Certificate to General Secretary
I certify that I have served the following documents: (1) Indictment, (2) Notice, (3) Charter of International Military Tribunal, (4) Rule 2(d) of the Rules of the International Military Tribunal, and (5) List of German Lawyers, on the following named defendant at the time and place stated, by personally delivering to him a copy in the German language of each of the above-named documents:
HERR GUSTAV KRUPP VON BOHLEN, 19 October 1945, Bluhbach near Werfen, Austria.
I further certify that I have apprised the above-named defendant of his right to the employment and designation of counsel to the extent that this was possible in view of his mental condition.
At the direction of the Tribunal I have made an investigation into the state of Gustav Krupp von Bohlen's health and have obtained medical reports on this subject which are attached hereto. (Attachments I, II, and III).
As a result of the conclusions in these reports and my own observation, I suggest that the General Secretary recommend to the Tribunal that a committee of medical officers, representing each nation, be appointed by the Tribunal to proceed to Bluhbach for the purpose of giving Krupp von Bohlen a thorough examination and reporting their findings to the Tribunal.
/ s / JAMES H. ROWE, JR.
MEMORANDUM FOR: Capt. Norman A. Stoll, JAGD, Office U.S. Chief of Counsel for the Prosecution of Axis Criminality
SUBJECT : Condition of Health of Mr. Gustav Krupp von Bohlen
1. Mr. Gustav Krupp von Bohlen was examined by me today, and the following findings are noticed.
2. Subject has suffered from progressive arteriosclerosis and senility since 1939. He suffered an attack of cerebral thrombosis in 1942, which resulted in a temporary facial paralysis. About a year ago he lost bladder and sphincter control.
3. At the present time he is bedridden, has to be fed and to be cared for by nurses. He has no insight into his condition or situation whatsoever and is unable to follow or keep up any conversation.
4. I do not believe that subject can be moved without serious detriment to his health or that interrogation would be of any value due to his loss of speech and complete lack of any understanding. His course will be progressively down-hill.
5. In my judgment subject is not mentally competent to stand trial in a court of justice.
/ s / WALTER PICKMedical Certificate
Dr. Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, born 7 August 1870, has been treated by me for many years; he was examined by me today. Since 1930 there has existed an arthrosis of the spine, as well as a hypotony which as far back as 1932 caused fainting fits. Since 1937 a rapidly increasing sclerosis of the vessels was to be noted which occurred in particular in the vessels of the brain.
In 1939 a fleeting paralysis of the eye muscles made its appearance and passing disturbances of speech occurred. In the spring of 1942, the patient suffered an apoplectic stroke on the left side, with facialisparosis and a distinct increase of reflexes on the entire right side. The cerebral disturbances of circulation have gradually grown worse despite treatments with medicaments. They manifested themselves first in the form of impaired memory and will power, indecision and general deterioration of intellectual faculties and increased to the point of definite depressions accompanied by apoplectic numbness and involuntary crying. There developed an acute arteriosclerotic dementia.
In an automobile accident in December, 1944, the patient suffered a fracture of the nose bone and the skull basis and had to be treated for eight days in the Schwarzach Hospital at St. Veith. Since that time, his physical condition has also deteriorated, and several apoplectic fits have occurred as a consequence of multiple softenings of the brain with heart symptoms and striary syndrome.
The patient is by now completely apathetic and disorientated. There exists a motoric aphasy. Owing to rigor of the muscles, he can neither walk nor stand up. For approximately the last six months he has not been able to hold urine and stool. He is completely helpless even in the simplest matters. There can be traced an advanced emphysen in the lungs and a distinct myocardic impairment on the basis of a coronary sclerosis of the heart. An enlargement of the prostate gland has existed for years.
The prognosis of the condition is definitely unfavorable, an improvement is not to be expected. Herr Von Bohlen is in no way competent or capable of being interrogated.
/ s/ DR. GERKE
1. The following history and physical examination of Herr Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach is submitted in compliance with a request from Mr. James Rowe. The history was obtained from Frau Von Bohlen and from the valet. The information was obtained on the 19th and 20th of October 1945 when the patient was examined at his home at Bluhbach, Austria.
2. HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Herr Von Bohlen has been developing arteriosclerosis since 1932 according to his physician's reports. It is believed that he first had a very light apoplectic stroke in 1937. This was very transitory in nature and cleared without noticeable aftereffects except for some loss of the acuteness of his thought processes and memory which his family noticed. In the latter part of November 1944 he had a spell of unconsciousness, fell and fractured a finger and was unable to walk alone for about 24 hours. On 15 December 1944, he was in an automobile accident and received a severe blow and laceration of the forehead. He was hospitalized as a result of this accident until the first week of February 1945, at which time he returned home. Following this he was able to walk only with assistance and he was unable to make coherent statements. He continued to have light strokes and since March has been unable to walk even with help, and his ability to speak has gradually decreased until at the present time he is able only to speak an occasional single word. Also since leaving the hospital he has had no control of the bowels or bladder and during the past three months has given no evidence of recognizing various members of his family or close acquaintances.
GENERAL: The patient is an emaciated white male of 76 years of age who is unable to speak or to cooperate in his own examination, and appears to have no realization of what is going on about him.
SKIN: Scar 2 inches long extending across the forehead and downward between the eyes and across the bridge of the nose.
The skin of the groin is macerated bilaterally as a result of being constantly moistened with urine.
EYES, EARS, NOSE AND THROAT: No marked abnormalities.
LUNGS: Hyper-resonant throughout with moderate enlargement of the chest cage suggesting the presence of mild emphysema.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: Apex of heart palpable at a point 1 cm medial to the left mid-clavicular line. No evidence of right heart enlargement could be detected. Pulse 80. Blood pressure 130/75. Pulse full and regular except for an occasional skipped beat. The distal palpable arteries in the wrist and ankles were markedly sclerotic.
MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM: Both legs and arms were slowly moved by the patient although all movements of the extremities were associated with moderate spasticity. The patient was unable to stand alone or walk when he was held upright.
NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM: Pupillary reaction to light normal. Deep tendon renexes in arms and legs were normal. Normal reaction to planter stimulation.
GENITO-URINARY SYSTEM: Incontinence of urine was noted at the time of examination. Genitalia appeared normal. A prostatic examination was not made.
GASTRO-INTESTINAL SYSTEM: Abdominal examination was normal. Incontinence of the bowels was noted at the time of the examination.
It is the impression of the undersigned that this man is suffering from far advanced generalized arteriosclerosis which is progressive and that he has already suffered from repeated small apoplectic strokes. It is believed that this condition has already developed to the point where this man has lost all capacity for memory, reasoning or understanding of statements made to him and that transporting or doing anything which might excite him might endanger his life
/ s / PAUL F. CHESNUT