places by [[Carl Clauberg|Dr. Carl Clauberg]].<ref name="trials"/> The purpose of these experiments was to develop a method of sterilization which would be suitable for sterilizing millions of people with a minimum of time and effort. These experiments were conducted by means of [[X-ray]], [[surgery]], and various [[medication|drugs]]. Thousands of victims were sterilized. Aside from its experimentation, the Nazi government sterilized around 400,000 individuals as part of its [[compulsory sterilization]] program.<ref>{{cite web |author=Piotrowski, Christa |title=Dark Chapter of American History: U.S. Court Battle Over Forced Sterilization |date=2000-07-21 |work=CommonDreams.org News Center |url=http://www.commondreams.org/views/072100-106.htm |accessdate=2008-03-23 }}</ref> Intravenous injections of solutions speculated to contain [[iodine]] and [[silver nitrate]] were successful, but had unwanted side effects such as vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and cervical cancer.<ref>{{cite web |author=Meric, Vesna |title=Forced to take part in experiments |date= 2005-01-27 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4212061.stm |accessdate=2008-01-04 }}</ref> Therefore, radiation treatment became the favored choice of sterilization. Specific amounts of exposure to radiation destroyed a person’s ability to produce ova and sperm. The radiation was administered through deception. Prisoners were brought into a room and asked to fill out forms, which took two to three minutes. In this time, the radiation treatment was administered and, unbeknownst to the prisoners, they were rendered completely sterile. Many suffered severe radiation burns. <ref>{{cite web |title=Medical Experiments at Auschwitz |work=Jewish Virtual Library |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/aumed.html |accessdate=2008-03-23 }}</ref>