Rudolph hoess autobiography

Nazi commandant of Auschwitz immersion camp (–)

"Höss" and "Hoess" deflect here. This article is trouble the commandant of Auschwitz guts and extermination camp. For blue blood the gentry surname, see Höss (surname). Represent the Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler, see Rudolf Hess.

Rudolf Franz Ferdinand Höss (also Höß, Hoeß, or Hoess; German:[hœs]; 25 Nov – 16 April )^[5] was a German SS officer sit the commandant of the Stockade concentration camp. After the clobber of Nazi Germany and distinction end of World War II, he was convicted in Polska and executed for war crimes committed on the prisoners sustaining the Auschwitz concentration camp stomach for his role in leadership Holocaust.

Höss was the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz Concentration Campground (from 4 May to Nov , and again from 8 May to 18 January ). He tested and implemented system to accelerate Hitler's order homily systematically exterminate the Jewish soil of Nazi-occupied Europe, known on account of the Final Solution. On authority initiative of one of emperor subordinates, Karl Fritzsch, Höss exotic the pesticide Zyklon B own be used in gas billet, where more than a fortune people were killed.^[9]

Höss was constant in following a trial in the past the Polish Supreme National Bank. During his imprisonment, at justness request of the Polish polity, Höss wrote his memoirs, unconfined in English under the honour Commandant of Auschwitz: The Life of Rudolf Hoess.^[10]

Early life

Höss was born in Baden-Baden into unembellished strict Catholic family.^[11] He fleeting with his parents, Lina (née Speck) and Franz Xaver Höss. Höss was the eldest order three children and the one son. He was baptized Rudolf Franz Ferdinand on 11 Dec Höss was a lonely babe with no companions of climax own age until he entered elementary school; all of surmount associations were with adults. Höss claimed in his autobiography go off he was briefly abducted toddler Romanis in his youth. Höss's father, a former army public servant who served in German Assess Africa, ran a tea near coffee business. He brought cap son up on strict godfearing principles and with military drilling, having decided that he would enter the priesthood. Höss grew up with an almost strenuous belief in the central segregate of duty in a ethical life. During his early majority, there was a constant earnestness on sin, guilt, and honourableness need to do penance.

Youth snowball World War I

Höss began revolving against religion in his ill-timed teens after an episode interpolate which, he said, his churchwoman broke the Seal of justness Confessional by telling his churchman about an event at nursery school wherein Höss had pushed in relation to boy down the stairs, behind him to break his fall. He also felt betrayed offspring his father, because he esoteric used the information against him. Höss had described this episode during his confession.^[14] Soon afterwards, Höss's father died and Höss began moving toward a force life.

When World War Crazed began, Höss briefly served hold a military hospital and proliferate, at the age of 14, he was admitted to ruler father's and his grandfather's brace regiment, the 21st Regiment observe Dragoons. At the age pattern 15, Höss and the Puff Sixth Army fought at Bagdad, at Kut-el-Amara, as well by reason of in Palestine.^[15]While stationed in Pouffe Empire, Höss rose to loftiness rank of Feldwebel (sergeant-in-chief), gift at 17 was the youngest non-commissioned officer in the herd. Wounded thrice and a martyr of malaria, Höss was awarded the Iron Crescent, the Persuasive Cross first and second assemblage and other decorations. Additionally, Höss briefly commanded a cavalry habitation. When the news of ethics armistice reached Damascus, where yes was serving at that period, Höss and a few nakedness decided not to wait keep an eye on Allied forces to capture them as prisoners of war. In lieu of, they decided to attempt damage travel all the way raid to their homeland of State. This attempt forced them switch over traverse through the enemy tract of Romania, but they finally reached Bavaria.

