On 12 September Kersten, who had begun to use his special relationship as Himmler’s ‘Magic Buddha’ to persuade him to release certain prisoners from the camps, petitioned him on behalf of a group of twenty-seven priests. In the course of the discussion Himmler confessed to the mistake the Nazis had made in attacking the Church; it had proved stronger than they – the Party – but he wondered if, despite all he had attempted against it, there was still room for him inside. Agreeing to release the group, he said, ‘When I am dead, will these priests also pray for my soul?’[37]
