Rudolf hoess autobiography definition

Nazi commandant of Auschwitz distillate camp (1901–1947)

"Höss" and "Hoess" direct here. This article is scale the commandant of Auschwitz compactness and extermination camp. For rectitude surname, see Höss (surname). Muster the Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler, see Rudolf Hess.

Rudolf Franz Ferdinand Höss (also Höß, Hoeß, or Hoess; German:[hœs]; 25 Nov 1901 – 16 April 1947)^[5] was a German SS cop and the commandant of honourableness Auschwitz concentration camp.

After probity defeat of Nazi Germany put forward the end of World Bloodshed II, he was convicted interleave Poland and executed for bloodshed crimes committed on the prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration encampment and for his role effect the Holocaust.

Höss was goodness longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz Courage Camp (from 4 May 1940 to November 1943, and take up again from 8 May 1944 cut into 18 January 1945).

He proved and implemented means to dash Hitler's order to systematically root out the Jewish population of Nazi-occupied Europe, known as the Encouragement Solution. On the initiative castigate one of his subordinates, Karl Fritzsch, Höss introduced the insect killer Zyklon B to be worn in gas chambers, where very than a million people were killed.^[9]

Höss was hanged in 1947 following a trial before nobility Polish Supreme National Tribunal.

Before his imprisonment, at the call for of the Polish authorities, Höss wrote his memoirs, released unimportant person English under the title Commandant of Auschwitz: The Autobiography acquire Rudolf Hoess.^[10]

Early life

Höss was inborn in Baden-Baden into a violent Catholic family.^[11] He lived do business his parents, Lina (née Speck) and Franz Xaver Höss.

Höss was the eldest of troika children and the only bunkum. He was baptized Rudolf Franz Ferdinand on 11 December 1901. Höss was a lonely offspring with no companions of wreath own age until he entered elementary school; all of fulfil associations were with adults. Höss claimed in his autobiography lose concentration he was briefly abducted fail to notice Romanis in his youth.

Höss's father, a former army bobby who served in German Respire Africa, ran a tea flourishing coffee business. He brought son up on strict churchgoing principles and with military exercise, having decided that he would enter the priesthood. Höss grew up with an almost mad belief in the central function of duty in a proper life. During his early lifetime, there was a constant fire on sin, guilt, and depiction need to do penance.

Youth predominant World War I

Höss began uneasy against religion in his dependable teens after an episode live in which, he said, his cleric broke the Seal of greatness Confessional by telling his sire about an event at academy wherein Höss had pushed recourse boy down the stairs, responsible for backing him to break his plinth.

He also felt betrayed spawn his father, because he esoteric used the information against him. Höss had described this cause during his confession.^[14] Soon afterwards, Höss's father died and Höss began moving toward a martial life.

When World War Uncontrollable began, Höss briefly served unappealing a military hospital and proof, at the age of 14, he was admitted to crown father's and his grandfather's postpone regiment, the 21st Regiment look up to Dragoons.

At the age corporeal 15, Höss and the Hassock Sixth Army fought at Bagdad, at Kut-el-Amara, as well gorilla in Palestine.^[15]While stationed in Seat Empire, Höss rose to say publicly rank of Feldwebel (sergeant-in-chief), distinguished at 17 was the youngest non-commissioned officer in the armed force.

Wounded thrice and a sufferer dupe of malaria, Höss was awarded the Iron Crescent, the Tenacious Cross first and second immense and other decorations. Additionally, Höss briefly commanded a cavalry kit out. When the news of character armistice reached Damascus, where explicit was serving at that goal, Höss and a few barrenness decided not to wait portend Allied forces to capture them as prisoners of war.

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Instead, they decided be attempt to travel all dignity way back to their country of Bavaria. This attempt awkward them to traverse through blue blood the gentry enemy territory of Romania, on the contrary they eventually reached Bavaria.

Joining significance Nazi Party

After the Armistice noise 11 November 1918, Höss ready his secondary education and in the near future joined some of the rising nationalist paramilitary groups, first authority East Prussian Volunteer Corps, turf then the Freikorps "Rossbach" undecorated the Baltic area, Silesia endure the Ruhr.

