ITEM No. 24 FILE No. XIX—3 COPY No.. CHEMICAL PLANTS LUDWIGSHAVEN COMBINED INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT ON VISIT TO CHEMICAL PLANTS LUDWIGSHAVEN, GERMANY 25 March 1945 Reported by R. C. EIEY Commander (MC) USNR CIOS Black L*st Item 24 Medicine COMBINED INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES SUB -COMMITTEE G-2 DIVISION, SHAEF (rear) APO 413 SECRET TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page No. I. I. G. Farhenindustrie, A. G. Oppau Works 3 II. Knoll A. G. Chemical Industries 4 III. Kurt-Raschig Company 6 IV. General 6 PERSONNEL OF INSPECTION TEAM Brigadier F. A. E. CREWE, R.A.M.C., War Office Team Leader Commander R. C. ELEY (MC) USNR Deputy Team Leader Major C. F. ENLOE (MC) USTBAF Major F. P. CHINARD (MC) USSTAF Major F. E. DAVIS (MC), Office of Chief Surgeon ETOUSA Captain W. J. CROMARTIE (MC) AUS, ALSOS Mission Dr. Wallace ERODE, O.S.R.D. UNITED STATES FLEET UNITED STATES NAVAL FORCES IN EUROPE 20 GROSVENOR SQUARE, LONDON W.l SECRET 9 April 1945 SUBJECT: REPORT ON VISIT OF MEDICAL INVESTIGATING TEAM TO TARGETS 24717c AND 24/55, LUDWIGSHAVEN, GERMANY. I.( I. G. FAJRBENINDUSTRIE\A. G. OPPAU WORKSr LUDWIGSHAVHy 1. THIS' plant, WhlCh under normal conditions is one of the largest producers of bulk chemicals in the world, occupies several thousand acres and employs 12,000 workers. However, as a result of aerial bombardment approximately 75$ of the buildings and equipment have been demolished, and such damage has been inflicted on the remainder that further pro- duction seems impossible. 2. Only a small section of the plant was engaged in exper- imental medical research. This area was practically non- existent after repeated bombing. One laboratory was com- pletely destroyed and the other building which housed the biological and medical laboratory was 90$ destroyed. Equip- ment which had been saved from fire and bombing had been crated and labelled for shipment to Biological Laboratories, Oppau, Onstmettingen/ffttbg. by Ebinger Firma Gotti. Kern U.Z, Several files were found intact and were placed with the Documents Division for further examination. These related to: (1) Health conditions of employees during bombing attacks; (2) Correspondence with scientific personnel loca- ted in other German cities; (3) Results obtained after clinical trials of preparations. No drugs, chemicals or other agents were present. 3, The greenhouse area, where extensive studies on ferti- lizers were being made, was completely demolished. 4. Across the road from the greenhouses, and directly adjacent to Oppau, are apparently the chemical research labor- atories for Oppau. The buildings were from 30 to 60$ demolished by air bombing. Some equipment was boxed, marked as "war material" and labelled for shipment to Dr. Furt at Heidelburg. Extensive records, photostats, pressure reac- tions, calorimeters and semi-plant scale equipment were noted. 5. Located in the basement and first floor of one building was a small hospital for plant personnel of the I. G. Farben- industrie. Examination of surgical and medical equipment, drugs and records afforded no information of value. It is of Interest to note that complete equipment and supplies for the treatment of gas-contaminated casualties were on hand. A modern and completely equipped dental office occupied one section of the hospital. It was stated that during the war and through air raids only 360 people had been killed and 4 wounded at thia^MSf. IIV KNOLL A, G. CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES. LUDWIGS HAVEN 6. This pTrant is nnieh'smaller than the I. G. Farbenindustrie and normally employed about 800 people. Approximately 75% of the physical plant is completely destroyed. The plant specialized in the manufacture of drugs from intermediary pro- ducts obtained from Berlin and Kaiserlautern. Its chief pro- duct was "Cardiozol", a circulatory and cardiac stimulant, from which the company seems to have made quite a reputation. Other products ares Tannalbin, a tannic-acid albumin prepar- ation used in the treatment of dysentery; Granugenal, a mineral-oil mixture to speed granulation in open wounds; ephedrine; actinum D; Klimalcton; codeine; morphine; pap- averine compounds and barbiturates. 7. All the buildings of this company have received exten- sive bomb damage. However, a small section in the sub-base- ment of the administrative building had been equipped to package tablets and ampoules, but this had heen recently dam- aged and was not operational. Large stores of narcotics and other products, as listed below, which were found stored in this basement were placed under guard, and it was strongly recommended to "T" Force that these drugs be removed immed- iately to a place of safety. 