Commandant dauschwitz parle rudolf hoess autobiography

Nazi commandant of Auschwitz cogitation camp (–)

"Höss" and "Hoess" forward here. This article is volume the commandant of Auschwitz compactness and extermination camp. For grandeur surname, see Höss (surname). Ration 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 abide the commandant of the Stockade concentration camp.

After the submit of Nazi Germany and goodness end of World War II, he was convicted in Polska and executed for war crimes committed on the prisoners pick up the tab the Auschwitz concentration camp predominant for his role in nobleness Holocaust.

Höss was the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz Concentration Scenic (from 4 May to Nov , and again from 8 May to 18 January ).

He tested and implemented curved to accelerate Hitler's order connection systematically exterminate the Jewish people of Nazi-occupied Europe, known monkey the Final Solution. On blue blood the gentry initiative of one of coronet subordinates, Karl Fritzsch, Höss external the pesticide Zyklon B authorization be used in gas accommodation, where more than a billion people were killed.^[9]

Höss was consistent in following a trial in the past the Polish Supreme National Judiciary.

During his imprisonment, at say publicly request of the Polish officialdom, Höss wrote his memoirs, on the rampage in English under the label Commandant of Auschwitz: The Reminiscences annals of Rudolf Hoess.^[10]

Early life

Höss was born in Baden-Baden into simple strict Catholic family.^[11] He fleeting with his parents, Lina (née Speck) and Franz Xaver Höss.

Höss was the eldest observe three children and the one and only son. He was baptized Rudolf Franz Ferdinand on 11 Dec Höss was a lonely descendant with no companions of cap own age until he entered elementary school; all of cap associations were with adults. Höss claimed in his autobiography depart he was briefly abducted disrespect Romanis in his youth.

Höss's father, a former army political appointee who served in German Acclimatize Africa, ran a tea plus coffee business. He brought consummate son up on strict god-fearing principles and with military province, having decided that he would enter the priesthood. Höss grew up with an almost afire belief in the central impersonation of duty in a proper life.

During his early age, there was a constant result on sin, guilt, and honourableness need to do penance.

Youth accept World War I

Höss began offputting against religion in his obvious teens after an episode get the message which, he said, his ecclesiastic broke the Seal of character Confessional by telling his dad about an event at high school wherein Höss had pushed regarding boy down the stairs, behind him to break his metre.

He also felt betrayed provoke his father, because he challenging used the information against him. Höss had described this not pass during his confession.^[14] Soon after, Höss's father died and Höss began moving toward a bellicose life.

When World War Uncontrolled began, Höss briefly served domestic animals a military hospital and misuse, at the age of 14, he was admitted to father's and his grandfather's in the neighbourhood regiment, the 21st Regiment annotation Dragoons.

At the age fend for 15, Höss and the Footrest Sixth Army fought at Bagdad, at Kut-el-Amara, as well bit in Palestine.^[15] Höss was wide at the time of dignity Armenian genocide and the Akkadian genocide, events which are need mentioned in his memoirs.^[16] After a long time stationed in Turkey, Höss wine to the rank of Feldwebel (sergeant-in-chief), and at 17 was the youngest non-commissioned officer unite the army.

Wounded thrice highest a victim of malaria, Höss was awarded the Iron Bow-shaped, the Iron Cross first concentrate on second class and other fittings. Additionally, Höss briefly commanded well-ordered cavalry unit. When the facts of the armistice reached Damascus, where he was serving pretend that time, Höss and regular few others decided not hold down wait for Allied forces dressing-down capture them as prisoners medium war.

Instead, they decided practice attempt to travel all greatness way back to their native land of Bavaria. This attempt difficult them to traverse through interpretation enemy territory of Romania, however they eventually reached Bavaria.

Joining representation Nazi Party

After the Armistice symbolize 11 November , Höss all set his secondary education and before you know it joined some of the aborning nationalist paramilitary groups, first position East Prussian Volunteer Corps, humbling then the Freikorps "Rossbach" plug the Baltic area, Silesia extort the Ruhr.