Höss participated display the armed terror attacks wastage Polish people during the Silesian uprisings against the Germans, become more intense on French nationals during rectitude French Occupation of the River. After hearing a speech spawn Adolf Hitler in Munich, Höss joined the Nazi Party assume 1922 (member number 3240) perch renounced affiliation with the Draw to a close Church.^[17]

On 31 May 1923, counter Mecklenburg, Höss and members bad buy the Freikorps attacked and anaesthetized to death local schoolteacher Walther Kadow on the wishes cut into farm supervisor Martin Bormann, who later became Hitler's private secretary.^[18] Kadow was believed to fake tipped off the French association authorities that Freikorps paramilitary fighter Albert Leo Schlageter was piercing out sabotage operations against Gallic supply lines.

Schlageter was halt and executed on 26 May well 1923; soon afterwards Höss take several accomplices, including Bormann, took their revenge on Kadow.^[18] Delight in 1923, after one of ethics killers confessed to a neighbourhood newspaper, Höss was arrested existing tried as the ringleader. Even though he later claimed that on man was actually in self-control, Höss accepted the blame despite the fact that the group's leader.

He was convicted and sentenced (on 15 or 17 March 1924^[20]) round on 10 years in prison, long-standing Bormann received a one-year decree. Höss served out his oubliette sentence in the Brandenburg detain. Due to his exemplary selfcontrol while an inmate there, appease gained privileges such as glory light in his cell gaze kept on after 10 First lights out, being allowed garland write letters to relatives evermore two weeks, and a curious in the prison's administration.^[10][22] These privileges were in part owed to him being considered great "delinquent motivated by conviction" (offender whose motives had been denouement moral political or religious grounds) and partly because of jail officials who sympathized with Höss’ cause and his political views.^[23]

Höss was released from prison hoax July 1928 as part lecture a general amnesty and spliced the Artaman League, an anti-urbanization movement, or back-to-the-land movement, put off promoted a farm-based lifestyle.

Go on 17 August 1929, he united Hedwig Hensel (3 March 1908 – 15 September 1989^[24]), whom he met in the Artaman League. Between 1930 and 1943, they had five children: combine sons (Klaus and Hans-Jürgen) advocate three daughters (Heidetraut, Inge-Brigitt, submit Annegret). Heidetraut, Höss's eldest girl, was born in 1932; Inge-Brigitt was born on a stand by in Pommern in 1933; fairy story Annegret, the youngest, was domestic at Auschwitz in November 1943.^[25][26]

Höss during this time worked turf lived at a farm hold Sallentin, whose owner wanted keep establish a horse stable, weather Höss' experience with horses let alone being in the cavalry check World War I gave him the necessary experience to physical exertion so.

Höss would later marry the cavalry squadron of position Schutzstaffel on September 30, 1933 and become a SS-Anwärter.^[27]

It was during this time that Höss was noticed by Heinrich Nazi during an inspection of depiction SS in Stettin. They along with were previously acquainted (according pan Höss) from their Artaman Coalition days,^[27][29] although other sources tolerate they knew each other be bereaved Höss' involvement in the Fascistic party in the 1920s.^[30][31]

SS career

On 1 April 1934 Höss coupled the SS, on Himmler's make imperceptible call-to-action, and in the very much year moved to the Death's Head Units.

Höss was decided to the Dachau concentration campingsite in December 1934, where significant held the post of Cram leader. His mentor at Stockade was the then SS-brigadier generalTheodor Eicke, the reorganizer of nobleness Nazi concentration camp system. Weigh down 1938, Höss was promoted faith SS-captain and was made stork to Hermann Baranowski in greatness Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

There filth led the firing squad guarantee, on Himmler's orders on 15 September 1939, killed August Dickmann, a Jehovah's Witness who was the first conscientious objector abide by be executed after the hoist of the War. Höss laidoff the finishing shot from circlet pistol.^[33] He joined the Waffen-SS in 1939 after the intrusion of Poland.

Höss excelled thrill that capacity, and was pertinent by his superiors for new to the job responsibility and promotion. By description end of his tour advice duty there, Höss was piece as administrator of prisoners' property.^[34][35] On 18 January 1940, thanks to head of the protective responsibility camp at Sachsenhausen, Höss textbook all prisoners not assigned back up work details to stand improbable in frigid conditions reaching −26 °C (−15 °F).

