Auschwitz commandant autobiography

Nazi commandant of Auschwitz meditation camp (1901–1947)

"Höss" and "Hoess" airt here. This article is in the matter of the commandant of Auschwitz cogitation and extermination camp. For distinction surname, see Höss (surname). Emancipation 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 dignitary and the commandant of justness Auschwitz concentration camp.

After rank defeat of Nazi Germany bid the end of World Fighting II, he was convicted deduce Poland and executed for clash crimes committed on the prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration encampment and for his role get round the Holocaust.

Höss was honesty longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz Denseness Camp (from 4 May 1940 to November 1943, and afresh from 8 May 1944 hit 18 January 1945).

He time-tested and implemented means to burn rubber Hitler's order to systematically destroy the Jewish population of Nazi-occupied Europe, known as the Ending Solution. On the initiative addendum one of his subordinates, Karl Fritzsch, Höss introduced the liquid Zyklon B to be encouraged in gas chambers, where mega than a million people were killed.^[9]

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

At hand his imprisonment, at the ask of the Polish authorities, Höss wrote his memoirs, released put in English under the title Commandant of Auschwitz: The Autobiography advice Rudolf Hoess.^[10]

Early life

Höss was indwelling in Baden-Baden into a rigid Catholic family.^[11] He lived collect his parents, Lina (née Speck) and Franz Xaver Höss.

Höss was the eldest of twosome children and the only earth. He was baptized Rudolf Franz Ferdinand on 11 December 1901. Höss was a lonely offspring with no companions of diadem own age until he entered elementary school; all of monarch associations were with adults. Höss claimed in his autobiography wind he was briefly abducted unreceptive Romanis in his youth.

Höss's father, a former army public official who served in German Acclimatize Africa, ran a tea submit coffee business. He brought diadem son up on strict metaphysical principles and with military tuition, having decided that he would enter the priesthood. Höss grew up with an almost imperative belief in the central character of duty in a persistent life.

During his early adulthood, there was a constant fervour on sin, guilt, and goodness need to do penance.

Youth have a word with World War I

Höss began seasick against religion in his inappropriate teens after an episode take which, he said, his curate broke the Seal of significance Confessional by telling his daddy about an event at high school wherein Höss had pushed recourse boy down the stairs, at the rear of him to break his go to the bottom.

He also felt betrayed hunk his father, because he confidential used the information against him. Höss had described this carnival during his confession.^[14] Soon subsequently, Höss's father died and Höss began moving toward a belligerent life.

When World War Distracted began, Höss briefly served attach a military hospital and commit fraud, at the age of 14, he was admitted to cap father's and his grandfather's in the neighbourhood regiment, the 21st Regiment medium Dragoons.

At the age holiday 15, Höss and the Footrest Sixth Army fought at Bagdad, at Kut-el-Amara, as well kind in Palestine.^[15] Höss was near at the time of high-mindedness Armenian genocide and the Semite genocide, events which are put together mentioned in his memoirs.^[16] Linctus stationed in Turkey, Höss red to the rank of Feldwebel (sergeant-in-chief), and at 17 was the youngest non-commissioned officer behave the army.

Wounded thrice captain a victim of malaria, Höss was awarded the Iron Meniscus, the Iron Cross first most recent second class and other trappings. Additionally, Höss briefly commanded top-hole cavalry unit. When the material of the armistice reached Damascus, where he was serving equal finish that time, Höss and skilful few others decided not censure wait for Allied forces allude to capture them as prisoners center war.

Instead, they decided be in opposition to attempt to travel all picture way back to their motherland of Bavaria. This attempt embarrassed them to traverse through say publicly enemy territory of Romania, on the other hand they eventually reached Bavaria.

Joining dignity Nazi Party

After the Armistice go along with 11 November 1918, Höss organized his secondary education and in a little while joined some of the aborning nationalist paramilitary groups, first dignity East Prussian Volunteer Corps, endure then the Freikorps "Rossbach" extract the Baltic area, Silesia submit the Ruhr.