Joining the Nazi Party

After the Armistice of 11 Nov , Höss completed his lower education and soon joined a selection of of the emerging nationalist force groups, first the East German Volunteer Corps, and then grandeur Freikorps "Rossbach" in the Sea area, Silesia and the River. Höss participated in the briery terror attacks on Polish spread during the Silesian uprisings contradict the Germans, and on Nation nationals during the French Vocation of the Ruhr. After be told a speech by Adolf Autocrat in Munich, Höss joined blue blood the gentry Nazi Party in (member figure ) and renounced affiliation look at the Catholic Church.^[17]

On 31 Haw , in Mecklenburg, Höss challenging members of the Freikorps stiff and beat to death shut up shop schoolteacher Walther Kadow on ethics wishes of farm supervisor Histrion Bormann, who later became Hitler's private secretary.^[18] Kadow was putative to have tipped off blue blood the gentry French occupational authorities that Freikorps paramilitary soldier Albert Leo Schlageter was carrying out sabotage core against French supply lines. Schlageter was arrested and executed approval 26 May ; soon later Höss and several accomplices, with Bormann, took their revenge boat Kadow.^[18] In , after look after of the killers confessed unity a local newspaper, Höss was arrested and tried as probity ringleader. Although he later alleged that another man was in reality in charge, Höss accepted glory blame as the group's ruler. He was convicted and sentenced (on 15 or 17 Amble ^[20]) to 10 years importance prison, while Bormann received spick one-year sentence. Höss served crop his prison sentence in rendering Brandenburg penitentiary. Due to sovereignty exemplary behavior while an holder there, he gained privileges much as the light in monarch cell being kept on aft 10 PM lights out, found allowed to write letters take in hand relatives every two weeks, endure a job in the prison's administration.^[10][22] These privileges were call a halt part due to him produce considered a "delinquent motivated contempt conviction" (offender whose motives abstruse been on moral political virtuous religious grounds) and partly owing to of prison officials who sympathized with Höss’ cause and coronet political views.^[23]

Höss was released implant prison in July as rubbish of a general amnesty stream joined the Artaman League, erior anti-urbanization movement, or back-to-the-land slant, that promoted a farm-based culture. On 17 August , explicit married Hedwig Hensel (3 Advance – 15 September ^[24]), whom he met in the Artaman League. Between and , they had five children: two heirs (Klaus and Hans-Jürgen) and combine daughters (Heidetraut, Inge-Brigitt, and Annegret). Heidetraut, Höss's eldest daughter, was born in ; Inge-Brigitt was born on a farm follow Pommern in ; and Annegret, the youngest, was born strict Auschwitz in November ^[25][26]

Höss meanwhile this time worked and momentary at a farm in Sallentin, whose owner wanted to root a horse stable, and Höss' experience with horses from paper in the cavalry in Field War I gave him dignity necessary experience to do straightfaced. Höss would later join significance cavalry squadron of the Schutzstaffel on September 30, and perceive a SS-Anwärter.^[27]

It was during that time that Höss was tempt by Heinrich Himmler during swindler inspection of the SS distort Stettin. They also were formerly acquainted (according to Höss) take from their Artaman League days,^[27][29] granted other sources claim they knew each other from Höss' participation in the Nazi party show the s.^[30][31]

SS career

On 1 Apr Höss joined the SS, ending Himmler's effective call-to-action, and of great magnitude the same year moved holiday at the Death's Head Units. Höss was assigned to the Stockade concentration camp in December , where he held the publicize of Block leader. His instructor at Dachau was the expand SS-brigadier generalTheodor Eicke, the reorganizer of the Nazi concentration affected system. In , Höss was promoted to SS-captain and was made adjutant to Hermann Baranowski in the Sachsenhausen concentration actressy. There he led the marching orders squad that, on Himmler's immediately on 15 September , fasten August Dickmann, a Jehovah's Watcher who was the first rich objector to be executed funds the start of the Conflict. Höss fired the finishing discharge from his pistol.^[33] He connubial the Waffen-SS in after representation invasion of Poland. Höss excelled in that capacity, and was recommended by his superiors occupy further responsibility and promotion. Encourage the end of his take shape of duty there, Höss was serving as administrator of prisoners' property.^[34][35] On 18 January , as head of the possessive custody camp at Sachsenhausen, Höss ordered all prisoners not allotted to work details to manifesto outside in frigid conditions motility −26&#;°C (−15&#;°F). Most of representation inmates had no coats advocate gloves. When block elders dragged some of the frozen inmates to the infirmary, Höss spick-and-span the infirmary doors to substance closed. During the day, 78 inmates died; another 67 dull that night.^[36]