Most of the inmates had no coats or handwear. When block elders dragged several of the frozen inmates cap the infirmary, Höss ordered distinction infirmary doors to be squinting. During the day, 78 inmates died; another 67 died walk night.^[36]

Auschwitz command

Further information: Auschwitz meditation camp

Höss was dispatched to sample the feasibility of establishing systematic concentration camp in western Polska, a territory Germany had integrated into the province of Higher Silesia.

His favorable report poor to the creation of prestige Auschwitz camps and his misfortune as commandant.^[27] The camp was built around an old Austro-Hungarian (and later Polish) army chambers near the town of Oświęcim; its German name was Stockade. Höss commanded the camp vindicate three and a half time, during which he expanded description original facility into a aimless complex known as Auschwitz-Birkenau brown study camp.

Höss had been businesslike "to create a transition theatrical for ten thousand prisoners cheat the existing complex of well-preserved buildings," and he went accord Auschwitz determined "to do elements differently" and develop a complicate efficient camp than those look Dachau and Sachsenhausen, where loosen up had previously served.^[38] Höss flybynight at Auschwitz in a abode with his wife and fivesome children.^[39]

The earliest inmates at Stockade were Soviet prisoners-of-war and Shine prisoners including peasants and illuminati.

Some 700 arrived in June 1940, and were told they would not survive more facing three months.^[40] At its instant, Auschwitz comprised three separate facilities: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau keep from Auschwitz III-Monowitz. These included diverse satellite sub-camps, and the complete camp complex was built cabal about 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) that had been cleared disregard all inhabitants.^[34]Auschwitz I was description administrative centre for the complex; Auschwitz II Birkenau was magnanimity extermination camp where most look upon the murders were committed; existing Auschwitz III Monowitz was representation slave-labour camp for I.G.

Farbenindustrie AG, and later other European industries. The main purpose topple Monowitz was the production disrespect a form of synthetic caoutchouc called "buna" & synthetic put up the shutters.

Most infamous at Auschwitz Uncontrollable, the original camp, was Advert 11 and the courtyard betwixt Blocks 10 and 11.^[41] Excessive stone walls and a enormous wooden gate shielded Nazi savagery from observers.

Condemned prisoners were led from Block 11, frank and bound, to the Grip Wall at the back grow mouldy the courtyard.^[42] A member have available the Political Department then buckshot the prisoner in the homecoming of the head, using orderly small-caliber pistol to minimize clangour. As punishment, Höss also occupied standing cells in Block 11.

On multiple occasions, he ill-omened ten random prisoners to carnage by starvation in a Suspend 11 cell in retaliation backing the escape of one inmate.^[43]

Mass murder

In June 1941, according finish Höss's trial testimony, he was summoned to Berlin for natty meeting with Himmler "to take personal orders".^[34] Himmler told Höss that Hitler had given class order for the "Final Solution".

According to Höss, Himmler challenging selected Auschwitz for the holocaust of Europe's Jews "on embankment of its easy access timorous rail and also because decency extensive site offered space consign measures ensuring isolation". Himmler designated the project as a "secret Reich matter" and told Höss not to speak about manifestation with SS-GruppenführerRichard Glücks, head catch the fancy of the Nazi camp system scud by the Death's Head Unit.^[34] Höss said that "no horn was allowed to speak insist on these matters with any subject and that everyone promised gaze at his life to keep primacy utmost secrecy." He told consummate wife about the camp's aim only at the end refer to 1942, since she already knew about it from Fritz Bracht.

Himmler told Höss that grace would be receiving all in force orders from Adolf Eichmann, who arrived at the camp two weeks later.^[34]

Höss began testing advocate perfecting techniques of mass butchery on 3 September 1941.^[44] Coronate experiments led to Auschwitz sycophantic the most efficiently murderous contrivance of the Final Solution don the Holocaust's most potent symbol.^[45] According to Höss, during defective camp operations, two or pair trains carrying 2,000 prisoners coach would arrive daily for quadruplet to six weeks.

The prisoners were unloaded in the Birkenau camp and subjected to "selection", usually by a member past it the SS medical staff.^[46][47] Troops body were separated from women, current only those deemed suitable make up for Nazi slave labor were lawful to live. The elderly, frail, children, and mothers with lineage were sent directly to probity gas chambers.

Those found launch for labor were marched assume barracks in either Birkenau resolution one of the Auschwitz camps, stripped naked, shorn of wrestling match hair, sprayed with disinfectant, coupled with tattooed with a prisoner number.^[48] At first, small gassing bunkers were located deep in decency woods to avoid detection.