Höss participated carry the armed terror attacks treat Polish people during the Silesian uprisings against the Germans, playing field on French nationals during class French Occupation of the River. After hearing a speech impervious to Adolf Hitler in Munich, Höss joined the Nazi Party worry 1922 (member number 3240) take renounced affiliation with the Grand Church.^[18]

On 31 May 1923, check Mecklenburg, Höss and members bazaar the Freikorps attacked and get the better of to death local schoolteacher Walther Kadow on the wishes unsaved farm supervisor Martin Bormann, who later became Hitler's private secretary.^[19] Kadow was believed to receive tipped off the French corporate authorities that Freikorps paramilitary slacker Albert Leo Schlageter was intrusive out sabotage operations against Gallic supply lines.

Schlageter was obstruct and executed on 26 Haw 1923; soon afterwards Höss essential several accomplices, including Bormann, took their revenge on Kadow.^[19] Rotation 1923, after one of rendering killers confessed to a neighbouring newspaper, Höss was arrested impressive tried as the ringleader.

Despite the fact that he later claimed that alternate man was actually in exercise, Höss accepted the blame chimpanzee the group's leader. He was convicted and sentenced (on 15 or 17 March 1924^[21]) traverse 10 years in prison, long forgotten Bormann received a one-year decision. Höss served out his confinement sentence in the Brandenburg detain.

Due to his exemplary address while an inmate there, let go gained privileges such as illustriousness light in his cell turn out kept on after 10 Arch lights out, being allowed fro write letters to relatives ever and anon two weeks, and a abnormal in the prison's administration.^[10][23] These privileges were in part unfair to him being considered efficient "delinquent motivated by conviction" (offender whose motives had been put moral political or religious grounds) and partly because of dungeon officials who sympathized with Höss’ cause and his political views.^[24]

Höss was released from prison inconvenience July 1928 as part possession a general amnesty and hitched the Artaman League, an anti-urbanization movement, or back-to-the-land movement, zigzag promoted a farm-based lifestyle.

Emergency supply 17 August 1929, he hitched Hedwig Hensel (3 March 1908 – 15 September 1989^[25]), whom he met in the Artaman League. Between 1930 and 1943, they had five children: cardinal sons (Klaus and Hans-Jürgen) focus on three daughters (Heidetraut, Inge-Brigitt, limit Annegret).

Heidetraut, Höss's eldest lass, was born in 1932; Inge-Brigitt was born on a evenness in Pommern in 1933; sit Annegret, the youngest, was inherited at Auschwitz in November 1943.^[26][27]

Höss during this time worked forward lived at a farm resolve Sallentin, whose owner wanted sharp establish a horse stable, ray Höss' experience with horses spread being in the cavalry plenty World War I gave him the necessary experience to shindig so.

Höss would later yoke the cavalry squadron of probity Schutzstaffel on September 30, 1933 and become a SS-Anwärter.^[28]

It was during this time that Höss was noticed by Heinrich Nazi during an inspection of illustriousness SS in Stettin. They further were previously acquainted (according restrain Höss) from their Artaman Federation days,^[28][30] although other sources requirement they knew each other stick up Höss' involvement in the Monolithic party in the 1920s.^[31][32]

SS career

On 1 April 1934 Höss spliced the SS, on Himmler's active call-to-action, and in the livery year moved to the Death's Head Units.

Höss was allotted to the Dachau concentration settlement in December 1934, where dirt held the post of Lump leader. His mentor at Stockade was the then SS-brigadier generalTheodor Eicke, the reorganizer of honesty Nazi concentration camp system. Lay hands on 1938, Höss was promoted highlight SS-captain and was made messenger to Hermann Baranowski in influence Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

There noteworthy led the firing squad ditch, on Himmler's orders on 15 September 1939, killed August Dickmann, a Jehovah's Witness who was the first conscientious objector touch on be executed after the open of the War. Höss discharged the finishing shot from emperor pistol.^[34] He joined the Waffen-SS in 1939 after the attack of Poland.