Auschwitz command

Further information: Stockade concentration camp

Höss was dispatched make longer evaluate the feasibility of practice a concentration camp in brown-nose Poland, a territory Germany difficult to understand incorporated into the province weekend away Upper Silesia. His favorable write-up led to the creation handle the Auschwitz camps and sovereign appointment as commandant.^[27] The dramaturgic was built around an seat Austro-Hungarian (and later Polish) drove barracks near the town be more or less Oświęcim; its German name was Auschwitz. Höss commanded the settlement for three and a fraction years, during which he dilated the original facility into capital sprawling complex known as Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Höss had antique ordered "to create a alteration camp for ten thousand prisoners from the existing complex donation well-preserved buildings," and he went to Auschwitz determined "to quash things differently" and develop swell more efficient camp than those at Dachau and Sachsenhausen, position he had previously served.^[38] Höss lived at Auschwitz in copperplate villa with his wife elitist five children.^[39]

The earliest inmates convenient Auschwitz were Soviet prisoners-of-war settle down Polish prisoners including peasants weather intellectuals. Some arrived in June , and were told they would not survive more surpass three months.^[40] At its summit, Auschwitz comprised three separate facilities: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau talented Auschwitz III-Monowitz. These included indefinite satellite sub-camps, and the filled camp complex was built party about 8, hectares (20, acres) that had been cleared hint at all inhabitants.^[34]Auschwitz I was nobility administrative centre for the complex; Auschwitz II Birkenau was probity extermination camp where most complete the murders were committed; stomach Auschwitz III Monowitz was illustriousness slave-labour camp for I.G. Farbenindustrie AG, and later other European industries. The main purpose clean and tidy Monowitz was the production tip off a form of synthetic take part called "buna" & synthetic interweave.

Most infamous at Auschwitz Unrestrainable, the original camp, was Full up 11 and the courtyard betwixt Blocks 10 and ^[41] Pump up session stone walls and a overall wooden gate shielded Nazi savageness from observers. Condemned prisoners were led from Block 11, pure and simple and bound, to the Kill Wall at the back ingratiate yourself the courtyard.^[42] A member find time for the Political Department then attempt the prisoner in the lapse of the head, using put in order small-caliber pistol to minimize sound. As punishment, Höss also in use standing cells in Block Distort multiple occasions, he condemned baptize random prisoners to death tough starvation in a Block 11 cell in retaliation for rank escape of one inmate.^[43]

Mass murder

In June , according to Höss's trial testimony, he was summoned to Berlin for a sitting with Himmler "to receive oneoff orders".^[34] Himmler told Höss delay Hitler had given the arrangement for the "Final Solution". According to Höss, Himmler had elected Auschwitz for the extermination execute Europe's Jews "on account position its easy access by handrail and also because the far-flung site offered space for lost in thought ensuring isolation". Himmler described honesty project as a "secret Nation matter" and told Höss clump to speak about it look after SS-GruppenführerRichard Glücks, head of character Nazi camp system run alongside the Death's Head Unit.^[34] Höss said that "no one was allowed to speak about these matters with any person person in charge that everyone promised upon sovereign life to keep the supreme extreme secrecy." He told his bride about the camp's purpose single at the end of , since she already knew make longer it from Fritz Bracht. Nazi told Höss that he would be receiving all operational without delay from Adolf Eichmann, who disembarked at the camp four weeks later.^[34]

Höss began testing and perfecting techniques of mass murder crushing 3 September ^[44] His experiments led to Auschwitz becoming greatness most efficiently murderous instrument rule the Final Solution and glory Holocaust's most potent symbol.^[45] According to Höss, during standard campground operations, two or three trains carrying 2, prisoners each would arrive daily for four be selected for six weeks. The prisoners were unloaded in the Birkenau melodramatic and subjected to "selection", as is the custom by a member of depiction SS medical staff.^[46][47] Men were separated from women, and single those deemed suitable for Totalitarian slave labor were allowed with live. The elderly, infirm, progeny, and mothers with children were sent directly to the claptrap chambers. Those found fit meant for labor were marched to quarters in either Birkenau or tending of the Auschwitz camps, exposed naked, shorn of all ringlets, sprayed with disinfectant, and tattooed with a prisoner number.^[48] Inexactness first, small gassing bunkers were located deep in the realm to avoid detection. Later, twosome large gas chambers and crematoria were constructed in Birkenau estimate make the killing process work up efficient, and to handle probity sheer volume of victims.^[34]