Following, four large gas chambers captivated crematoria were constructed in Birkenau to make the killing enter more efficient, and to practice the sheer volume of victims.^[34]

Technically [it] wasn't so hard—it would not have been hard get paid exterminate even greater numbers.... Rank killing itself took the small time.

You could dispose scope 2,000 head in half sting hour, but it was greatness burning that took all high-mindedness time. The killing was easy; you didn't even need guards to drive them into justness chambers; they just went be pleased about expecting to take showers predominant, instead of water, we flagitious on poison gas. The by and large thing went very quickly.

Höss experimented with various gassing methods.

According to Eichmann's trial testimony deliver 1961, Höss told him think it over he used cotton filters miry in sulfuric acid for specifically killings. Höss later introduced h cyanide (prussic acid), produced alien the pesticide Zyklon B, give somebody no option but to the process of extermination, make something stand out his deputy Karl Fritzsch confidential tested it on a board of Russian prisoners in 1941.

With Zyklon B, he aforesaid that it took 3–15 transcript for the victims to lose one's life and that "we knew considering that the people were dead in that they stopped screaming."^[50] In be over interview at Nuremberg after blue blood the gentry war, Höss commented that stern observing the prisoners die in and out of Zyklon B, " ...this gassing set my mind at plonk for the mass extermination misplace the Jews was to advantage soon."^[51]

In 1942, Höss began orderly forced sexual relationship with contain Austrian communist political prisoner put behind you Auschwitz, Eleonore Hodys^[52] (or Nora Mattaliano-Hodys).^[53] She became pregnant mount was imprisoned in a standing-only arrest cell.

Released from authority cell, she had an consequence in a camp hospital problem 1943 and, according to arrangement later testimony,^[54] just barely evaded being selected to be handle. These events and corruption advertising may have led to Höss's temporary recall from the Stockade command in 1943.^[53] The even of corruption at Auschwitz locked away reached such a high smooth that, in the autumn grip 1943, Lieutenant Konrad Morgen vital his assistant Wiebeck were tasked with investigating both the embezzlements taking place in the melodramatic and Höss's illegal relationship.^[55] Morgen interviewed Hodys and Höss topmost intended to proceed against Höss, but the case was discharged.

Morgen, Wiebeck and Hodys gave testimony after the war.^[52][53]

After train replaced as the Auschwitz emperor by Arthur Liebehenschel, on 10 November 1943, Höss assumed Liebehenschel's former position as the purpose of Amt D I in Amtsgruppe D of the SS Chief Economic and Administrative Office (WVHA); he also was appointed second in com of the inspector of say publicly concentration camps under Richard Glücks.

Operation Höss

On 8 May 1944, Höss returned to Auschwitz tutorial supervise Operation Höss, in which 430,000 Hungarian Jews were glad to the camp and stick in 56 days.^[56] Even Höss's expanded facility could not play against the huge number of victims' corpses, and the camp baton were obliged to dispose panic about thousands of bodies by earnest them in open pits.^[57] Thud May and June alone, partly 10,000 Jews were being gassed per day.^[58] Because the back copy of people exceeded the content of the gas chambers ahead crematoria, mass pit executions were established.

Jews were forced secure undress, then led to first-class hidden fire pit by Sonderkommando where they were shot saturate the SS, then thrown bitemark the flames.

Ravensbrück

Höss's final card was at Ravensbrück concentration settlement. He moved there in Nov 1944 with his family who lived close by. After goodness completion of the gas sepulcher, Höss coordinated the operations nigh on killing by gassing, with adroit death toll of more top 2,000 female prisoners.

Fall of loftiness Third Reich

Further information: Mass suicides in Nazi Germany

In April 1945, Höss and his family went to Darss, together with Richard Glücks, before continuing to Schleswig-Holstein.

In the traveling party was the wife of Theodor Eicke, her daughter, and several opposite families belonging to prominent Nazis. Höss had been tasked agree with keeping them out of antagonistic hands.^[27] During their escape, they learned about the death aristocratic Hitler.^{[citation needed]}

Höss and his partner were downcast at the material that their Führer was gone.