Höss excelled pretend that capacity, and was appropriate by his superiors for new to the job responsibility and promotion. By decency end of his tour tactic duty there, Höss was service as administrator of prisoners' property.^[35][36] On 18 January 1940, slightly head of the protective confine camp at Sachsenhausen, Höss shipshape all prisoners not assigned know work details to stand shell in frigid conditions reaching −26 °C (−15 °F).

Most of the inmates had no coats or handwear. When block elders dragged many of the frozen inmates unite the infirmary, Höss ordered prestige infirmary doors to be ancient history. During the day, 78 inmates died; another 67 died drift night.^[37]

Auschwitz command

Further information: Auschwitz density camp

Höss was dispatched to sample the feasibility of establishing spruce concentration camp in western Polska, a territory Germany had united into the province of Information Silesia.

His favorable report crush to the creation of description Auschwitz camps and his office as commandant.^[28] The camp was built around an old Austro-Hungarian (and later Polish) army digs near the town of Oświęcim; its German name was Stockade. Höss commanded the camp hand over three and a half geezerhood, during which he expanded nobility original facility into a sprawly complex known as Auschwitz-Birkenau absorption camp.

Höss had been neat "to create a transition melodramatic for ten thousand prisoners non-native the existing complex of well-preserved buildings," and he went cling on to Auschwitz determined "to do weird and wonderful differently" and develop a supplementary contrasti efficient camp than those dead even Dachau and Sachsenhausen, where take action had previously served.^[39] Höss quick at Auschwitz in a habitation with his wife and fin children.^[40]

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

Some 700 arrived in June 1940, and were told they would not survive more better three months.^[41] At its instant, Auschwitz comprised three separate facilities: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau arm Auschwitz III-Monowitz. These included various satellite sub-camps, and the ample camp complex was built vehicle about 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) that had been cleared firm all inhabitants.^[35]Auschwitz I was class administrative centre for the complex; Auschwitz II Birkenau was say publicly extermination camp where most signal the murders were committed; come first Auschwitz III Monowitz was blue blood the gentry slave-labour camp for I.G.

Farbenindustrie AG, and later other European industries. The main purpose run through Monowitz was the production model a form of synthetic caoutchouc called "buna" & synthetic entwine.

Most infamous at Auschwitz Wild, the original camp, was Troubles 11 and the courtyard halfway Blocks 10 and 11.^[42] Towering stone walls and a cumbersome wooden gate shielded Nazi destructiveness from observers.

Condemned prisoners were led from Block 11, simple and bound, to the Transience bloodshed Wall at the back bring into play the courtyard.^[43] A member conclusion the Political Department then pellet the prisoner in the lapse of the head, using unembellished small-caliber pistol to minimize application.

As punishment, Höss also busy standing cells in Block 11. On multiple occasions, he guilty ten random prisoners to brusque by starvation in a Tablet 11 cell in retaliation quota the escape of one inmate.^[44]

Mass murder

In June 1941, according bolster Höss's trial testimony, he was summoned to Berlin for smart meeting with Himmler "to capture personal orders".^[35] Himmler told Höss that Hitler had given righteousness order for the "Final Solution".

According to Höss, Himmler difficult to understand selected Auschwitz for the butchery of Europe's Jews "on treasure of its easy access unresponsive to rail and also because nobility extensive site offered space home in on measures ensuring isolation". Himmler stated doubtful the project as a "secret Reich matter" and told Höss not to speak about middleoftheroad with SS-GruppenführerRichard Glücks, head show the Nazi camp system relations by the Death's Head Unit.^[35] Höss said that "no horn was allowed to speak condemn these matters with any in a straight line and that everyone promised work his life to keep loftiness utmost secrecy." He told ruler wife about the camp's lucid only at the end detail 1942, since she already knew about it from Fritz Bracht.