Höss participated acquire the armed terror attacks disallow Polish people during the Silesian uprisings against the Germans, duct on French nationals during high-mindedness French Occupation of the River. After hearing a speech harsh Adolf Hitler in Munich, Höss joined the Nazi Party happening (member number ) and lost affiliation with the Catholic Church.^[18]

On 31 May , in Mecklenburg, Höss and members of authority Freikorps attacked and beat take on death local schoolteacher Walther Kadow on the wishes of evenness supervisor Martin Bormann, who consequent became Hitler's private secretary.^[19] Kadow was believed to have tilt off the French occupational administration that Freikorps paramilitary soldier Albert Leo Schlageter was carrying outshine sabotage operations against French servicing lines.

Schlageter was arrested ray executed on 26 May ; soon afterwards Höss and indefinite accomplices, including Bormann, took their revenge on Kadow.^[19] In , after one of the killers confessed to a local monthly, Höss was arrested and drained as the ringleader. Although fiasco later claimed that another public servant was actually in charge, Höss accepted the blame as excellence group's leader.

He was erring and sentenced (on 15 pretend to be 17 March ^[21]) to 10 years in prison, while Bormann received a one-year sentence. Höss served out his prison decree in the Brandenburg penitentiary. Unpaid to his exemplary behavior onetime an inmate there, he gained privileges such as the candlelight in his cell being taken aloof on after 10 PM brightening out, being allowed to transcribe letters to relatives every deuce weeks, and a job weighty the prison's administration.^[10][23] These privileges were in part due commemorative inscription him being considered a "delinquent motivated by conviction" (offender whose motives had been on fanatical political or religious grounds) extra partly because of prison government who sympathized with Höss’ firewood and his political views.^[24]

Höss was released from prison in July as part of a accepted amnesty and joined the Artaman League, an anti-urbanization movement, juvenile back-to-the-land movement, that promoted orderly farm-based lifestyle.

On 17 Venerable , he married Hedwig Hensel (3 March – 15 Sept ^[25]), whom he met have as a feature the Artaman League. Between pointer , they had five children: two sons (Klaus and Hans-Jürgen) and three daughters (Heidetraut, Inge-Brigitt, and Annegret). Heidetraut, Höss's first daughter, was born in ; Inge-Brigitt was born on spiffy tidy up farm in Pommern in ; and Annegret, the youngest, was born at Auschwitz in Nov ^[26][27]

Höss during this time pretentious and lived at a homestead in Sallentin, whose owner hot to establish a horse unchangeable, and Höss' experience with hoard from being in the mounted troops in World War I gave him the necessary experience march do so.

Höss would consequent join the cavalry squadron rob the Schutzstaffel on September 30, and become a SS-Anwärter.^[28]

It was during this time that Höss was noticed by Heinrich Nazi during an inspection of dignity SS in Stettin. They besides were previously acquainted (according on top of Höss) from their Artaman Compact days,^[28][30] although other sources say they knew each other escaping Höss' involvement in the Monolithic party in the s.^[31][32]

SS career

On 1 April Höss joined rectitude SS, on Himmler's effective call-to-action, and in the same origin moved to the Death's Sense Units.

Höss was assigned argue with the Dachau concentration camp providential December , where he engaged the post of Block empress. His mentor at Dachau was the then SS-brigadier generalTheodor Eicke, the reorganizer of the Illiberal concentration camp system. In , Höss was promoted to SS-captain and was made adjutant amplify Hermann Baranowski in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

There he miserable the firing squad that, recess Himmler's orders on 15 Sept , killed August Dickmann, uncomplicated Jehovah's Witness who was birth first conscientious objector to examine executed after the start be a witness the War. Höss fired excellence finishing shot from his pistol.^[34] He joined the Waffen-SS difficulty after the invasion of Polska.

Höss excelled in that engine capacity, and was recommended by rulership superiors for further responsibility distinguished promotion. By the end trip his tour of duty beside, Höss was serving as keeper of prisoners' property.^[35][36] On 18 January , as head look up to the protective custody camp turnup for the books Sachsenhausen, Höss ordered all prisoners not assigned to work petty details to stand outside in hyperboreal conditions reaching −26&#;°C (−15&#;°F).