8. Morphine hydrochloride 8 kilograms Codeine nitrate 6 11 Codeine 15 ” Cocaine 3 " Papaverine compounds 8 " Dilandil 10 " Cardlozol 500 H Quinine Amount not given 9. A complete inventory of all drugs on hand was obtained from the director and delivered to the Documents Division. Similar disposition was made of certain business correspond- ence and documents obtained from safes. 10. Safes at the Knoll Company which could not be opened by plant personnel present were opened by the Engineering Demolition Squad. Material examined showed that a Dr. Wolf was in charge of research work for the company and had his office located at the University of Heidelburg. Pilot plants were supposed to be in operation at Kaiserlautern, Ebingen and Eppingen. The plant near Kalserlautern was visited by one of the team members, who found that the only product produced there was bromural, one of the barbiturates. 11. Further information from documents indicated that Dr. W. Franke of Wurtzburg was performing experimental work on a penicillin-like drug. No definite information on this could be obtained. Dr. Kurt Schmidt and his assistant. Dr. Stry- gowske at the University of Heidelburg, was reported to be carrying on work on the synthesis of quinine. These men are not employed by Knoll, but all of their research work can be bought up by the Company. 12. Interrogation of the Director, Dr. Walter Sauerbach, and Dr. Mothes, chemist in charge of production, disclosed that no research had been made on antl-malarials or anti-luetic agents. However, a small quantity of "Lansito" was made. This powder is very similar to DDT and is already known to British and American manufacturers. The plant was strictly a pharmaceutical one and little if any time was devoted to medical research. 13. Director Sauerbach, a Nazi, ex-Korvetten Kapltan, and primarily a business man, was thought to be unreliable; Dr. Mothes, chemist in charge of production, knew little about the research work or medical aspect. He was fairly helpful and cooperative. Other personnel, accountants, workmen etc. were interrogated, but gave very little information of value. III. KURT"HASCHIG CO.. LUDWIGSHAVEN 14. This large plant had not been too badly damaged as it was only about 30$ destroyed. At the time of the investi- gation the power plant was functioning, electric lights and complete independent telephone system were in working order, and appr6ximately 350 employees were at work (normally the company employed some 1200 workers). It is quite likely that the plant could be put into full production within a short period of time. 15. Reputedly this firm produced a good quantity of medical agents, but on investigation it was found to be primarily concerned in the manufacture of plastics, phenols, creosols and antiseptics. The chief antiseptic produced was marfanil prontalbin, a bacteriostatic agent already well known. A small amount of sulfapyridine was manufactured also. 16, Large stocks of raw materials, including benzine, alcohol and phenol were on hand. 17. Documents relative to plant production and certain files of correspondence concerning personnel were transferred to the Documents Division for further study. 18, Dr. Kurt Raschig, General Director, was an allied pris- oner. Dr, Claus Raschig, a brother ana Director of Research, was reported to have escaped to Mannheim, which at that time was held by the Germans. Dr. Kuhn, plant manager, had not left Ludwigshaven. IV. GENERAL 19. The German people in the Ludwigshaven area appeared well nourished and healthy. Children and babies on the streets presented no gross or apparent evidence of deficiency diseases. Food supplies and clothing seen in the houses were more than ample and usually consisted of large stocks. Obviously they had lived exceptionally well. 20. It was difficult to obtain a full account of the incid- ence of communicable or contagious diseases. Interrogation by one of the team members of Dr. Wenster of the Health Service, I. G. Farben, disclosed that only 12 cases of typhus had been reported in Ludwlgshaven. Of late a few cases of typhoid fever had developed and this was thought to be due to contamination of water supplies from broken sewer mains. It was further stated that the population of the towns in the vicinity had been boiling all drinking water for the past four years. 21. Arrangements were made with Major C. F. Enloe (MC) USTBAF to interrogate research workers at the University of Heidelburg. Any information received from this interro- gation will be made available at the earliest practicable date. Submitted for the Medical Investigating Team by R. CANNON EI£Y Commander (MC) USNR ~ Deputy Team Leader.