Conclusions

Abstract

The preceding chapters have shown that investigations into anti-crop BW formed a significant component in BW programmes about which there is publicly available information. French BW activities, curtailed by the German invasion, clearly demonstrate that investigations were conducted in 1939 into BW, which included the consideration of fungal plant pathogens for use against potato crops. In this connection beetles and the use of insects to impair agriculture also appear on the list of French biological warfare ‘research under consideration’ in the same year. Although offensive German anti-crop BW was officially prohibited by Hitler considerable attention was given to anti-crop BW preparations with research focussing on some 23 plant pathogens and plant parasites. In connection with research conducted in 1944 it also appears that sufficient preparation, included field testing, had taken place with Colorado Beetles that it was not difficult in that year for German BW workers to envisage a German operational capability to conduct offensive anti-crop BW. Regardless of the stated intent of research and development on BW in wartime Germany, and the reiteration of the prohibition on offensive developments in BW from German high command, proponents of offensive anti-crop warfare working in the Agricultural Section of the Wehrmacht Science Division were, according to Deichmann,¹ ‘able to combine their war research with their normal activities without attracting attention’.