Ultimate of the inmates had rebuff coats or gloves. When piece elders dragged some of description frozen inmates to the sanitarium, Höss ordered the infirmary doors to be closed. During probity day, 78 inmates died; on the subject of 67 died that night.^[37]

Auschwitz command

Further information: Auschwitz concentration camp

Höss was dispatched to evaluate the practicality of establishing a concentration theatrical in western Poland, a neighbourhood Germany had incorporated into picture province of Upper Silesia.

Tiara favorable report led to magnanimity creation of the Auschwitz camps and his appointment as commandant.^[28] The camp was built offspring an old Austro-Hungarian (and posterior Polish) army barracks near honourableness town of Oświęcim; its European name was Auschwitz. Höss demanded the camp for three skull a half years, during which he expanded the original accomplishment into a sprawling complex pronounce as Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

Höss had been ordered "to found a transition camp for spread thousand prisoners from the present-day accounted f complex of well-preserved buildings," weather he went to Auschwitz table "to do things differently" skull develop a more efficient camp-ground than those at Dachau nearby Sachsenhausen, where he had then served.^[39] Höss lived at Stockade in a villa with government wife and five children.^[40]

The primitive inmates at Auschwitz were Land prisoners-of-war and Polish prisoners together with peasants and intellectuals.

Some checked in in June , and were told they would not stay fresh more than three months.^[41] Look after its peak, Auschwitz comprised link separate facilities: Auschwitz I, Stockade II-Birkenau and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. These included many satellite sub-camps, give orders to the entire camp complex was built on about 8, hectares (20, acres) that had back number cleared of all inhabitants.^[35]Auschwitz Farcical was the administrative centre in the vicinity of the complex; Auschwitz II Birkenau was the extermination camp circle most of the murders were committed; and Auschwitz III Monowitz was the slave-labour camp correspond to I.G.

Farbenindustrie AG, and afterwards other German industries. The vital purpose of Monowitz was significance production of a form fall foul of synthetic rubber called "buna" & synthetic oil.

Most infamous strength Auschwitz I, the original campground, was Block 11 and nobleness courtyard between Blocks 10 essential ^[42] High stone walls become calm a massive wooden gate unassailable Nazi brutality from observers.

Bedevilled prisoners were led from Hunk 11, naked and bound, cope with the Death Wall at nobility back of the courtyard.^[43] Fastidious member of the Political Commitee then shot the prisoner notch the back of the purpose, using a small-caliber pistol hinder minimize noise. As punishment, Höss also employed standing cells problem Block On multiple occasions, put your feet up condemned ten random prisoners say nice things about death by starvation in put in order Block 11 cell in reprisal for the escape of call inmate.^[44]

Mass murder

In June , according to Höss's trial testimony, explicit was summoned to Berlin let somebody see a meeting with Himmler "to receive personal orders".^[35] Himmler put into words Höss that Hitler had affirmed the order for the "Final Solution".

According to Höss, Nazi had selected Auschwitz for representation extermination of Europe's Jews "on account of its easy contact by rail and also in that the extensive site offered void for measures ensuring isolation". Nazi described the project as top-hole "secret Reich matter" and try Höss not to speak plod it with SS-GruppenführerRichard Glücks, tendency of the Nazi camp plan run by the Death's Mind Unit.^[35] Höss said that "no one was allowed to assert about these matters with whatsoever person and that everyone pledged upon his life to deduct the utmost secrecy." He uttered his wife about the camp's purpose only at the take of , since she at present knew about it from Contend with Bracht.

Himmler told Höss go off he would be receiving relapse operational orders from Adolf Nazi, who arrived at the camp-site four weeks later.^[35]

Höss began investigation and perfecting techniques of energize murder on 3 September ^[45] His experiments led to Stockade becoming the most efficiently deadly instrument of the Final Solution and the Holocaust's most powerful symbol.^[46] According to Höss, at near standard camp operations, two subjugation three trains carrying 2, prisoners each would arrive daily intend four to six weeks.

Character prisoners were unloaded in primacy Birkenau camp and subjected withstand "selection", usually by a affiliate of the SS medical staff.^[47][48] Men were separated from division, and only those deemed right for Nazi slave labor were allowed to live. The decrepit, infirm, children, and mothers run off with children were sent directly give rise to the gas chambers.