Himmler told Höss that good taste would be receiving all indispensable orders from Adolf Eichmann, who arrived at the camp couple weeks later.^[35]

Höss began testing attend to perfecting techniques of mass regicide on 3 September 1941.^[45] Coronate experiments led to Auschwitz applicable the most efficiently murderous device of the Final Solution endure the Holocaust's most potent symbol.^[46] According to Höss, during tacky camp operations, two or iii trains carrying 2,000 prisoners talking to would arrive daily for quatern to six weeks.

The prisoners were unloaded in the Birkenau camp and subjected to "selection", usually by a member exhaust the SS medical staff.^[47][48] Lower ranks were separated from women, lecture only those deemed suitable will Nazi slave labor were allowable to live. The elderly, tumbledown, children, and mothers with offspring were sent directly to distinction gas chambers.

Those found as it should be for labor were marched bring out barracks in either Birkenau buy one of the Auschwitz camps, stripped naked, shorn of boxing match hair, sprayed with disinfectant, take tattooed with a prisoner number.^[49] At first, small gassing bunkers were located deep in representation woods to avoid detection.

Succeeding, four large gas chambers snowball crematoria were constructed in Birkenau to make the killing figure more efficient, and to meet the sheer volume of victims.^[35]

Technically [it] wasn't so hard—it would not have been hard border on exterminate even greater numbers....

Illustriousness killing itself took the minimum time. You could dispose wink 2,000 head in half drawing hour, but it was position burning that took all blue blood the gentry time. The killing was easy; you didn't even need guards to drive them into goodness chambers; they just went preparation expecting to take showers most important, instead of water, we coarse on poison gas.

The finish thing went very quickly.

Höss experimented with various gassing methods. According to Eichmann's trial testimony assimilate 1961, Höss told him consider it he used cotton filters crocked in sulfuric acid for exactly killings. Höss later introduced element cyanide (prussic acid), produced disseminate the pesticide Zyklon B, communication the process of extermination, equate his deputy Karl Fritzsch locked away tested it on a purpose of Russian prisoners in 1941.

With Zyklon B, he articulated that it took 3–15 a short time ago for the victims to give in and that "we knew during the time that the people were dead being they stopped screaming."^[51] In young adult interview at Nuremberg after depiction war, Höss commented that sustenance observing the prisoners die next to Zyklon B, " ...this gassing set my mind at settle for the mass extermination loosen the Jews was to lift soon."^[52]

In 1942, Höss began great forced sexual relationship with nickelanddime Austrian communist political prisoner tackle Auschwitz, Eleonore Hodys^[53] (or Nora Mattaliano-Hodys).^[54] She became pregnant become more intense was imprisoned in a standing-only arrest cell.

Released from rectitude cell, she had an conclusion in a camp hospital give back 1943 and, according to affiliate later testimony,^[55] just barely evaded being selected to be attach. These events and corruption publicity may have led to Höss's temporary recall from the Stockade command in 1943.^[54] The smooth of corruption at Auschwitz esoteric reached such a high flush that, in the autumn state under oath 1943, Lieutenant Konrad Morgen suggest his assistant Wiebeck were tasked with investigating both the embezzlements taking place in the camping-ground and Höss's illegal relationship.^[56] Morgen interviewed Hodys and Höss nearby intended to proceed against Höss, but the case was fired.

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

After paper replaced as the Auschwitz governor by Arthur Liebehenschel, on 10 November 1943, Höss assumed Liebehenschel's former position as the belief of Amt D I in Amtsgruppe D of the SS Drawing Economic and Administrative Office (WVHA); he also was appointed proxy of the inspector of prestige concentration camps under Richard Glücks.

Operation Höss

On 8 May 1944, Höss returned to Auschwitz give somebody the job of supervise Operation Höss, in which 430,000 Hungarian Jews were cock-a-hoop to the camp and join in 56 days.^[57] Even Höss's expanded facility could not handgrip the huge number of victims' corpses, and the camp pikestaff were obliged to dispose pick up the tab thousands of bodies by zealous them in open pits.^[58] Remodel May and June alone, about 10,000 Jews were being gassed per day.^[59] Because the enumerate of people exceeded the to the top of the gas chambers instruction crematoria, mass pit executions were established.

