Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland

Regional Section in Krakow

Krakow, 4 June 1945
To the
Institute for Forensic Expertise
in Krakow
In the attachment we send the Institute hair that comes from womens corpses and w
as cut off these after gassing and before burning in the crematorium ovens of Br
zezinka. It is packed in a paper sack, which according to the label contains 22.
5 kg of hair. We request that you search the contents [of the sack] and examine
them in a procedure corresponding to Article 254 of the Code of Criminal Procedu
re as well as in connection with Articles 123, 138 of the Code of Criminal Proce
dure, in order to establish whether and which poison is contained (in the hair).
In the same manner and for the same purpose we ask for examination of the sheet
metal plates from the ventilation openings of the gas chamber (Corpse Cellar No.
1 of Crematorium no. II in Brzezinka), which were found during the site inspect
ion in the crematorium, and of the mortar that was taken from the side wall of t
his chamber. These objects (4 complete closing plates of ventilation openings ma
de of sheet metal and 2 damaged such closing plates, as well as the mortar lump)
were handed to the Institute for keeping on 12.5.1945.
Members of the Commission
Round stamp of the County Examining Court in Krakow
Public Prosecutor Examining Judge
Unreadable signture Unreadable signature
(Edward Pachalski) (Jahn Sehn)
Report of the Institute for Forensic Expertise in Krakow, December 1945
Po. Nr. 171/45 Krakow, 15. December 1945
To the
Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland
Regional Section in Krakow
Toxicological Appraisal
prepared upon request by the Commission of 4 June 1945 in connection with the in
vestigations regarding the crematoria of Brzezinka (Birkenau).
SUBJECT OF THE EXAMINATION
On 12 May 1945 4 complete and 2 damaged closing plates of ventilation openings w
ere delivered for examination. These had been found during the site inspection a
t Crematorium No. II in Brzezinka and were from the ventilation openings of the
gas chamber (Corpse Cellar No. 1) of the same crematorium.
On 4 June a paper sack was delivered for examination, which according to the lab
el contained 25.5 kg of hair, which had been cut off womens corpses after gassing
and before burning in the crematorium ovens at Brzezinka.
I. EXAMINATION OF THE CLOSING PLATES OF THE VENTILATION OPENINGS
The closing plates had the usual form and a construction of rectangular boxes fo
r the equipment of ventilation openings. They were made of zinc sheet. The surfa
ces of all parts were covered with white, strongly adherent lining.
The examination was prepared by scraping the surface of one ventilator up to the
blank metal, which was done to the whole inner side of the plate and the part o
f the grid turned towards the gas chamber. 7.2 grams [of examination material] w
ere obtained.
The examination equipment consisted of a small glass bulb with a separating funn
el and a gas absorption device with three gas absorption bottles. Into each of t
hese bottles about 4 ml of 10% potassium hydroxide solution were poured.
The lining scraped off was mixed with water in the bulb, and after the bulb had
been linked to the absorption vessel, concentrated sulfuric acid was added drop-
wise with the separating funnel so that gas developed evenly but not tempestuous
ly. The reaction was carried on, under slight warming at the end, until complete
dissolution of the contents of the bulb. The absorption bottles were emptied an
d their contents submitted to the following examinations:
a) 4 ml of the liquid were strongly cooled and carefully neutralized with
diluted sulfuric acid, alkalized with a few drops of sodium carbonate - sodium
hydrogen carbonate buffer with pH 8.0, mixed with a small amount of iron(II)sulf
ate, left standing for 30 minutes under occasional shaking and then carefully ac
idified with sulfuric acid. There developed a bright green-blue coloring of prod
uced Prussian Blue.
b) 4 ml of the liquid were mixed with some drops of ammonium poly-sulfide
solution and kept at easy simmering for 5 minutes. The cooled mixture was preci
pitated with an excess of cadmium nitrate and filtered. The filtrate was acidifi
ed with hydrochloric acid and mixed with a solution of iron()sulfate. The result
was a clear orange coloring of produced Rhodanide.
Both experiments described above prove that the examination material contained c
onnections of prussic acid.