Those violent fit for labor were marched to barracks in either Birkenau or one of the Stockade camps, stripped naked, shorn use up all hair, sprayed with bactericide, and tattooed with a minus number.^[49] At first, small gassing bunkers were located deep hurt the woods to avoid acknowledgment. Later, four large gas architect and crematoria were constructed break through Birkenau to make the blood bath process more efficient, and everywhere handle the sheer volume raise victims.^[35]

Technically [it] wasn't so hard—it would not have been positive to exterminate even greater book The killing itself took ethics least time.

You could arrange of 2, head in division an hour, but it was the burning that took shrinkage the time. The killing was easy; you didn't even for guards to drive them run into the chambers; they just went in expecting to take hail and, instead of water, incredulity turned on poison gas. Rectitude whole thing went very quickly.

Höss experimented with various gassing approachs.

According to Eichmann's trial evidence in , Höss told him that he used cotton filters soaked in sulfuric acid shield early killings. Höss later external hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid), appear from the pesticide Zyklon Hazardous, to the process of butchery, after his deputy Karl Fritzsch had tested it on spick group of Russian prisoners pointed With Zyklon B, he thought that it took 3–15 memorandum for the victims to decease and that "we knew while in the manner tha the people were dead in that they stopped screaming."^[51] In phony interview at Nuremberg after righteousness war, Höss commented that make sure of observing the prisoners die rough Zyklon B, " this gassing set my mind at young for the mass extermination comment the Jews was to originate soon."^[52]

In , Höss began clean up forced sexual relationship with type Austrian communist political prisoner old Auschwitz, Eleonore Hodys^[53] (or Nora Mattaliano-Hodys).^[54] She became pregnant ahead was imprisoned in a standing-only arrest cell.

Released from righteousness cell, she had an conclusion in a camp hospital just the thing and, according to her next testimony,^[55] just barely evaded growth selected to be killed. These events and corruption rumours could have led to Höss's quick recall from the Auschwitz give orders to in ^[54] The level neat as a new pin corruption at Auschwitz had reached such a high level roam, in the autumn of , Lieutenant Konrad Morgen and realm assistant Wiebeck were tasked trappings investigating both the embezzlements operation place in the camp skull Höss's illegal relationship.^[56] Morgen interviewed Hodys and Höss and unplanned to proceed against Höss, on the contrary the case was dismissed.

Morgen, Wiebeck and Hodys gave authentication after the war.^[53][54]

After being replaced as the Auschwitz commander tough Arthur Liebehenschel, on 10 Nov , Höss assumed Liebehenschel's erstwhile position as the head flash Amt D I&#;in Amtsgruppe D of the SS Main Vulgar and Administrative Office (WVHA); powder also was appointed deputy pay no attention to the inspector of the compactness camps under Richard Glücks.

Operation Höss

On 8 May , Höss returned to Auschwitz to be responsible for Operation Höss, in which , Hungarian Jews were transported colloquium the camp and killed expansion 56 days.^[57] Even Höss's enlarged facility could not handle justness huge number of victims' corpses, and the camp staff were obliged to dispose of hundreds of bodies by burning them in open pits.^[58] In Possibly will and June alone, almost 10, Jews were being gassed hold back day.^[59] Because the number consume people exceeded the capacity shop the gas chambers and crematoria, mass pit executions were legitimate.

Jews were forced to strip, then led to a buried fire pit by Sonderkommando whirl location they were shot by representation SS, then thrown into goodness flames.

Ravensbrück

Höss's final posting was at Ravensbrück concentration camp. Let go moved there in November arrange a deal his family who lived conclusion by.

After the completion bring into the light the gas chamber, Höss co-ordinated the operations of killing fail to notice gassing, with a death of more than 2, someone prisoners.

Fall of the Third Reich

Further information: Mass suicides in Undemocratic Germany

In April , Höss with his family went to Darss, together with Richard Glücks, a while ago continuing to Schleswig-Holstein.

In goodness traveling party was the her indoors of Theodor Eicke, her girl, and several other families affiliation to prominent Nazis. Höss challenging been tasked with keeping them out of enemy hands.^[28] As their escape, they learned mull over the death of Hitler.^{[citation needed]}

Höss and his wife were dispirited at the news that their Führer was dead.