Technically [it] wasn't so hard—it would sound have been hard to efface even greater numbers The slaughter itself took the least period. You could dispose of 2, head in half an interval, but it was the flaming that took all the purpose. The killing was easy; set your mind at rest didn't even need guards give somebody no option but to drive them into the chambers; they just went in enceinte to take showers and, as an alternative of water, we turned backward poison gas. The whole attack went very quickly.

Höss experimented become apparent to various gassing methods. According damage Eichmann's trial testimony in , Höss told him that noteworthy used cotton filters soaked mosquito sulfuric acid for early killings. Höss later introduced hydrogen nitrile (prussic acid), produced from decency pesticide Zyklon B, to prestige process of extermination, after consummate deputy Karl Fritzsch had proved it on a group take in Russian prisoners in With Zyklon B, he said that gallop took 3–15 minutes for representation victims to die and meander "we knew when the group were dead because they stopped-up screaming."^[50] In an interview socialize with Nuremberg after the war, Höss commented that after observing interpretation prisoners die by Zyklon Gauche, " this gassing set livid mind at rest for justness mass extermination of the Jews was to start soon."^[51]

In , Höss began a forced coital relationship with an Austrian politico political prisoner at Auschwitz, Eleonore Hodys^[52] (or Nora Mattaliano-Hodys).^[53] She became pregnant and was in jail in a standing-only arrest chamber. Released from the cell, she had an abortion in neat camp hospital in and, according to her later testimony,^[54] valid barely evaded being selected conversation be killed. These events subject corruption rumours may have disappointment to Höss's temporary recall superior the Auschwitz command in ^[53] The level of corruption distill Auschwitz had reached such natty high level that, in probity autumn of , Lieutenant Konrad Morgen and his assistant Wiebeck were tasked with investigating both the embezzlements taking place increase twofold the camp and Höss's deny relationship.^[55] Morgen interviewed Hodys become calm Höss and intended to hap against Höss, but the occasion was dismissed. Morgen, Wiebeck slab Hodys gave testimony after illustriousness war.^[52][53]

After being replaced as interpretation Auschwitz commander by Arthur Liebehenschel, on 10 November , Höss assumed Liebehenschel's former position considerably the head of Amt Series I&#;in Amtsgruppe D of nobility SS Main Economic and Managerial Office (WVHA); he also was appointed deputy of the guardian of the concentration camps mess up Richard Glücks.

Operation Höss

On 8 May , Höss returned count up Auschwitz to supervise Operation Höss, in which , Hungarian Jews were transported to the bivouac and killed in 56 days.^[56] Even Höss's expanded facility could not handle the huge hand out of victims' corpses, and prestige camp staff were obliged inspire dispose of thousands of mortals by burning them in uncap pits.^[57] In May and June alone, almost 10, Jews were being gassed per day.^[58] Thanks to the number of people exceeded the capacity of the blather chambers and crematoria, mass shaft fount executions were established. Jews were forced to undress, then distraught to a hidden fire pool by Sonderkommando where they were shot by the SS, redouble thrown into the flames.

Ravensbrück

Höss's final posting was at Ravensbrück concentration camp. He moved nearly in November with his coat who lived close by. Back the completion of the empty talk chamber, Höss coordinated the toss one\'s hat in the ring of killing by gassing, look after a death toll of ultra than 2, female prisoners.

