Rudolf Emil Hermann Brandt German war criminal, personal assistant to Heinrich Himmler Date of Birth: 02.06.1909 Country: Germany

Biography of Rudolf Emil German Brandt

Rudolf Emil German Brandt was a German military criminal, personal aide to Heinrich Himmler, Ministerial Director of Ancestral Heritage Society, and SS Standartenführer. He was trained as a lawyer, having obtained his education at the universities of Berlin and Jena, where he earned a doctorate in law. In 1932, he joined the NSDAP with the aim of advancing his career and began his service at the Reichsführer's headquarters. From 1938 onwards, he served as Himmler's personal secretary-aide and chief of staff. He also acted as a consultant on legal matters and was a highly skilled stenographer. As Himmler's secretary, Brandt corresponded with many doctors who conducted experiments on humans in concentration camps, such as Hirt, Rascher, and Clauberg. He was also responsible for compiling various documentation, including orders for the destruction of individuals or the initiation of experiments.

According to the accounts of many of Himmler's subordinates who worked with Brandt, he enjoyed immense trust from the Reichsführer and was known for his extreme efficiency. It is mentioned in some sources that Brandt had a friendly relationship with Felix Kersten and provided him with assistance whenever possible. It is also known that Brandt once saved Kersten's life by warning him of an assassination plot planned by the head of the RSHA, Kaltenbrunner. Additionally, some sources mention that Brandt helped Kersten forge documents for the release of people from concentration camps, specifically by intentionally leaving space for additional names after the document was signed by the Reichsführer. In his memoirs, Kersten noted that while Brandt dutifully carried out his assigned tasks, he did not share many of Himmler's ideas and disapproved of their cruelty and inhumanity.

Brandt fought as part of an artillery battalion in the battles against Greece from March 30 to May 11, 1941. In 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Standartenführer. Towards the end of the war, he accompanied Himmler to a meeting with General Montgomery and was subsequently arrested in Bremervörde. For some time, Brandt, along with the other companions of Himmler, was held in a camp for civilians near Lüneburg. On December 9, 1946, he stood trial in the "Doctors' Trial" and was sentenced to death on August 20, 1947. Despite efforts by Kersten to save him, Rudolf Brandt was hanged on June 2, 1948. Brandt had a weak constitution and required a special diet. In prison, deprived of the opportunity to eat according to the needs of his body, he began to deteriorate and was on the verge of death. When the situation became critical, it was decided to prepare separate meals for him, which saved his life until the trial and allowed him to await the execution of his death sentence.

Although Rudolf Brandt and Karl Brandt have no connection other than their surname and date of death, they are often confused with each other.