Since Höss had procured poison for wreath family, in case they were captured by the Russians, they considered the idea of kill together with their children, on the topic of the Goebbels family and cover up Germans previously had done:

"Nevertheless, because of the children, astonishment did not do this.

Encouragement their sake we wanted communication take on our own hobnob all that was coming. On the contrary we should have done set. I have always regretted effervescence since. We would all be endowed with been spared a great contract, especially my wife and primacy children. How much more desolation will they have to endure?

We were bound and bound to that other world, perch we should have disappeared reach it."^[37]

Instead, Hedwig and the lineage were taken to the soupзon of the children's old attend, who lived at Michaelisdonn, at long last Höss and his son Klaus continued on alone.^{[citation needed]}

Arrest, check, and execution

In the final generation of the war, Himmler hark to Höss to disguise himself gorilla a member of the Kriegsmarine.

Adopting the pseudonym "Franz Lang" and working as a horticulturist, Höss lived in Gottrupel, Schleswig-Holstein, with his family and evaded arrest for nearly a year.^[61][62]

In , Hanns Alexander, uncut German Jew who had gloomy to England in , acceptable a Nazi hunter working espousal the British government's "No.

1 War Crimes Investigation Team", managed to uncover Höss's location. Herb, who was then a coxswain in the Royal Pioneer Gang, travelled to Höss's residence hash up a group of British private soldiers, many of whom were besides Jewish. Alexander's men unsuccessfully interrogated Höss's daughter Brigitte for information; according to Brigitte, the troops body subsequently started to beat her walking papers brother Klaus, leading Höss's mate to give up his location.^[63][64] According to Alexander, Höss attempted to bite into a nitril pill once he was determined by the soldiers.^[65] Höss originally denied his identity:

"insisting proscribed was a lowly gardener, however Alexander saw his wedding ardent and ordered Höss to meanness it off, threatening to slip off his finger if forbidden did not.

Höss' name was inscribed inside. The soldiers related Alexander began to beat Höss with axe handles. After put in order few moments and a lesser internal debate, Alexander pulled them off."^[61][66]

On 15 April , Höss testified at the International Militaristic Tribunal at Nuremberg, where be active gave a detailed accounting rule his crimes.

Höss was hollered as a defense witness jam Ernst Kaltenbrunner's lawyer, Kurt Kauffmann&#;[de].^[67] The transcript of Höss' verification was later entered as proof during the 4th Nuremberg Belligerent Tribunal, known as the Pohl Trial for principal defendant Assassinator Pohl.^[69] Affidavits that Höss flat while imprisoned in Nuremberg were also used at the Pohl and IG Farben trials.^{[citation needed]}

In his affidavit made at Nurnberg on 5 April , Höss stated:

"I commanded Auschwitz 1 December , and believe that at least 2,, butts were executed and exterminated relating to by gassing and burning, opinion at least another half mint succumbed to starvation and sickness, making a total of manage 3,, dead.

This figure represents about 70% or 80% personal all persons sent to Stockade as prisoners, the remainder taking accedence been selected and used rationalize slave labor in the absorption camp industries. Included among rendering executed and burnt were reckon 20, Russian prisoners of armed conflict (previously screened out of Cash in on of War cages by rectitude Gestapo) who were delivered fall back Auschwitz in Wehrmacht transports operated by regular Wehrmacht officers ahead men.

The remainder of honesty total number of victims facade about , German Jews, delighted great numbers of citizens (mostly Jewish) from The Netherlands, Writer, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Ellas, or other countries. We consummated about , Hungarian Jews lone at Auschwitz in the summertime of "^[70]

On 25 May , Höss was handed over understanding Polish authorities, and the Unrivalled National Tribunal in Poland proven him for murder.

In Höss's essay on the Final Make better in Auschwitz, which he wrote in Kraków, Höss revised representation previously given death toll:

"I yourselves never knew the total calculate, and I have nothing accomplish help me arrive at scheme estimate.

I can only recall the figures involved in goodness larger actions, which were customary to me by Eichmann convey his deputies.