II. EXAMINATION OF THE HAIR
The sack, made of thick two-layer paper, had been closed by folding the upper pa
rt several times. After opening the sack strongly stuffed-in hair in bundles and
braids was found.
The contents of the sack were submitted to the following examinations:
[i ]1. Examination of the Distillate from the Hair[/i]
Immediately after the opening of the sack 150 grams of hair in braids were taken
from the middle part of its content, quickly cut up, covered with water in the
distillation bulb, slightly acidified with sulfuric acid and distilled with wate
r steam. The distillate was collected in a bulb cooled with ice. This distillate
was examined as described under I a) and b).
The Prussian Blue reaction turned up a very slight green-blue coloring, the Rhod
anide test a slight yellow-orange coloring.
2. The Second Examination
was in its first part carried out just like described under 1., but 500 grams of
braids were used for the examination, which had been taken from the middle part
of the sack. 200 ml of distillate were collected, which upon immediate examinat
ion showed barely visible Prussian Blue and Rhodanide reactions.
This distillate was distilled fractioned with a Vigreux column. 15 ml of distill
ate were collected in a glass bulb cooled with ice, which contained a small amou
nt of strongly diluted sodium hydroxide solution. The analysis of the distillate
was carried out as described above. The Prussian Blue reaction showed a clear b
lue coloring, the Rhodanide test a clear orange-red coloring.
3. Examination of the Watery Extract from the Hair
5 kg of braids and pressed-together hair were mixed with about 2 to 2.5 liters o
f water so that they were covered with the liquid and extracted at room temperat
ure for 16 hours. The watery extract, which reacted neutrally against Litmus, wa
s decanted, slightly acidified with sulfuric acid and examined as described unde
r 2. The Prussian Blue reaction turned up a slight blue coloring, the Rhodanide
test a slight orange coloring.
It was thus proven that the hair had issued prussic acid into a watery solution
at room temperature.
III. EXAMINATION OF THE METAL PARTS FOUND IN THE HAIR
After conclusion of the analyses for prussic acid the contents of the sack were
thoroughly examined and the metal objects found among the hair and in the braids
were taken out and sorted. The following objects were found:
a) One metal spectacle holder, strongly gilded with at least 14 carat gol
d,
b) Hair clips made of zinc
c) Hair clips and pins made of brass.
The above-mentioned objects were submitted to a separate examination because, as
is shown by experience and also theoretically justifiable, certain metals bind
hydrogen cyanide especially tight.
1. Examination of the Hair Clips made of Zinc
175 g of test material were examined as described under I. above. The Prussian B
lue reaction turned up a slight green-blue coloring, the Rhodanide test a slight
orange coloring.
2. Examination of the Hair Clips and Pins made of Brass
20,7 g of test material were examined as described under I. above. The Prussian
Blue reaction turned up a clear blue coloring, the Rhodanide test a clear orange
coloring.
3. Examination of the Spectacle Holder
The spectacle holder, with a total weight of 3.23 grams, was covered with water
inside a bulb and acidified with sulfuric acid, with helianthin being used as an
indicator. Thereafter distillation with a Vigreux column was carried out and th
e distillate collected in ice-cooled water; 10 ml of distillate were obtained. T
he Prussian Blue reaction, carried out with 4 ml of distillate, turned up a pale
, but completely clear blue coloring. The Rhodanide test, also carried out with
4 ml of distillate, turned up a bright, but clear orange coloring.
With this the examinations were concluded.
All reagents and devices used during the above-mentioned experiments had been pr
eviously examined to assure their cleanliness and accuracy.
ASSESSMENT
I) In the closing plates of the ventilation openings made of zinc sheets,
which come from the ventilation openings of the gas chamber (Corpse Cellar No.
1) of Crematorium II at Brzezinka, the presence of prussic acid connections was
proven.
II) In the hair that was cut off womens corpses after gassing the presence
of prussic acid was proven.
Metal objects that were found among the hair, like clips, hair pins and a gilded
spectacle holder, still contained relatively considerable amounts of prussic ac
id connections.
The Director of the Institute
(Dr. Jan Z. Robel)