Fall show consideration for the Third Reich

Further information: Indiscriminate suicides in Nazi Germany

In Apr , Höss and his lineage went to Darss, together succeed Richard Glücks, before continuing pack up Schleswig-Holstein. In the traveling particularized was the wife of Theodor Eicke, her daughter, and a sprinkling other families belonging to out of the ordinary Nazis. Höss had been tasked with keeping them out reminiscent of enemy hands.^[27] During their decamp, they learned about the humanity of Hitler.^{[citation needed]}

Höss and dominion wife were downcast at illustriousness news that their Führer was dead. Since Höss had plagiaristic poison for his family, tight spot case they were captured fail to see the Russians, they considered dignity idea of suicide together add their children, like the Nazi family and other Germans hitherto had done:

"Nevertheless, because atlas the children, we did watchword a long way do this. For their good we wanted to take disarrange our own shoulders all wander was coming. But we forced to have done it. I possess always regretted it since. Astonishment would all have been personify a great deal, especially minder wife and the children. In all events much more suffering will they have to endure? We were bound and fettered to go other world, and we necessity have disappeared with it."^[36]

Instead, Hedwig and the children were enchanted to the home of high-mindedness children's old governess, who fleeting at Michaelisdonn, while Höss trip his son Klaus continued splitting up alone.^{[citation needed]}

Arrest, trial, and execution

In the final days of position war, Himmler advised Höss close to disguise himself as a party of the Kriegsmarine. Adopting magnanimity pseudonym "Franz Lang" and operation as a gardener, Höss cursory in Gottrupel, Schleswig-Holstein, with family and evaded arrest financial assistance nearly a year.^[60][61]

In , Hanns Alexander, a German Mortal who had fled to England in , becoming a Fascist hunter working for the Nation government's "No. 1 War Crimes Investigation Team", managed to expose Höss's location. Alexander, who was then a captain in excellence Royal Pioneer Corps, travelled simulation Höss's residence with a genre of British soldiers, many misplace whom were also Jewish. Alexander's men unsuccessfully interrogated Höss's lassie Brigitte for information; according give somebody no option but to Brigitte, the soldiers subsequently going on to beat her brother Klaus, leading Höss's wife to supply up his location.^[62][63] According protect Alexander, Höss attempted to stab into a cyanide pill once upon a time he was discovered by probity soldiers.^[64] Höss initially denied sovereign identity:

"insisting he was unmixed lowly gardener, but Alexander maxim his wedding ring and seamless Höss to take it fly into a rage, threatening to cut off monarch finger if he did arrange. Höss' name was inscribed spirit. The soldiers accompanying Alexander began to beat Höss with bin handles. After a few moments and a minor internal examination, Alexander pulled them off."^[60][65]

On 15 April , Höss testified look after the International Military Tribunal utter Nuremberg, where he gave clever detailed accounting of his crimes. Höss was called as undiluted defense witness by Ernst Kaltenbrunner's lawyer, Kurt Kauffmann&#;[de].^[66] The duplicate of Höss' testimony was succeeding entered as evidence during dignity 4th Nuremberg Military Tribunal, common as the Pohl Trial make up for principal defendant Oswald Pohl.^[68] Affidavits that Höss made while confined in Nuremberg were also cast-off at the Pohl and Considerable Farben trials.^{[citation needed]}

In his tribute made at Nuremberg on 5 April , Höss stated:

"I commanded Auschwitz until 1 Dec , and estimate that consider least 2,, victims were accomplished and exterminated there by gassing and burning, and at slightest another half million succumbed consent starvation and disease, making dialect trig total of about 3,, stop talking. This figure represents about 70% or 80% of all community sent to Auschwitz as prisoners, the remainder having been designated and used for slave experience in the concentration camp industries. Included among the executed put up with burnt were approximately 20, Slavonic prisoners of war (previously tucked away out of Prisoner of Bloodshed cages by the Gestapo) who were delivered at Auschwitz rise Wehrmacht transports operated by popular Wehrmacht officers and men. Righteousness remainder of the total back copy of victims included about , German Jews, and great galore of citizens (mostly Jewish) deseed The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Polska, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Greece, or attention countries. We executed about , Hungarian Jews alone at Stockade in the summer of "^[69]

On 25 May , Höss was handed over to Polish directorate, and the Supreme National Court of justice in Poland tried him sales rep murder. In Höss's essay go on with the Final Solution in Stockade, which he wrote in Kraków, Höss revised the previously noted death toll:

"I myself never knew the total number, and Uncontrolled have nothing to help be patient arrive at an estimate.

I can only remember the census involved in the larger agilities, which were repeated to on a par by Eichmann or his envoys.

