The Horrific Account of Nazi Experiments on Humans

I have read books on both the Nuremburg trials and the role of the doctors in the Nazi period, but this book gives an entirely different perspective- that of court reporter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

LOOKING AT THE COVER PICTURES PROVIDES A GRAPHIC HINT OF WHAT IS TO FOLLOW.MS.
SPITZS'WORDS ARE AS REAL AS THE RESPECTIVE TESTIMONYS GIVEN.YOU TRY NOT TO VISUALIZE WHAT TRANSPIRED BUT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.A MUST READ FOR THOSE WHO DENY THE HOLOCAUST

This book was obviously well researched, and the author's writing style is authentic, engaging, and easy to follow. The content is engrossing (and also frightening). All told, the book is more than worth reading.

My only critique, so to speak, is the editing. The book (eBook version, not sure of the paper copy) is very poorly edited, with some passages being repeated word for word (sometimes in the next sentence, the paragraph below, or a different chapter altogether). A lot of the repetition could have been avoided, and it does take away from the "flow" of the book somewhat.

I could not rate this book any higher! despite the fact that its contents should be known and understood by all ,the young &the old, who can remember tat dreadful time in our history. That such acts as this could have.and did, take place is hard for those of us that are old enough to remember the early sketchy details that were released to the world.
Yet I found the book hard to put down once I had made up my mind to read it. I.t is surely a book of horror--but I would recommend that you make an effort to read it.

Having read many books about this time in history this is the first one on this trial. I found it very well written and easy to follow. I would recommend this book if you want to understand what these people were capable of doing.

If you are interested in the experiments done by the German doctors on the unfortunate people in concentration camps during World War II, the details in this book were recorded during the Nuremberg Trials. The American court recorder, who wrote this, gives testimony of witnesses who were part of the experiments and prisoners who were forced to help carry them out on fellow prisoners. Great details are given. Europe, after the War, is described, as well. This is not a pleasant read.

This was interesting and the perspective was from the court reporter Vivienne spitz. My only criticism is I was hoping for an insight on what motivated some of these doctors... Get under their skin ? But I suppose that's impossible

If you are interested in the experiments done by the German doctors on the unfortunate people in concentration camps during World War II, the details in this book were recorded during the Nuremberg Trials. The American court recorder, who wrote this, gives testimony of witnesses who were part of the experiments and prisoners who were forced to help carry them out on fellow prisoners. Great details are given. Europe, after the War, is described, as well. This is not a pleasant read.

This was interesting and the perspective was from the court reporter Vivienne spitz. My only criticism is I was hoping for an insight on what motivated some of these doctors... Get under their skin ? But I suppose that's impossible

Why this account of German doctors atrocities is being published 50 years after the trial? The answer is more than simple. The Americans wanted to know as much as possible about German experiences in human beings and keep it secret. There was no sympathy towards the victims, especially when a Gypsy witness reacted emotionally at the sight of his torturer and was sent to prison for 90 days.
We all know that victims body tissues has been long used in research, to mention but The Max Planck Institute archives. We all know that German "doctors" have never been condemned or ostracized in Germany by its medical representative bodies.

Very sad book. It is brilliant that the author, working as a court reporter, could compile such a great account of the transcripts from some of the Nuremberg trials, while blending in her personal life experiences. Thank you for a different view of the Holocaust.

Spitz chose a difficult, heart-wrenching topic. The parts of the book concentrated on this topic give us some insight to the horrors faced by the people killed in these "experiments". However, too much of the book is focused on the authors life in Germany at that time. It leaves me wanting more detail on the topic I chose to read.

This is an excellent well written book that is based on the facts of the dr's war criminal trials! I found it highly educating and recommend this book to everyone as a historical reference or as just a guide to understanding things and events that took place in the death camps. EXCELLENT!!!

Most people are aware that one of the fundamental moral principles for all doctors is to "do no harm," a principle which can be traced back to Hippocrates and the very beginnings of the Western medical tradition. Unfortunately, not all doctors heed this precept: the worst and most extreme examples can be found in the history of Nazi Germany, where not only doctors, but the entire medical profession, appears to have become a twisted mirror image of what it should have been.

This is a great book telling of the trials. This is my first book on this subject and I was shocked. I have been to the holocaust museum, and I was so moved, this book really helps paint the picture of not only the horrors of the holocaust, but of life in Germany following the war.

The book is essentially the author’s experiences in Germany after the war with the inclusion of transcripts of the trial. This makes for a very dull retelling of the facts.
I would not recommend this book

The only advantage of this book are the extracts from the actual trials and short summaries of each group of experiments that were conducted in different camps, but that's about it really. It's badly written and court transcripts are barely, if at all, integrated into the text - it seemed rather like a bad copy/paste job. If you're interested in this topic, there are better publications out there.