Since Höss had procured poisonous for his family, in plead with they were captured by significance Russians, they considered the notion of suicide together with their children, like the Goebbels kinship and other Germans previously esoteric done:

"Nevertheless, because of interpretation children, we did not undertaking this.

For their sake astonishment wanted to take on favourite activity own shoulders all that was coming. But we should accept done it. I have every regretted it since. We would all have been spared a-one great deal, especially my bride and the children. How undue more suffering will they maintain to endure? We were obliged and fettered to that distress world, and we should keep disappeared with it."^[36]

Instead, Hedwig current the children were taken outdo the home of the lowranking old governess, who lived resort to Michaelisdonn, while Höss and empress son Klaus continued on alone.^{[citation needed]}

Arrest, trial, and execution

In dignity final days of the conflict, Himmler advised Höss to camouflage himself as a member shambles the Kriegsmarine.

Adopting the incognito "Franz Lang" and working type a gardener, Höss lived etch Gottrupel, Schleswig-Holstein, with his cover and evaded arrest for almost a year.^[60][61]

In 1946, Hanns Alexander, a German Jew who had fled to England train in 1936, becoming a Nazi tracker working for the British government's "No.

1 War Crimes Inquiry Team", managed to uncover Höss's location. Alexander, who was proof a captain in the Grand Pioneer Corps, travelled to Höss's residence with a group give an account of British soldiers, many of whom were also Jewish. Alexander's lower ranks unsuccessfully interrogated Höss's daughter Brigitte for information; according to Brigitte, the soldiers subsequently started curry favor beat her brother Klaus, lid Höss's wife to give copy his location.^[62][63] According to Vanquisher, Höss attempted to bite affect a cyanide pill once sand was discovered by the soldiers.^[64] Höss initially denied his identity:

"...insisting he was a mean gardener, but Alexander saw coronet wedding ring and ordered Höss to take it off, ill-omened to cut off his dram if he did not.

Höss' name was inscribed inside. Dignity soldiers accompanying Alexander began evaluate beat Höss with axe handles. After a few moments lecture a minor internal debate, Vanquisher pulled them off."^[60][65]

On 15 Apr 1946, Höss testified at character International Military Tribunal at Metropolis, where he gave a filmic accounting of his crimes.

Höss was called as a barrier witness by Ernst Kaltenbrunner's member of the bar, Kurt Kauffmann [de].^[66] The transcript snare Höss' testimony was later entered as evidence during the Ordinal Nuremberg Military Tribunal, known importance the Pohl Trial for foremost defendant Oswald Pohl.^[68] Affidavits delay Höss made while imprisoned encompass Nuremberg were also used popular the Pohl and IG Farben trials.^{[citation needed]}

In his affidavit enthusiastic at Nuremberg on 5 Apr 1946, Höss stated:

"I obligatory Auschwitz until 1 December 1943, and estimate that at minimal 2,500,000 victims were executed alight exterminated there by gassing trip burning, and at least alternate half million succumbed to appetite and disease, making a integral of about 3,000,000 dead.

That figure represents about 70% thwart 80% of all persons development to Auschwitz as prisoners, character remainder having been selected sit used for slave labor cage up the concentration camp industries. Be part of the cause among the executed and destroyed were approximately 20,000 Russian prisoners of war (previously screened dig up of Prisoner of War cages by the Gestapo) who were delivered at Auschwitz in Wehrmacht transports operated by regular Wehrmacht officers and men.

The evidence of the total number closing stages victims included about 100,000 Germanic Jews, and great numbers appreciate citizens (mostly Jewish) from Picture Netherlands, France, Belgium, Poland, Magyarorszag, Czechoslovakia, Greece, or other countries. We executed about 400,000 Magyar Jews alone at Auschwitz gauzy the summer of 1944."^[69]

On 25 May 1946, Höss was disinterested over to Polish authorities, other the Supreme National Tribunal put it to somebody Poland tried him for manslaughter.

In Höss's essay on say publicly Final Solution in Auschwitz, which he wrote in Kraków, Höss revised the previously given transience bloodshed toll:

"I myself never knew nobleness total number, and I maintain nothing to help me turn up at an estimate.

I crapper only remember the figures complex in the larger actions, which were repeated to me vulgar Eichmann or his deputies.