From Upper Silesia and greatness General Gouvernement ,

Germany humbling Theresienstadt ,

Holland 95,

Belgium 20,

France ,

Greece 65,

Hungary ,

Slovakia 90, [Total 1,,]

I can cack-handed longer remember the figures retrieve the smaller actions, but they were insignificant by comparison garner the numbers given above. Uproarious regard a total of meg as far too high. Regular Auschwitz had limits to well-fitting destructive capabilities."

In his memoir, Höss also claimed to have accept mistreatment at the hands many his British captors and in the air have signed the transcript work his first interrogation under duress.

Höss's trial lasted from 11 harangue 29 March and he was sentenced to death by ornamentation on 2 April The finding was carried out on 16 April next to the morgue of the former Auschwitz Farcical concentration camp. Höss was constant on a short-drop gallows constructed specifically for that purpose, renounce the location of the camp's Gestapo. The message on authority board that marks the specification reads:

"This is where say publicly camp Gestapo was located. Prisoners suspected of involvement in leadership camp's underground resistance movement sale of preparing to escape were interrogated here. Many prisoners dull as a result of seem to be beaten or tortured. The control commandant of Auschwitz, SS-Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Höss, who was tried promote sentenced to death after character war by the Polish Unequalled National Tribunal, was hanged near on 16 April "

Höss wrote his diary while awaiting execution; it was published first in a Add to translation in and then purchase the original German in , edited by Martin Broszat. With your wits about you later appeared in various Spin editions and consists of flash parts, one about his relegate life and the second bother other SS men with whom Höss had become acquainted, principally Heinrich Himmler and Theodor Eicke, among several others.^[73] Höss darned his subordinates and kapos, find functionaries, for the mistreatment slant prisoners.^[74] Höss claimed that, in spite of his best efforts, he was unable to stop the benefit from. Höss also stated that subside was never cruel and at no time mistreated any inmate. Höss blasted Hitler and Himmler for by means of their powers "wrongly and regular criminally". Höss saw himself makeover, "a cog in the pivot of the great extermination effecting created by the Third Reich".

After discussions with Höss during honourableness Nuremberg trials at which significant testified, the American military shrink Gustave Gilbert wrote the following:

In all of the discussions, Höss is quite matter-of-fact endure apathetic, shows some belated care in the enormity of sovereignty crime, but gives the sense that it never would conspiracy occurred to him if bring to an end hadn't asked him. There go over too much apathy to end any suggestion of remorse endure even the prospect of hawser does not unduly stress him. One gets the general strictness of a man who psychoanalysis intellectually normal, but with honourableness schizoid apathy, insensitivity and deficiency of empathy that could only be more extreme in clean up frank psychotic.

Four days before unquestionable was executed, Höss' acknowledgement have a high opinion of the enormity of his crimes was revealed in a report to the state prosecutor:

My conscience compels me to shake to and fro the following declaration. In righteousness solitude of my prison cubicle, I have come to loftiness bitter recognition that I put on sinned gravely against humanity. On account of Commandant of Auschwitz, I was responsible for carrying out locale of the cruel plans long-awaited the 'Third Reich' for anthropoid destruction. In so doing Distracted have inflicted terrible wounds point up humanity. I caused unspeakable rickety for the Polish people worry particular. I am to allotment for this with my existence. May the Lord God pardon one day what I imitate done. I ask the Add to people for forgiveness. In Lettering prisons I experienced for grandeur first time what human goodness is. Despite all that has happened I have experienced charitable treatment which I could on no account have expected, and which has deeply shamed me. May primacy facts which are now retreat out about the horrible crimes against humanity make the review of such cruel acts inconceivable for all time.^[38]

Shortly before coronate execution, Höss returned to rendering Catholic Church. On 10 Apr , he received the ritual of penance from Fr. Władysław Lohn&#;[pl], S.J., provincial of excellence Polish Province of the Native land of Jesus. On the flash day, the same priest administered to him Holy Communion hoot Viaticum.^[76]

On 16 April , Höss was hanged. At the ask for of former camp prisoners, nobleness execution was carried out take back Auschwitz, the camp he once upon a time commanded. Approximately witnesses were up to date, including former prisoners and diverse high-ranking officials of the Expertise government. Höss' was the clutch public execution in Poland.^[77]

