New Perspective: Hitler's Children (BBC)

Rainer Hoess
Source: UK Telegraph

I had taken a hiatus from posting interesting history-related things, especially in regards to World War II because I was enjoying almost 12 months of various research projects. However, I was told by my Uncle that I should watch the BBC's documentary entitled Hitler's Children. Personally, I thought what new information could I get in regards to the world's most infamous dictator and his loyal band of thugs?

Hitler's Children is not about Hitler, but a question that I have had in my mind since I was eleven years old after standing at the gate of Dachau looking up at the funny words "arbeit macht frei". I had finished my exploration of the camp much ahead of my parents and grandmother and needed a couple minutes to myself to think. A million questions poured out of me, it would not be until we returned home to the States and I began to learn the horrors of the Third Reich, more specifically, the Holocaust, that the burning question of what happened to the family members of Nazis?

I will be the first to admit that when I was younger I wanted nothing more then every member of the Nazi elite's family to realize what their loved one did and somehow be punished for it. However, as I ventured down the path of a historian, grew older, and received more education I realized the sins of the father should not necessarily be slapped onto the child. Do I believe it is necessary to keep Holocaust education alive in Germany? Yes. Do I believe it is necessary to keep Holocaust education alive throughout the world? Yes.

Hitler's Children offers an exploration of what it was like to grow up in the shadow of evil: Niklas Frank, the son of Hans Frank who became the Governor-General of Poland. Bettina Goering, the great-niece of Hermann Goering. Monika Hertwig, the daughter of Amon Goeth, the Commandant of Plaszow, whose brutality was made famous by Ralph Fiennes portrayal in Steven Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece, Schindler's List. Katrin Himmler, the great-niece of Heinrich Himmler, one of the architect's of the 'Final Solution'. Rainer Hoess, the grandson of Rudolf Hoess, the Camp Commandant of Auschwitz.

Each one of their stories is slightly different, yet just as heartbreaking. At one time one states that they feel like the only reason they were born was to remember the sins of their grandfather. Two of them have written books on their notorious relatives, including Niklas Frank, who writes about his parents' evilness within the Third Reich hierarchy. Rainer Hoess visits Auschwitz, and is terrified that he will be recognized as Rudolf Hoess' relation.

 Bettina Goering is the 'child' that left me the most shocked. She did not want the risk of bringing any more evil into the world since she looks so much like her uncle, Hermann Goering, that she and her brother had themselves sterilized. I cannot even begin to imagine the thought process of deciding to do such a thing. The guilt that must be placed on not only her shoulders, but the shoulders of the rest of the family must be incredible.

Many ask why do survivors and families of survivors want to remember the horrible things that happened to them. It is so it does not happen again. However, nearly 80 years later it seems rather cliche to say that when looking back the world still hasn't learned with such genocides as Colombia, Kosovo, Rwanda, and Darfur. The pain and guilt that many feel for their family's participation is still fresh. However, Hitler's Children does an excellent job exploring what it is like to live with the guilt of their Father\Grandfather\Uncle's ruthless and barbaric actions during the war.


To view Hitler's Children on YouTube, click here

For more information on Bettina Goering, click here or here

For books by Niklas Frank click here

For articles on Katrin Himmler click here or here

To purchase Katrin Himmler's book The Himmler Brothers on Amazon click here

To watch Monika Hertwig discuss her Father, Amon click here

To buy Inheritance, click here

HFOTD: 6 June 1944

On this day in history in 1944, the world woke up to discover that the Allied forces had invaded the beaches of Normandy, France in an attempt to push back the German forces and to take the first step in defeating them. The fighting took place on 5 separate beaches (Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword) that the Allies had split up.

For those BAND OF BROTHERS buffs, you know that the Airborne was dropped the night before the invasion to secure the beach. The invasion started at 0630 and though they would secure the beach by the end of the day, the battle of Normandy would last the full month of June as they slowly advanced towards Berlin.


For a U.S. Government newsreel on D-Day, click here.

For a brief German perspective on D-Day, click here.

For a summary of D-Day, click here.

For current news articles about the anniversary, click here, here, here, or here.

Neo-Nazis attack protestors

Last Saturday, June 2nd, produced a flashback of the war when Neo-Nazis and Anti-Nazi protestors got into a fight in Hamburg, Germany. The skinheads were rallying "quietly" (give me a break--when has a skinhead ever rallied QUIETLY? Spewing hate without using profanity is not considered quietly in the real world!) They attempted to block the anti-Nazi protestors when a fight broke out. When the police were called in, both sides turned on them. By the end of the day nearly 1,000 police officers had been called into help remedy the situation. 700 protestors, skinheads and anti-nazis alike were taken into custody, and eight police vehicles had been set on fire by the skinheads. You'd think they would have better things to do when the world economy is in such despair. Perhaps go to work and be a productive member of German society? Is that too much to ask? Or better yet, stop hating everything that isn't similar to you and go be a peaceful person who's blood pressure is not so high from the stress of hating EVERYBODY.

Neo-Nazi protests have been on the rise this year in Germany. Just last month the neo-Nazis held a different rally in Hamburg. According to a 2011 DER SPIEGEL article, violent neo-Nazis were on the rise from just 500 or so in 2010 to 5,600.

Fun-filled fact? It is illegal to display the Swastika or deny the Holocaust ever happened, but people are free to form another NPD (Nazi Party) due to the wording of the German constitution and the ambitious goal of not letting the country's past digressions affect the future. I'm all for clean slates, but did no one pay attention the last time the NPD sort of slipped through the cracks and kind of, sort of took over the German government? We saw how well THAT worked out...

Okay, I'm starting to ramble..lol... If you would like to check out the original article about this story click here. Or if you'd like to read a little about the banning of Swastikas but the allowance of the NPD, click here.

Mein Kampf-- is Germany REALLY ready to have it released countrywide?

It was announced this week via German news source, DER SPIEGEL, that the banned work of ex-dictator Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, would be released to the German public. One German historian went so far as to say a way of describing the reasons to the rest of the world were that they were disarming the fuse of Mein Kampf's bomb. The Historian continues that it is a great source of understanding and studying Hitler's future policies that would become notorious when he became chancellor in 1933. Yes, I'm sure we're all quite aware of his policies by this point. I can understand wanting to release the book for scholarly research and students studying Hitler's agenda during his reign, but why fully release it to the public? In a world where anti-Semitism and Neo-Nazi movements are on the rise, not just in Germany, but all over the world, why add flame to the already billowing fire?

This book, which was once given out to every newly wed German couple, acted as a great propaganda tool for anyone who could stay awake to read it. Hitler, who may have thought he sounded like a great and powerful potential leader was probably one of the driest writers of the 20th century. Perhaps that is why the world was taken by surprise when Hitler slowly snuck that whole killing people who didn't agree with him or were different then his idea of the perfect 'Aryan', because no one could last more than a couple of pages without needing several pots of strong coffee or a good stimulant, like meth (der fuehrer's stimulant of choice). It is confusing to understand why now is the perfect time to release Mein Kampf now and five months ago when a publishing house wanted to publish it the German court system banned the distribution for at least thirty-six months. What has changed in that short amount of time?

To read the the Der Spiel article click here, to read the CNN article about continuing the ban click here, or to read an excerpt from Mein Kampf click here.