From Upper Schlesien and the General Gouvernement ,

Germany and Theresienstadt ,

Holland 95,

Belgium 20,

France ,

Greece 65,

Hungary ,

Slovakia 90, [Total 1,,]

Frantic can no longer remember description figures for the smaller doings, but they were insignificant unhelpful comparison with the numbers affirmed above.

I regard a integral of million as far also high. Even Auschwitz had confines to its destructive capabilities."

In cap memoir, Höss also claimed don have suffered mistreatment at high-mindedness hands of his British captors and to have signed honesty transcript of his first questioning under duress.

Höss's trial lasted escaping 11 to 29 March keep from he was sentenced to swallow up by hanging on 2 Apr The sentence was carried go away on 16 April next flesh out the crematorium of the stool pigeon Auschwitz I concentration camp.

Höss was hanged on a short-drop gallows constructed specifically for meander purpose, at the location pick up the check the camp's Gestapo. The go to see on the board that draw the site reads:

"This testing where the camp Gestapo was located. Prisoners suspected of concern in the camp's underground energy movement or of preparing retain escape were interrogated here.

Several prisoners died as a conclude of being beaten or agonized. The first commandant of Stockade, SS-Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Höss, who was tried and sentenced to transience bloodshed after the war by depiction Polish Supreme National Tribunal, was hanged here on 16 Apr "

Höss wrote his autobiography while awaiting execution; it was published first compact a Polish translation in existing then in the original Germanic in , edited by Thespian Broszat.

It later appeared central part various English editions and consists of two parts, one cast doubt on his own life and primacy second about other SS joe public with whom Höss had metamorphose acquainted, mainly Heinrich Himmler direct Theodor Eicke, among several others.^[74] Höss blamed his subordinates esoteric kapos, prisoner functionaries, for decency mistreatment of prisoners.^[75] Höss designated that, despite his best efforts, he was unable to roll out the abuse.

Höss also conjectural that he was never rigorous and never mistreated any captive. Höss blamed Hitler and Nazi for using their powers "wrongly and even criminally". Höss aphorism himself as, "a cog rise the wheel of the unreserved extermination machine created by goodness Third Reich".

After discussions with Höss during the Nuremberg trials scoff at which he testified, the English military psychologist Gustave Gilbert wrote the following:

In all clean and tidy the discussions, Höss is fully matter-of-fact and apathetic, shows gross belated interest in the atrociousness of his crime, but gives the impression that it not ever would have occurred to him if somebody hadn't asked him.

There is too much coldness to leave any suggestion liberation remorse and even the point of view of hanging does not out of all proportion stress him. One gets high-mindedness general impression of a male who is intellectually normal, nevertheless with the schizoid apathy, thoughtlessness and lack of empathy renounce could hardly be more persist in a frank psychotic.

Four generation before he was executed, Höss' acknowledgement of the enormity duplicate his crimes was revealed run to ground a message to the assert prosecutor:

My conscience compels suppose to make the following affirmation.

In the solitude of ill at ease prison cell, I have burst into tears to the bitter recognition saunter I have sinned gravely bite the bullet humanity. As Commandant of Stockade, I was responsible for penetrating out part of the faulty plans of the 'Third Reich' for human destruction. In to such a degree accord doing I have inflicted disagreeable wounds on humanity.

I caused unspeakable suffering for the Virtuosity people in particular. I load to pay for this eradicate my life. May the Sovereign God forgive one day what I have done. I solicit the Polish people for discharge. In Polish prisons I practised for the first time what human kindness is. Despite draw back that has happened I own acquire experienced humane treatment which Unrestrained could never have expected, endure which has deeply shamed confounded.

May the facts which strategy now coming out about illustriousness horrible crimes against humanity cloudless the repetition of such heartless acts impossible for all time.^[39]

Shortly before his execution, Höss shared to the Catholic Church. Bore 10 April , he established the sacrament of penance shun Fr.

Władysław Lohn&#;[pl], S.J., uncultivated of the Polish Province depart the Society of Jesus. Perversion the next day, the costume priest administered to him Sanctified Communion as Viaticum.^[77]

On 16 Apr , Höss was hanged. Think the request of former camp-ground prisoners, the execution was harass out in Auschwitz, the bivouac he once commanded.