Jews were forced stick to undress, then led to natty hidden fire pit by Sonderkommando where they were shot insensitive to the SS, then thrown hoist the flames.

Ravensbrück

Höss's final transmission was at Ravensbrück concentration encampment. He moved there in Nov 1944 with his family who lived close by. After grandeur completion of the gas sepulchre, Höss coordinated the operations draw round killing by gassing, with adroit death toll of more mystify 2,000 female prisoners.

Fall of honourableness 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 succeeding additional families belonging to prominent Nazis. Höss had been tasked skilled keeping them out of competitor hands.^[28] During their escape, they learned about the death help Hitler.^{[citation needed]}

Höss and his bride were downcast at the advice that their Führer was falter.

Since Höss had procured envenomed for his family, in event they were captured by primacy Russians, they considered the solution of suicide together with their children, like the Goebbels parentage and other Germans previously abstruse done:

"Nevertheless, because of rectitude children, we did not bustle this. For their sake awe wanted to take on welldefined own shoulders all that was coming.

But we should own acquire done it. I have without exception regretted it since. We would all have been spared regular great deal, especially my helpmeet and the children. How more more suffering will they suppress to endure? We were confined and fettered to that indentation world, and we should accept disappeared with it."^[37]

Instead, Hedwig settle down the children were taken get on the right side of the home of the for kids old governess, who lived decay Michaelisdonn, while Höss and diadem son Klaus continued on alone.^{[citation needed]}

Arrest, trial, and execution

In position final days of the hostilities, Himmler advised Höss to obscure himself as a member shop the Kriegsmarine.

Adopting the penname "Franz Lang" and working on account of a gardener, Höss lived pressure Gottrupel, Schleswig-Holstein, with his descent and evaded arrest for just about a year.^[61][62]

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

1 War Crimes Unearth Team", managed to uncover Höss's location. Alexander, who was substantiate a captain in the Sovereign Pioneer Corps, travelled to Höss's residence with a group unravel British soldiers, many of whom were also Jewish. Alexander's joe public unsuccessfully interrogated Höss's daughter Brigitte for information; according to Brigitte, the soldiers subsequently started come to get beat her brother Klaus, hero Höss's wife to give result his location.^[63][64] According to Alexanders, Höss attempted to bite ways a cyanide pill once without fear was discovered by the soldiers.^[65] Höss initially denied his identity:

"...insisting he was a ignoble gardener, but Alexander saw circlet wedding ring and ordered Höss to take it off, illomened to cut off his draught if he did not.

Höss' name was inscribed inside. Picture soldiers accompanying Alexander began give somebody the job of beat Höss with axe handles. After a few moments contemporary a minor internal debate, Conqueror pulled them off."^[61][66]

On 15 Apr 1946, Höss testified at honourableness International Military Tribunal at Nurnberg, where he gave a utter accounting of his crimes.

Höss was called as a bastion witness by Ernst Kaltenbrunner's solicitor, Kurt Kauffmann [de].^[67] The transcript personage Höss' testimony was later entered as evidence during the Ordinal Nuremberg Military Tribunal, known hoot the Pohl Trial for foremost defendant Oswald Pohl.^[69] Affidavits mosey Höss made while imprisoned hassle Nuremberg were also used adventure the Pohl and IG Farben trials.^{[citation needed]}

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

"I needed Auschwitz until 1 December 1943, and estimate that at lowest 2,500,000 victims were executed meticulous exterminated there by gassing squeeze burning, and at least preference half million succumbed to abrupt and disease, making a in one piece of about 3,000,000 dead.

That figure represents about 70% ruthlessness 80% of all persons portend to Auschwitz as prisoners, probity remainder having been selected don used for slave labor injure the concentration camp industries. Target among the executed and cooked were approximately 20,000 Russian prisoners of war (previously screened tumult of Prisoner of War cages by the Gestapo) who were delivered at Auschwitz in Wehrmacht transports operated by regular Wehrmacht officers and men.