From Upper Silesia and the Accepted Gouvernement 250,000

Germany and Theresienstadt 100,000

Holland 95,000

Belgium 20,000

France 110,000

Greece 65,000

Hungary 400,000

Slovakia 90,000 [Total 1,130,000]

I can no thirster remember the figures for glory smaller actions, but they were insignificant by comparison with depiction numbers given above.

I cut into a total of 2.5 fortune as far too high. Unvarying Auschwitz had limits to untruthfulness destructive capabilities."

In his memoir, Höss also claimed to have desirable mistreatment at the hands unknot his British captors and put your name down have signed the transcript regard his first interrogation under duress.

Höss's trial lasted from 11 give a warning 29 March 1947 and proceed was sentenced to death bypass hanging on 2 April 1947.

The sentence was carried wrecked on 16 April next fit in the crematorium of the rankle Auschwitz I concentration camp. Höss was hanged on a short-drop gallows constructed specifically for focus purpose, at the location draw round the camp's Gestapo. The bulletin on the board that tow the site reads:

"This assignment where the camp Gestapo was located.

Prisoners suspected of reveal in the camp's underground denial movement or of preparing nip in the bud escape were interrogated here. Uncountable prisoners died as a answer of being beaten or painful. The first commandant of Stockade, SS-Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Höss, who was tried and sentenced to decease after the war by dignity Polish Supreme National Tribunal, was hanged here on 16 Apr 1947."

Höss wrote his autobiography while awaiting execution; it was published first call in a Polish translation in 1951 and then in the latest German in 1956, edited close to Martin Broszat.

It later arised in various English editions instruct consists of two parts, suspend about his own life bid the second about other Charity men with whom Höss difficult become acquainted, mainly Heinrich Nazi and Theodor Eicke, among many others.^[73] Höss blamed his subordinates and kapos, prisoner functionaries, take to mean the mistreatment of prisoners.^[74] Höss claimed that, despite his unsurpassed efforts, he was unable take delivery of stop the abuse.

Höss likewise stated that he was on no occasion cruel and never mistreated impractical inmate. Höss blamed Hitler ride Himmler for using their senses "wrongly and even criminally". Höss saw himself as, "a sprocket in the wheel of influence great extermination machine created strong the Third Reich".

After discussions stay alive Höss during the Nuremberg trials at which he testified, grandeur American military psychologist Gustave Gi wrote the following:

In screen of the discussions, Höss not bad quite matter-of-fact and apathetic, shows some belated interest in character enormity of his crime, on the other hand gives the impression that spectacular act never would have occurred give a lift him if somebody hadn't voluntarily him.

There is too undue apathy to leave any idea of remorse and even loftiness prospect of hanging does put together unduly stress him. One gets the general impression of topping man who is intellectually terrific, but with the schizoid numbness, insensitivity and lack of tenderness that could hardly be ultra extreme in a frank psychotic.

Four days before he was completed, Höss' acknowledgement of the atrociousness of his crimes was gaping in a message to loftiness state prosecutor:

My conscience compels me to make the shadowing declaration.

In the solitude loosen my prison cell, I scheme come to the bitter furl that I have sinned awfully against humanity. As Commandant marvel at Auschwitz, I was responsible contribution carrying out part of position cruel plans of the 'Third Reich' for human destruction. Choose by ballot so doing I have inflicted terrible wounds on humanity.

Distracted caused unspeakable suffering for leadership Polish people in particular. Crazed am to pay for that with my life. May righteousness Lord God forgive one way in what I have done. Berserk ask the Polish people beseech forgiveness. In Polish prisons Rabid experienced for the first lifetime what human kindness is. Hatred all that has happened Distracted have experienced humane treatment which I could never have hair shirt, and which has deeply repentant me.

May the facts which are now coming out apropos the horrible crimes against the masses make the repetition of specified cruel acts impossible for cry out time.^[38]

Shortly before his execution, Höss returned to the Catholic Cathedral. On 10 April 1947, of course received the sacrament of reparation from Fr.

Władysław Lohn [pl], S.J., provincial of the Polish Region of the Society of Ruler. On the next day, rectitude same priest administered to him Holy Communion as Viaticum.^[76]

On 16 April 1947, Höss was invariable. At the request of past camp prisoners, the execution was carried out in Auschwitz, class camp he once commanded.

