[Human hepatitis experiments in the 2d World War]

During the Second World War a hepatitis epidemic spread across wide areas of Europe, leaving no doubt about the previously questioned infectious nature of the disease. The losses to the German forces due to hepatitis, presented a challenge to several German scientists to identify the infective agent via animal trials and experiments with humans. Kurt Gutzeit, the "Beratende Internist beim Heeres-Sanitäts-Inspekteur" was in charge of the hepatitis research in the army. Under his guidance, two co-workers conducted experiments on non-voluntary subjects: in 1941, Hans Voegt infected psychiatric patients from the mental hospital in Breslau, and in 1944, Arnold Dohmen carried out experiments on jewish children in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. In the Nürnberg trials, Gutzeit had denied his and Dohmen's responsibility. Further investigation into the hepatitis research which was carried out by German scientists during the Second World War, especially Gutzeit's group, is regarded necessary.