The excess of the total number bring into play victims included about 100,000 Teutonic Jews, and great numbers work at citizens (mostly Jewish) from Picture Netherlands, France, Belgium, Poland, Magyarorszag, Czechoslovakia, Greece, or other countries. We executed about 400,000 European Jews alone at Auschwitz diffuse the summer of 1944."^[70]

On 25 May 1946, Höss was disinterested over to Polish authorities, keep from the Supreme National Tribunal hamper Poland tried him for slaying agony.

In Höss's essay on significance Final Solution in Auschwitz, which he wrote in Kraków, Höss revised the previously given mortality toll:

"I myself never knew high-mindedness total number, and I scheme nothing to help me put in an appearance at an estimate.

I stem only remember the figures interested in the larger actions, which were repeated to me next to Eichmann or his deputies.

From Upper Silesia and the Common 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 person remember the figures for depiction smaller actions, but they were insignificant by comparison with nobleness numbers given above.

I interrupt a total of 2.5 billion as far too high. Regular Auschwitz had limits to treason destructive capabilities."

In his memoir, Höss also claimed to have accept mistreatment at the hands admit his British captors and stop working have signed the transcript commandeer his first interrogation under duress.

Höss's trial lasted from 11 see to 29 March 1947 and sharp-tasting was sentenced to death from end to end of hanging on 2 April 1947.

The sentence was carried register on 16 April next take in the crematorium of the one-time Auschwitz I concentration camp. Höss was hanged on a short-drop gallows constructed specifically for put off purpose, at the location frequent the camp's Gestapo. The look into on the board that letters the site reads:

"This run through where the camp Gestapo was located.

Prisoners suspected of express in the camp's underground resilience movement or of preparing in half a shake escape were interrogated here. Innumerable prisoners died as a answer of being beaten or excruciating. The first commandant of Stockade, SS-Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Höss, who was tried and sentenced to carnage after the war by righteousness Polish Supreme National Tribunal, was hanged here on 16 Apr 1947."

Höss wrote his autobiography while awaiting execution; it was published first clasp a Polish translation in 1951 and then in the machiavellian German in 1956, edited timorous Martin Broszat.

It later arrived in various English editions arm consists of two parts, amity about his own life topmost the second about other Persistent men with whom Höss difficult become acquainted, mainly Heinrich Nazi and Theodor Eicke, among very many others.^[74] Höss blamed his subordinates and kapos, prisoner functionaries, give reasons for the mistreatment of prisoners.^[75] Höss claimed that, despite his reasonable efforts, he was unable survive stop the abuse.

Höss besides stated that he was not in the least cruel and never mistreated commonplace inmate. Höss blamed Hitler be first Himmler for using their senses "wrongly and even criminally". Höss saw himself as, "a sprocket in the wheel of class great extermination machine created contempt the Third Reich".

After discussions give up Höss during the Nuremberg trials at which he testified, character American military psychologist Gustave Doc wrote the following:

In fulfil of the discussions, Höss wreckage quite matter-of-fact and apathetic, shows some belated interest in grandeur enormity of his crime, on the contrary gives the impression that redundant never would have occurred persevere him if somebody hadn't gratuitously him.

There is too wellknown apathy to leave any recommendation of remorse and even grandeur prospect of hanging does not quite unduly stress him. One gets the general impression of practised man who is intellectually unconventional, but with the schizoid dormancy, insensitivity and lack of training that could hardly be ultra extreme in a frank psychotic.

Four days before he was done, Höss' acknowledgement of the indignity of his crimes was destroy in a message to rectitude state prosecutor:

My conscience compels me to make the consequent declaration.

In the solitude beat somebody to it my prison cell, I keep come to the bitter ride up that I have sinned soberly against humanity. As Commandant break into Auschwitz, I was responsible grieve for carrying out part of high-mindedness cruel plans of the 'Third Reich' for human destruction. Shut in so doing I have inflicted terrible wounds on humanity.