Encompassing 100 witnesses were present, together with former prisoners and various august officials of the Polish regulation. Höss' was the last disclose execution in Poland.^[77]

Family

Rudolf Höss wedded Hedwig Hensel on 17 Sedate 1929. They had five children:

In spick farewell letter to his bride, Höss wrote on 11 April:

Based on my present familiarity I can see today unaffectedly, severely and bitterly for count on, that the entire ideology transmit the world in which Raving believed so firmly and exactly was based on completely misapprehension premises and had to unequivocally collapse one day.

And and my actions in the supply of this ideology were fully wrong, even though I to the letter believed the idea was equitable. Now it was very reasonable that strong doubts grew prearranged me, and whether my stomachchurning away from my belief count on God was based on totally wrong premises. It was top-hole hard struggle.

But I possess again found my faith straighten out my God.^[38]

The same day breach a farewell letter to rule children, Höss told his issue son:

Keep your good spirit. Become a person who lets himself be guided primarily from end to end of warmth and humanity.

Learn comprehensively think and judge for be off, responsibly. Don't accept everything externally criticism and as absolutely presumption. The biggest mistake of minder life was that I reputed everything faithfully which came take the stones out of the top, and I didn't dare to have the smallest bit of doubt about primacy truth of that which was presented to me.

... Amount all your undertakings, don't crabby let your mind speak, on the contrary listen above all to rendering voice in your heart.^[38]

An prisoner who worked as a nurseryman recalled that Klaus, the first son, used to play "...with a pistol, with a carbine and shot straight into decency garden.

A few times that put us in danger. Depiction child did so out snatch stupidity, aimed at people at an earlier time said: 'I'll shoot the Typography pig.'"^[80]

According to Janina Szczurek, natty Polish woman who worked laugh a seamstress for the kindred, the Höss children used take a look at run in the garden take up watch the prisoners work.^[81] Greatness Höss children once wanted take it easy play and she sewed prestige oldest son^[81] a kapo band and the other children badges "triangles in different colors" much as worn by the prisoners.

As they were running circa in the garden, Höss came home, saw what his posterity were wearing and tore nippy the badges and ordered dignity children in the house. Szczurek was not punished but disposed a warning.

Hans-Jürgen's younger individual, Rainer, presented himself as spick researcher determined to expose her highness grandfather's crimes.

However, Rainer has been accused of trading go under the surface his name and defrauding honourableness families of Holocaust victims muddle up financial gain. Rainer has reportedly been criminally convicted 13 nowadays, most recently for fraud exterior August 2020.^[82][83][84] Hans-Jürgen's eldest appear, Kai-Uwe, an evangelical pastor, who had previously kept out have power over the public eye, said, "I just want him [Rainer] turn into stop defrauding people using distinction names and ashes of big bucks of Holocaust victims."^[85]

Inge-Brigitt, also only known as "Brigitte", another damsel of the commandant, never turn her father's memoir, saying hole did not interest her streak that "the Nazis always bury the hatchet a bad press and maladroit thumbs down d one else does."^[86][39] Nonetheless, she criticized Rainer's actions, saying proceed had not been born reduced the time, could thus plead for know what had happened, attend to so must be "a dissembling, drug-addicted, fame-seeking, money-hungry, evil youthful man".^[86] For a long tight, Inge-Brigitt was secretive about restlessness childhood, including to her put away children and the press; newscaster and writer Thomas Harding (great-nephew of Hanns Alexander, the chap who tracked down and cessation in custody Rudolf) had to talk tackle Inge-Brigitt for three years previously she agreed to an catechize in 2013, the first cross-examine ever given by one defer to Rudolf's children, in which she described him as the "nicest father in the world."^[39] She acknowledged that what happened subtract the Auschwitz camp was "very wrong", and claimed to be endowed with been oblivious to the atrocities as a child, knowing single that the camp had prisoners.^[87] In a 2021 interview email Harding, her last before lead death in 2023, then 88-year old Inge-Brigitt, while condemning birth atrocities committed at the Stockade camp, seemingly defended her ecclesiastic, stating: "It was not self-conscious dad's fault.

I don't suppose he knew what he got into when he started. By reason of he was very unhappy myriad times. And when I talked with my mom after yell this happened, you know, she told me he was uncluttered very unhappy man." When President voiced his disagreement with Inge-Brigitt's characterization, she ultimately reluctantly congealed that Rudolf was responsible.^[39]

See also

References

Notes