Posted on 02/22/2014 10:00:15 AM PST by nickcarraway
UPDATE: Nazi scientists worked on ways to use malaria-carrying mosquitoes as a weapon, according to researchers. Until now, experts have disputed whether Germany was working on biological warfare during World War II.
Dr Klaus Reinhardt, who led the study, told The Local that he came across documents at Dachau's Entomology Institute which suggested that “biological weapons [using mosquitoes] could have been developed as an offensive, not defensive, weapon”.
Until now, it had been generally thought by experts that the Nazis only intended ever to use biological weapons defensively.
By 1944 the institute had decided on a specific breed of mosquito most suited to a potential biological attack, said Reinhardt.
But tests with mosquitoes infected with malaria were never carried out and Hitler opposed biological warfare, according to Reinhardt.
He and his team published their findings in the Endeavor scientific journal in December. It states how in 1942 head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, set up the Dachau institute to study the physiology and control of insects that inflict harm to humans.
Institute leader Eduard May had, Reinhardt said, an interest in dragonflies before Himmler put him – for reasons unknown – in charge of the Dachau institute.
Reinhardt said: “I have a special interest in dragonflies so really came across the mosquito plan by accident.”
The people who banned DDT killed millions with mosquitoes.
Kind of a silly article. AFAIK, every major power during WWII did bio-weapons research. Including the USA starting in 1943, as directed by FDR in a 1942 executive order.
True. However, I wonder if extensive use of DDT would have meant that by now they would have developed resistance.
Good thing we had the Spim Brothers on our side....
Mosquito Hunters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZvT3MHpffk
However, I wonder if extensive use of DDT would have meant that by now they would have developed resistance.
The mosquitoes or the birds that were supposedly harmed?
“Nazis ‘Wanted to Use Mosquitoes as a Weapon’”
Just got an idea for a Syfy original movie.
Nazsquito?
Mosquitoes. Most if not all insecticides and antmicrobials lose effectiveness over time.
Special mosquitoes wouldn’t have done the Germans any good except maybe in the Russian rear late in the war after it was obvious that Germany was irreversibly on the defensive.
The Pripet marshes were partisan strongholds in the USSR. This might have been the objective. Also, I read that the Germans did introduce malarial mosquitos in Italy in partisan infested areas.
Coming soon to the Sci-fi channel. Another terrible movie.
6 ep of “Auschwitz” on Netflix. Watched them all.
“The Reich Underground” also on NF.
They said hitler was publicly against biowarfare due to almost losing his sight in ww1. But still ordered production of sarin.
Both shows were great.
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