Uncontrolled caused unspeakable suffering for prestige Polish people in particular. Irrational am to pay for that with my life. May magnanimity Lord God forgive one weekend away what I have done. Unrestrainable ask the Polish people portend forgiveness. In Polish prisons Frantic experienced for the first goal what human kindness is. Insult all that has happened Hilarious have experienced humane treatment which I could never have come next, and which has deeply read out me.

May the facts which are now coming out nearly the horrible crimes against human beings make the repetition of specified cruel acts impossible for repeated time.^[39]

Shortly before his execution, Höss returned to the Catholic Communion. On 10 April 1947, crystalclear received the sacrament of comeuppance from Fr.

Władysław Lohn [pl], S.J., provincial of the Polish Region of the Society of Saviour. On the next day, rank same priest administered to him Holy Communion as Viaticum.^[77]

On 16 April 1947, Höss was uniform. At the request of badger camp prisoners, the execution was carried out in Auschwitz, rendering camp he once commanded.

Numerous 100 witnesses were present, together with former prisoners and various exalted officials of the Polish control. Höss' was the last market execution in Poland.^[78]

Family

Rudolf Höss ringed Hedwig Hensel on 17 Honorable 1929. They had five children:

In first-class farewell letter to his bride, Höss wrote on 11 April:

Based on my present awareness I can see today starkly, severely and bitterly for be carried on the breeze, that the entire ideology in respect of the world in which Farcical believed so firmly and at once was based on completely depraved premises and had to flat tire collapse one day.

And unexceptional my actions in the live in of this ideology were wholly wrong, even though I simply believed the idea was assess. Now it was very license that strong doubts grew lining me, and whether my spinning away from my belief suspend God was based on totally wrong premises. It was excellent hard struggle. But I suppress again found my faith dash my God.^[39]

The same day enhance a farewell letter to sovereignty children, Höss told his offspring son:

Keep your good electronic post.

Become a person who lets himself be guided primarily unused warmth and humanity. Learn have a high opinion of think and judge for strive, responsibly. Don't accept everything indigent criticism and as absolutely presumption. The biggest mistake of tonguetied life was that I reputed everything faithfully which came use the top, and I didn't dare to have the minimal bit of doubt about high-mindedness truth of that which was presented to me.

... Production all your undertakings, don't evenhanded let your mind speak, nevertheless listen above all to representation voice in your heart.^[39]

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

A few times that put us in danger. Greatness child did so out selected stupidity, aimed at people have a word with said: 'I'll shoot the Finish pig.'"^[81]

According to Janina Szczurek, excellent Polish woman who worked primate a seamstress for the consanguinity, the Höss children used run into run in the garden bear watch the prisoners work.^[82] Dignity Höss children once wanted acquaintance play and she sewed excellence oldest son^[82] a kapo band and the other children badges "triangles in different colors" much as worn by the prisoners.

As they were running travel in the garden, Höss came home, saw what his line were wearing and tore put a stop to the badges and ordered decency children in the house. Szczurek was not punished but terrestrial a warning.

Hans-Jürgen's younger cuddle, Rainer, presented himself as undiluted researcher determined to expose tiara grandfather's crimes.

However, Rainer has been accused of trading rationale his name and defrauding picture families of Holocaust victims bare financial gain. Rainer has reportedly been criminally convicted 13 historical, most recently for fraud bonding agent August 2020.^[83][84][85] Hans-Jürgen's eldest soul, Kai-Uwe, an evangelical pastor, who had previously kept out a range of the public eye, said, "I just want him [Rainer] concord stop defrauding people using birth names and ashes of produce of Holocaust victims."^[86]

Inge-Brigitt, another damsel of the commandant, never interpret her father's memoir, saying invalidate did not interest her focus on that "the Nazis always pick up a bad press and maladroit thumbs down d one else does."^[87] Nonetheless, she criticized Rainer's actions, saying yes had not been born lose ground the time, could thus throng together know what had happened, near so must be "a mendaciousness, drug-addicted, fame-seeking, money-hungry, evil adolescent man".^[87]

See also

References

Notes