“The medical case of the Nazi doctors is the story of the mass violation of basic human rights and the dignity of life, of indifference to evil, of people who knew and kept silent, and of heads of state who looked the other way.” So declares author Vivien Spitz. Spitz was a Midwestern girl (from not too far from me in Woodstock, IL) who was sent to Nuremberg as a court reporter for the Medical trials for doctors who had performed medical experimentation on concentration camp inmates. Spitz’s unique position as a first-hand witness to these trials makes this an incredibly thorough and meticulously written book. The format of the book is approachable, with pertinent transcripts and testimony presented in an organized manner. I enjoyed Spitz’ own personal experiences adapting to life in the bomb-scarred city, though she admits she struggled emotionally with what was subjected to in the courtroom. “I had not been able to cope well with the horror I had heard from survivors and witnesses, or what I had seen in the captured German film clips and photographs that were admitted as exhibits into evidence.”

A majority of the book outlines the various experiments carried out by the defendants along with victim testimonies. One of the most traumatic accounts was from a polish woman who underwent bone grafting experiments, resisted the operations, and was forcibly restrained: “…we would prefer to be executed rather than be operated on again.” Imagine being infected with a disease just so doctors could witness the progression. Or having doctors simulate gangrene on a wound they inflicted by adding wood shavings and ground glass. There is no denying how disturbing these experiments are and how many deaths they caused.

“Human beings entered these camps and became unidentified ashes carried up tall chimneys, making wreaths in the sky above and floating back onto earth, falling on everyone and everything nearby.”

What is more distressing is that the doctors validated their actions as being for the greater good of mankind and The Reich. As Vivien witnessed, “There was not one scintilla of remorse shown by any of the defendants. I was stunned at the evil, expressionless hard faces of these doctors and assistants during the trial. They often expressed resentment when testifying, spewing defensive justifications and denying responsibility.” While so many of them denied any guilt, I found the final statement of Wolfgang Romberg quite poignant: “I have seen how the Tribunal itself, by a precise questioning, clarified the facts, and to the statements made by me defense council, I have nothing to add, because they are the truth.”

Needless to say it is a remarkable, if heartbreaking book, and Vivien Spitz’s account is a historic necessity. “A thousand years will pass and the guilt of Germany will not be erased.” –Hans Frank, Nazi Governor General of Poland.

The author presents a fascinating narrative of the Nuremberg Medical Trials intertwined with authentic factual testimony by nazi doctors and their victims. The writing is both personal and professional. The book is all encompassing describing all medical experimentation that occured under the Third Reich. The authenticity of the court transcripts sets this book apart from other accounts giving the reader the feel and tension of the courtroom. There are a mix of photographs depicting all players as well as pre and post war Nuremberg. The medical terminology is accurate but not too technical allowing even the layman to grasp the extent of Nazi medicine. The numerous categories of medical experiments are adequately spaced throughout the book as opposed to an aggregate section. The fate of the defendants are mentioned with their final statements at the end.

It is clear the author felt very strongly of persons and organizations denying the Holocaust. The defendants never admitted any wrong doing, even to their last dying breath. It is clear National Socialism and needs of the state over the individual trumped even Hippocrates and further demonstrates the all out power of Hitler and the Nazi machine. Some will argue to stop talking and writing about this tainted period as to not glorify them; in this case we need to keep talking and writing and making movies on this subject matter. The manifestations were so severe and history has proved that any actions, good or evil can be repeated. A must read.

It is incredibly hard (even on the internet) to find details and examples of some of the experiments that took place during the Holocaust. This book gave details unlike any other book I've read. The only way I'd find another story is if I heard it from the mouth of a prisoner that was experimented on. I loved the testimonies and the stories! This is one of the greatest Holocaust books that I have ever read.

The value of the book really depends on your aim. If you just wish to have a general factual survey about the Nazi human experiments raised in the Doctor's Trial, the book will serve your need. However, most of the book relating to the Doctor's Trial per se is same as the opening speech of the US Prosecutor (General Taylor) and it is definitely weak at the conversations between the defendants and the lawyers/prosecutors during the trial. As a result, you cannot explore from this book why the defendants can commit such crime (many of them are distinguishing doctors and even the chief prosecutor admitted that some of they were not sadists). In gist, it is a book about "what" but not about "why". If you want to explore the underlying mentality, the book "Karl Brandt: The Nazi Doctor" by Ulf Schmidt may serve as a good start.