WE ARE OPEN - WEEK NINE - HANNS AND RUDOLF - July 7th - July 14th - Chapter(s) Sixteen and Seventeen: 16: Hanns and Rudolf, Gottrupel, Germany, 1946 and 17: Hanns and Rudolf, Belsen and Nuremberg, Germany, 1946 - (240 - 274) - No Spoilers, Please

[Kristjan]

Teri wrote: "Brian wrote: "The first thing that struck me in these chapters is how matter-of-factly Rudolf came across in his interrogations and psychological examinations. Not prideful, not cowering. Just as i..."

It seemed to me that Rudolf recognized that what he had done was wrong. He wasn't repentant (the way I would understand repentance), but his willingness to talk may have been his way of assuaging his own guilt.

[Kristjan]

Tomi wrote: "I was reading about the post-war trials and executions elsewhere; most of the Nazi war criminals were just as cold as Rudolf. They were "just following orders, doing what had to be done, working f..."

To some extent, many of the Nazis really were "just following orders", and in many cases, I'm sure they would have faced severe consequences had they refused. This does not mean they are not responsible for their actions.

Could Rudolf have gotten out at some point and gone back to farming? I find that questionable, at best.

[Bryan]

Indeed, Kristjan, I did not know the important Rudolf was for the Nuremberg Trials and for the details on the Final Solution itself.

[Tomi]

Kristjan wrote: "Tomi wrote: "I was reading about the post-war trials and executions elsewhere; most of the Nazi war criminals were just as cold as Rudolf. They were "just following orders, doing what had to be do..."

If I were the only one being threatened, I think I might have been more willing to resist - but if my family were threatened, I would have followed orders whatever they were...But it doesn't seem like the upper echelon of Nazis were too worried about being punished - seems that many, if not most, of them went along rather willingly.
A Shakespearean quote comes to mind (and I paraphrase, probably badly) - "I am so deep in blood that I might as well go forward."

[[deleted user]]

Despite the fact Hanns went on to live a productive life. He will never forget all he lost, witnessed. His life along with countless others will never be the same. Losses were monumental, at least he has satisfaction with the delivery of Rudolf to justice.

Rudolf's punishment was appropriate, it's a shame his fate wasn't as cruel as those he metered out. Really no winners in this part of history, so tragic.

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I felt the mental health diagnosis plausible. No way to explain such actions. Rudolf as well as others surely suffered from some serious mental issues.

[Bryan]

Me too, Melinda, and you mix in the Nazi ideology and propaganda, you find a very destructive world.