Before I begin my series on the chemistry of Prussian blue staining at former Nazi German concentration and extermination camps, I want to state clearly what this blog series is about and, just as importantly, what it is not about.
What this series is:
- A scientific and forensic examination of how Prussian blue forms from hydrogen cyanide (the active agent in Zyklon-B) reacting with iron-containing building materials.
- A correction of specific chemical misconceptions I have encountered online. For example, misunderstandings about iron sources, wall porosity, or the stability of the pigment.
- A presentation of specific, verifiable examples of Prussian blue staining, drawn from documented forensic and historical research at multiple sites, including Auschwitz-Birkenau, Majdanek, Stutthof, Sachsenhausen, and Hartheim.
- An effort to separate fact from fiction only on the level of chemical mechanism, not on the level of historical events. Iron gall ink analysis. How prussian blue forms, the different colors of it on different surfaces, what types of surfaces it forms on, and how long it takes. I may include some detail on both the spectral and non-spectral based algorithms used. Where it originated in Texas before WW2 and what it was used for in Texas before the Nazi's got ahold of it. This will not be based on my "visual" observation", only on proven, scientific evidence.
- And most importantly, my extensive analysis of high resolution images using computational imaging techniques.
What this series is NOT:
- A challenge to the established historical record of the Holocaust, including the use of Zyklon-B in homicidal gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Majdanek, and other camps.
- An attempt to estimate or dispute victim counts based on staining patterns.
- A claim that forensic chemistry contradicts survivor testimony, wartime documentation, or postwar legal findings. It does not.
- Holocaust denial, minimization, or revisionism in any form. I reject those positions entirely.
My background and intent:
I am a science writer with a strong interest in forensic chemistry. I am not a Holocaust denier, and I have no political or ideological agenda beyond accurate science communication. The chemistry of Prussian blue is interesting because it confirms the historical record, not because it undermines it.
Why this matters:
There is a substantial amount of denial on the subject, and an equal amount of confusion on what color blue forms and how it forms. Misinformation about the chemistry of Prussian blue exists in two forms: innocent confusion and deliberate distortion. My goal is to address the first without amplifying the second. I will not be engaging with denialist arguments directly, nor will I platform them. Instead, I will simply present the chemistry as it is understood by forensic scientists and historians who accept the reality of the Holocaust.
There is a lot of evidence. The goal of this series is to present some of that evidence clearly, focusing on the chemistry and imaging work I have done.
A request to readers:
If you are a Holocaust survivor, a descendant of survivors, or someone directly affected by this history, I recognize that even a technical discussion of these chemicals can be painful. That is not my intent, but I acknowledge the weight of the subject. Please read with care, or skip this series if it would cause distress.
A note for anyone concerned about my intentions:
I welcome corrections from chemists and historians if I make an actual factual error. I do not welcome attempts to draw me into debates about whether the Holocaust happened. Those are not debates I will have, because the historical conclusion is not in doubt.
Thank you for reading. Now, on to the chemistry.
Posted as part of a series on forensic chemistry and historical staining phenomena at Nazi German camps.