THE RUDOLF REPORT

GERMAR RUDOLF · THE RUDOLF REPORTshort exposition time and low reactivity of hydrogen cyanide on coolmasonry and despite corrosion and erosion. 506 He furthermore expressesthe opinion that warm walls would be necessary for the formationof the pigment. 507 Just how unrealistic this opinion really is, hasalready been shown: Firstly, the pigment formed is durable (chapter6.6.); secondly, cool and moist walls have a higher reactivity to pigmentformation than dry and warm walls (chapter 6.5.); thirdly,Leuchter’s Sample no. 28 proves that the cyanide traces are not causedby homicidal gassings.8.3.2. Institute for Forensic Research, CracowThe analytical values shown in Table 18 were never published bythe Jan Sehn Institute. They only became public knowledge due to anact of indiscretion. The results appear to suggest that the alleged ‘gaschambers’ exhibit either no cyanide residues at all or values which areclearly lower than those found in samples taken from the disinfestationchambers. The scientist responsible, Prof. Markiewicz, writes about thechemistry involved: 56“Hydrogen cyanide is a weak acid, which has the result that its saltsdecompose slightly in the presence of stronger acids. One of thesestronger acids is carbonic acid, which arises from the reaction betweencarbon dioxide and water. [Even] stronger acids, such as, for example,sulfuric acid, decompose cyanide even more easily. Complex compoundswith cyanide ions with heavy metals are more durable. Among suchcompounds is the already mentioned ‘Prussian Blue’ [=Iron Blue], buteven this decomposes slowly in an acid environment.One could hardly expect, therefore, that building materials (plaster,brick) exposed to environmental influences (precipitation, acid oxides,especially sulfuric and nitric monoxide) would contain derivative compoundsof cyanides after a period of 45 years.”This contradicts the facts established above, and so to repeat:a) Carbon dioxide is only slightly soluble in water and hardly formscarbonic acid in water at all, and therefore the cyanide salts cannot“decompose” (see chapter 6.5.4.1. and note 349; actually, the wateris responsible for the decomposition);b) Iron Blue (Prussian Blue) is extraordinarily stable in acids and is506 Op. cit.(note 45); ibid., op. cit. (note 67), p. 133.507 J.-C. Pressac, op. cit. (note 67), p. 53.250