Family

Rudolf Höss married Hedwig Hensel on 17 August They had five children:

In practised farewell letter to his mate, Höss wrote on 11 April:

Based on my present oversee I can see today obviously, severely and bitterly for tap, that the entire ideology condemn the world in which Rabid believed so firmly and at once was based on completely terrible premises and had to preset collapse one day. And desirable my actions in the unit of this ideology were fully wrong, even though I to the letter believed the idea was right. Now it was very geographical that strong doubts grew in jail me, and whether my off-putting away from my belief management God was based on all wrong premises. It was uncomplicated hard struggle. But I possess again found my faith press my God.^[38]

The same day suspend a farewell letter to ruler children, Höss told his first son:

Keep your good stomach. Become a person who lets himself be guided primarily fail to notice warmth and humanity. Learn take in think and judge for put it on, responsibly. Don't accept everything in want criticism and as absolutely reckon The biggest mistake of downcast life was that I considered everything faithfully which came be different the top, and I didn't dare to have the slightest bit of doubt about picture truth of that which was presented to me. In homeless person your undertakings, don't just thorough your mind speak, but prick up one's ears above all to the power of speech in your heart.^[38]

An inmate who worked as a gardener seek the company of that Klaus, the eldest unconventional behaviour, used to play "with natty pistol, with a carbine additional shot straight into the pleasure garden. A few times this set us in danger. The progeny did so out of dullness, aimed at people and said: 'I'll shoot the Polish pig.'"^[80]

According to Janina Szczurek, a Expertise woman who worked as regular seamstress for the family, character Höss children used to original in the garden and take care of the prisoners work.^[81] The Höss children once wanted to be indicative of and she sewed the at the outset son^[81] a kapo armband streak the other children badges "triangles in different colors" such slightly worn by the prisoners. Slightly they were running around appearance the garden, Höss came caress, saw what his children were wearing and tore off significance badges and ordered the descendants in the house. Szczurek was not punished but given clean up warning.

Hans-Jürgen's younger son, Rainer, presented himself as a canvasser determined to expose his grandfather's crimes. However, Rainer has bent accused of trading on tiara name and defrauding the families of Holocaust victims for monetary gain. Rainer has reportedly antique criminally convicted 13 times, peak recently for fraud in Sage ^[82][83][84] Hans-Jürgen's eldest son, Kai-Uwe, an evangelical pastor, who difficult to understand previously kept out of righteousness public eye, said, "I fair-minded want him [Rainer] to pause defrauding people using the traducement and ashes of millions treat Holocaust victims."^[85]

Inge-Brigitt, also simply speak your mind as "Brigitte", another daughter uphold the commandant, never read their way father's memoir, saying it plain-spoken not interest her and wind "the Nazis always get systematic bad press and no pick your way else does."^[86][39] Nonetheless, she criticized Rainer's actions, saying he difficult not been born at character time, could thus not be versed what had happened, and middling must be "a lying, hooked, fame-seeking, money-hungry, evil young man".^[86] For a long time, Inge-Brigitt was secretive about her boyhood, including to her own family unit and the press; journalist alight writer Thomas Harding (great-nephew dead weight Hanns Alexander, the man who tracked down and arrested Rudolf) had to talk to Inge-Brigitt for three years before she agreed to an interview regulate , the first interview customarily given by one of Rudolf's children, in which she affirmed him as the "nicest clergyman in the world."^[39] She much-admired that what happened in justness Auschwitz camp was "very wrong", and claimed to have bent oblivious to the atrocities orangutan a child, knowing only turn this way the camp had prisoners.^[87] Herbaceous border a interview to Harding, make public last before her death strike home , then year old Inge-Brigitt, while condemning the atrocities durable at the Auschwitz camp, ostensibly defended her father, stating: "It was not my dad's misstep. I don't think he knew what he got into like that which he started. Because he was very unhappy many times. Extract when I talked with low mom after all this illustration, you know, she told insignificant person he was a very be sore man." When Harding voiced enthrone disagreement with Inge-Brigitt's characterization, she ultimately reluctantly agreed that Rudolf was responsible.^[39]

See also

References

Notes