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| Weleda launches inquiry into Nazi camp skin test claims | Weleda launches inquiry into Nazi camp skin test claims |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Weleda, the natural cosmetics company, has launched a study into its links to a Nazi concentration camp following claims an anti-freeze cream it produced was tested on prisoners. | Weleda, the natural cosmetics company, has launched a study into its links to a Nazi concentration camp following claims an anti-freeze cream it produced was tested on prisoners. |
| A report by historian Anne Sudrow alleges that the Swiss company ordered raw materials from a garden in the Dachau camp. It also made a cream to protect against hypothermia which an SS doctor allegedly used in human experiments. | A report by historian Anne Sudrow alleges that the Swiss company ordered raw materials from a garden in the Dachau camp. It also made a cream to protect against hypothermia which an SS doctor allegedly used in human experiments. |
| Weleda said a separate report in 2023 found no evidence Dr Sigmund Rascher tested the cream on prisoners kept in freezing conditions for hours. | Weleda said a separate report in 2023 found no evidence Dr Sigmund Rascher tested the cream on prisoners kept in freezing conditions for hours. |
| The firm said it condemned the Nazi regime's "atrocities" and acknowledged the new findings "may not have been fully explored in previous research". | The firm said it condemned the Nazi regime's "atrocities" and acknowledged the new findings "may not have been fully explored in previous research". |
| Dachau, near Munich, was the first concentration camp set up by the Nazis in 1933. | Dachau, near Munich, was the first concentration camp set up by the Nazis in 1933. |
| It is thought about 200,000 people have been imprisoned there and more than 40,000 died there before its liberation in 1945. Some of those deaths have been attributed to medical experiments. | It is thought about 200,000 people have been imprisoned there and more than 40,000 died there before its liberation in 1945. Some of those deaths have been attributed to medical experiments. |
| In her book, commissioned by the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Ms Sudrow outlines the relationship between Weleda and the SS - the Nazi Party's elite force founded by Adolf Hitler. | In her book, commissioned by the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Ms Sudrow outlines the relationship between Weleda and the SS - the Nazi Party's elite force founded by Adolf Hitler. |
| The claims include Weleda's cream being linked to experiments on up to 300 concentration camp prisoners between August 1942 and May 1943, according to German news magazine Der Spiegel. | |
| Weleda's cream was intended to be used for treating hypothermia in German soldiers and Dr Rascher wanted to know whether the product could delay the medical condition in freezing temperatures. | Weleda's cream was intended to be used for treating hypothermia in German soldiers and Dr Rascher wanted to know whether the product could delay the medical condition in freezing temperatures. |
| During his tests up to 90 prisoners died when they were forced into ice baths, Der Spiegel reported. | During his tests up to 90 prisoners died when they were forced into ice baths, Der Spiegel reported. |
| A ceremony was held in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau concentration camp | A ceremony was held in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau concentration camp |
| The 104-year-old company, which is known for its Skin Food range of skincare products, said it was committed to "transparently researching our history". | The 104-year-old company, which is known for its Skin Food range of skincare products, said it was committed to "transparently researching our history". |
| It expects the results of its new investigation, conducted by German body Society for Corporate History (GuG), to be published in early 2027. | It expects the results of its new investigation, conducted by German body Society for Corporate History (GuG), to be published in early 2027. |
| Tina Müller, chief executive of Weleda, said: "We condemn the atrocities of National Socialism in the strongest possible terms. | Tina Müller, chief executive of Weleda, said: "We condemn the atrocities of National Socialism in the strongest possible terms. |
| "Fascism, anti-Semitism, racism, or right-wing extremist ideology have no place with us. 'Never again' expresses our stance. That's why we are committed to a complete reappraisal of our history." | "Fascism, anti-Semitism, racism, or right-wing extremist ideology have no place with us. 'Never again' expresses our stance. That's why we are committed to a complete reappraisal of our history." |
| The company said it had given historians "full access to the company archives" to carry out its 2023 study into the company's history. | The company said it had given historians "full access to the company archives" to carry out its 2023 study into the company's history. |
| The same was also provided to Ms Sudrow for her work, including access to "administrative board minutes from the Nazi era", Weleda added. | The same was also provided to Ms Sudrow for her work, including access to "administrative board minutes from the Nazi era", Weleda added. |
| Weleda admitted the GuG's previous report, which was commissioned by the skincare brand and published last year, was "not yet designed to examine all detailed aspects". | Weleda admitted the GuG's previous report, which was commissioned by the skincare brand and published last year, was "not yet designed to examine all detailed aspects". |
| The document outlined that Weleda requested plants from the Dachau camp garden - where prisoners worked - but were never delivered. | The document outlined that Weleda requested plants from the Dachau camp garden - where prisoners worked - but were never delivered. |
| It also stated Dr Rascher ordered 20kg of Weleda's anti-freeze cream as part of his "cold experiments" but there was no evidence the company was informed it was used on concentration camp prisoners for those purposes. | It also stated Dr Rascher ordered 20kg of Weleda's anti-freeze cream as part of his "cold experiments" but there was no evidence the company was informed it was used on concentration camp prisoners for those purposes. |
| The company was founded in 1921 by the Austrian academic and philosopher Rudolf Steiner who established the anthroposophy doctrine, which - according to the Encyclopedia Britannica - is "philosophy based on the premise that the human intellect has the ability to contact spiritual worlds". | The company was founded in 1921 by the Austrian academic and philosopher Rudolf Steiner who established the anthroposophy doctrine, which - according to the Encyclopedia Britannica - is "philosophy based on the premise that the human intellect has the ability to contact spiritual worlds". |
| He also spearheaded the Steiner schools system and upon his death in 1925, left a vast body of work covering everything from homeopathy and biodynamic farming, to alternative medicine and the purpose of life. | He also spearheaded the Steiner schools system and upon his death in 1925, left a vast body of work covering everything from homeopathy and biodynamic farming, to alternative medicine and the purpose of life. |