Siegfried Ruff (19 February 1907 – 22 April 1989) was a Nazi German physician who served as director of the Aviation Medicine Department at the German Experimental Institute for Aviation,[1] and was accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity for conducting medical atrocities. He was acquitted.
Siegfried Ruff | |
|---|---|
 Mugshot of Ruff | |
| Born | 19 February 1907 Friemersheim, German Empire |
| Died | 22 April 1989 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Physician |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
| Criminal status | Acquitted |
| Criminal charge | Conspiracy against peace War crimes Crimes against humanity |
| Trial | Doctors' trial |
Nazi activities and Doctors' Trial
In the 1947 Doctors' Trial, Ruff was indicted on various war crimes allegedly committed during his time as a researcher at the Institute for Aviation.[2] Specifically, it was alleged he had overseen experiments that had resulted in the deaths of 80 Dachau concentration camp inmates.[2] While Ruff acknowledged human experimentation had occurred, he stated it had occurred according to the law and denied it had resulted in any deaths.[3] Ruff was acquitted of all charges against him.[2]
Post-War human experimentation
Following World War II, Ruff was hired by the U.S. Army Air Forces to work at a United States military hospital in Heidelberg conducting experiments on human exposure to high altitudes.[2]
In 1961 the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine chose to relocate its annual conference from West Germany over objections at Ruff's participation.[3]
Ruff enjoyed a distinguished medical career in postwar Germany.[4]