Seawater desalination methods originated from human experimentation conducted by German physician Konrad Schäfer during the 1940s. Born in 1911 in Mulhouse, his career spanned clinical research at the Institute for Aviation Medicine and controversial projects within the Dachau concentration camp. His later work for the United States military highlights the complex movement of scientific personnel during the post-war era.
Academic Background
Schäfer completed his medical education through a sequence of German and Austrian institutions. He enrolled at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin, and the University of Innsbruck before graduating from Heidelberg University in December 1935. By 1936, he earned his doctorate, eventually moving into a part-time assistant position at the Schering AG chemotherapeutic laboratory starting in 1937.
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In November 1941, Schäfer joined the Luftwaffe Medical Testing and Training Department in Jüterbog. His research focused on thirst and thirst control, which he presented at the Seenot Conference in October 1942. This work included human experimentation conducted at the Dachau concentration camp. Specifically, he developed a method for seawater desalination, testing the process on 44 Roma individuals held at the camp in 1944.
The Doctors' Trial and Post-War Career
Following the conclusion of the war, Schäfer faced legal scrutiny during the Doctors' Trial in 1947. Prosecutors accused him of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but the court acquitted him of these charges. Subsequent to the trial, he relocated to the United States. He performed research for the U.S. Army Air Forces at Randolph Air Field, continuing this work until his death in 1951.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Mulhouse
- Died: 1951
- Citizenship: Germany
- Doctorate: 1936
- Trial Year: 1947
- Research Location: Dachau concentration camp
- Post-War Employer: U.S. Army Air Forces
Questions readers ask
What was the outcome of the Doctors' Trial for Konrad Schäfer?
He was tried in 1947 for war crimes and crimes against humanity but was acquitted.
Where did Schäfer work after 1947?
He moved to the United States to conduct research for the U.S. Army Air Forces at Randolph Air Field until 1951.