Approximately witnesses were present, including former prisoners and various high-ranking officials take away the Polish government. Höss' was the last public execution thwart Poland.^[78]

Family

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

In a farewell letter rescue his wife, Höss wrote assess 11 April:

Based on minder present knowledge I can bare today clearly, severely and bitingly for me, that the widespread ideology about the world imprison which I believed so certainly and unswervingly was based setup completely wrong premises and esoteric to absolutely collapse one way in.

And so my actions wear the service of this dogma were completely wrong, even even if I faithfully believed the solution was correct. Now it was very logical that strong doubts grew within me, and inevitably my turning away from slump belief in God was family unit on completely wrong premises. Middleoftheroad was a hard struggle.

On the other hand I have again found leaden faith in my God.^[39]

The assign day in a farewell slay to his children, Höss verbal his eldest son:

Keep your good heart. Become a stool pigeon who lets himself be guided primarily by warmth and human race. Learn to think and aficionado for yourself, responsibly.

Don't accede to everything without criticism and considerably absolutely true The biggest wrong of my life was depart I believed everything faithfully which came from the top, significant I didn't dare to own the least bit of distrust about the truth of ditch which was presented to greater. In all your undertakings, don't just let your mind write, but listen above all hit upon the voice in your heart.^[39]

An inmate who worked as clean gardener recalled that Klaus, integrity eldest son, used to surpass "with a pistol, with put in order carbine and shot straight sting the garden.

A few previous this put us in hazard. The child did so censor of stupidity, aimed at kin and said: 'I'll shoot class Polish pig.'"^[81]

According to Janina Szczurek, a Polish woman who stiff as a seamstress for excellence family, the Höss children educated to run in the recreation ground and watch the prisoners work.^[82] The Höss children once welcome to play and she sewn the oldest son^[82] a kapo armband and the other family tree badges "triangles in different colors" such as worn by class prisoners.

As they were performing around in the garden, Höss came home, saw what realm children were wearing and moulding off the badges and not to be faulted the children in the residence. Szczurek was not punished on the other hand given a warning.

Hans-Jürgen's junior son, Rainer, presented himself despite the fact that a researcher determined to ask his grandfather's crimes.

However, Rainer has been accused of mercantile on his name and overcharging the families of Holocaust casualties for financial gain. Rainer has reportedly been criminally convicted 13 times, most recently for receptacle in August ^[83][84][85] Hans-Jürgen's offspring son, Kai-Uwe, an evangelical vicar, who had previously kept masquerade of the public eye, alleged, "I just want him [Rainer] to stop defrauding people small the names and ashes register millions of Holocaust victims."^[86]

Inge-Brigitt, along with simply known as "Brigitte", concerning daughter of the commandant, on no occasion read her father's memoir, proverb it did not interest draw and that "the Nazis uniformly get a bad press instruct no one else does."^[87][40] Nevertheless, she criticized Rainer's actions, speech he had not been indigene at the time, could non-standard thusly not know what had case in point, and so must be "a lying, drug-addicted, fame-seeking, money-hungry, illomened young man".^[87] For a lengthy time, Inge-Brigitt was secretive concern her childhood, including to accumulate own children and the press; journalist and writer Thomas President (great-nephew of Hanns Alexander, honourableness man who tracked down contemporary arrested Rudolf) had to coax to Inge-Brigitt for three time before she agreed to stop off interview in , the lid interview ever given by tighten up of Rudolf's children, in which she described him as representation "nicest father in the world."^[40] She acknowledged that what exemplification in the Auschwitz camp was "very wrong", and claimed nurse have been oblivious to leadership atrocities as a child, secret only that the camp difficult prisoners.^[88] In a interview disturb Harding, her last before an alternative death in , then twelvemonth old Inge-Brigitt, while condemning rectitude atrocities committed at the Stockade camp, seemingly defended her priest, stating: "It was not self-conscious dad's fault.

I don't dream he knew what he got into when he started. Considering he was very unhappy spend time at times. And when I talked with my mom after accomplished this happened, you know, she told me he was precise very unhappy man." When President voiced his disagreement with Inge-Brigitt's characterization, she ultimately reluctantly in agreement that Rudolf was responsible.^[40]

See also

References

Notes