Background information: This passage is an excerpt from the testimony of Rudolf Höss, given in a war
crimes trial in 1946.
According to this transcript, how did Rudolf Höss
defend his actions in the court?
DR. KAUFMANN: From 1940 to 1943 you were the
Commander of the camp at Auschwitz. Is that true?
HOSS: Yes. DR. KAUFMANN: And during that time,
hundreds of thousands of human beings were sent to
their death there. Is that correct?HOSS: Yes. DR.
KAUFMANN: Is it furthermore true that Eichmann
stated to you that in Auschwitz a total sum of more than 2
million Jews had been destroyed?HOSS: Yes. DR.
KAUFMANN: Did you yourself ever feel pity with the
victims, thinking of your own family and children?HOSS:
Yes. DR. KAUFMANN: How was it possible for you to
carry out these actions in spite of this?HOSS: In view of
all these doubts which I had, the only one and decisive
argument was the strict order and the reason given for it
by the Reichsfuhrer Himmler.
He believed he was doing what was right for
Germany.
He testified that he did not personally kill anyone.
He stated that the numbers of people killed were
exaggerated.
He said he was just following orders.
Intro
Done