Hanns and Rudolf: The True Story of the German Jew Who Tracked Down and Caught the Kommandant of Auschwitz
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RH to report to at Sachsenhausen, 159–60
RH’s loathing for, 161
fear of Himmler, 161–2
RH persuades to put Kramer in charge of Belsen, 166
puts RH in charge of escort party to Ravensbrück, 196
flight, 198
taken to hospital, 199
ultimate fate, 204, 234–6, 316–17
RH writes character sketch, 263
Pohl incriminates, 265
Goebbels, Joseph, 74, 90, 294–5
Goldensohn, Major Leon, 256–7
Göring, Hermann, 151, 249, 260, 265, 321, 322
Gottrupel, 201–2, 226, 241
Graebner, Maximilian, 157, 305
Graetz, Ann, see Alexander, Ann
Graetz, Käte, 89
Graetz, Paul, 89, 90–1, 297
Graetz, Sara, 316
Graetz, Wolfgang, 89
Grese, Irma, 139, 180–1, 193
Grey, Antonia (“Tonny”), 297
Groß Glienecke, 45–6, 45
Grosz, Ilona, 191
Hamburg, 184, 192, 246
Hammes, Judge Léon, 207, 217
Hanfstaengl, Ernst Franz Sedgwick, 291
Hansen, Hans Peter, 202
Harding, Elsie (née Alexander), 18, 44
joins father at front, 17
and HA’s childhood pranks, 23
marriage, 79
leaves for Amsterdam, 83
arrives in London, 87
settles in with difficulty, 88
family meet-ups, 90
stripped of German nationality, 92–3
correspondence with HA, 117–18, 121, 152–3
changes name to Harding, 301
dissuades husband from enlisting, 125
Paul asks for help in finding a wife, 305
asks HA to look for survivors, 309
HA writes to about Nazi hunting, 185
war spent in country, 186
tells Ann to expect proposal, 225
later life, 276
death, 279
Harding, Erich (formerly Hirschowitz), 79, 88, 90, 124–5, 186, 276
Harris, Whitney, 250–1, 252–4, 253, 286, 320
Hartford, Captain, 318
Hartman, Rabbi, 173
Hartmann, Paul, 292
Hasenclever, Walter, 292
Haystack, see Operation Haystack
Heide, 201, 236, 243
Heinrichson, Ernst, 307
Hejaz railroad line, 14–15
Helbig, Oscar George, 192
Helger, Leo, 226
Hengst, Richard, 215–17
Hensel, Fritz, 105, 139–40, 198–9, 202, 226–8, 285, 317
Hensel, Hedwig, see Höss, Hedwig
Herff, Maximillian von, 146–7
Herz, Emil W., 292
Hess, Rudolf, 67, 249, 265, 322, 324
Hess, Wolf Rudiger, 324
Hilde (Alexander family cook), 23, 87
Himmler, Gudrun, 324
Himmler, Heinrich, 108
appearance and background, 57–8
appointed leader of SS, 56
spends time with RH, 57–8
appointed commander of Bavarian political police, 59–60
develops SS, 60
invites RH to join Dachau, 61
appoints Eicke as Kommandant of Dachau, 65
visits Dachau, 67
recommends RH for promotion, 68
rebuilds and extends Dachau, 68
and changes of command at Sachsenhausen, 96
plans for Auschwitz, 100, 101, 298
visits to Auschwitz, 104–5, 298
stomach problems, 104–5, 298
plans to build Birkenau, 109–10
orders implementation of Final Solution, 112–13, 322
promotes RH to Major, 137
Herff’s report on RH to, 146–7
orders investigation into corruption in camps, 155–6
removes RH from Auschwitz, 158–9
Glücks’s fear of, 161–2
orders Concentration Camp Inspectorate Records destroyed, 196
abandons the fight, 199
mentioned in war crimes interrogations, 180, 181
death, 200–1
gifts given to RH, 226, 315
RH writes character sketch, 263
daughter’s attitude, 324
Hindenburg, Paul von, 57, 59, 76
Hirsch, Miklos, 191
Hirschowitz, Erich, see Harding, Erich
Hitler, Adolf: Kindlkeller speech, 35–6, 291
success in growing Nazi party, 291–2
beer hall putsch and imprisonment, 38
anti-Semitism, 53, 57
rise to power, 56–7
Himmler’s relationship with, 58
appointed Chancellor, 59
consolidation of power, 72
plans to open Nazi exhibition spoiled, 77
moves against Jews, 82, 294–5
named as war criminal, 151
death, 197
Höcker, Karl, 165
Hodys, Eleanor, 142–6, 303, 306
Hoenig, Laszlo, 88
Holocaust, see Jews
Höss, Anagret (RH’s daughter): birth, 158
RH visits, 163
move to Berlin, 167
flight to near Danish border, 196–9
life in semi-hiding, 226–7
RH’s last letter to, 271–2
later life, 275
Höss, Brigitte (Inge-Brigit; RH’s daughter), 102
appearance, 101
copy of parents’ wedding photo, 294
birth, 58
joins RH at Dachau, 64
life at Dachau, 69, 294
joins RH at Auschwitz, 100
life at Auschwitz, 101–5, 110, 139–42, 302
interviews with author, 298
on Himmler, 298
memories of RH, 302
knowledge of Final Solution, 302–3
stays at Auschwitz after RH moves to Sachsenhausen, 159
RH visits, 163
move to Berlin, 167
flight to near Danish border, 196–9
life in semi-hiding, 226–7
on RH’s decision to flee abroad, 315–16
interrogated by HA, 237–8, 317
on Hedwig’s interrogation, 317–18
on RH’s wedding ring, 323
RH’s last letter to, 271–2, 323
later life, 275
and RH’s memoirs, 286
Höss, Franz Xaver (RH’s father), 5, 6, 8, 9–10
Höss, Hans-Jürgen (RH’s son), 102
appearance, 101
birth, 69
joins RH at Auschwitz, 100
life at Auschwitz, 101–5, 110, 139–42, 302
knowledge of Final Solution, 283, 284, 302–3
stays at Auschwitz after RH moves to Sachsenhausen, 159
RH visits, 163
move to Berlin, 167
flight to near Danish border, 196–9
life in semi-hiding, 226–7
interrogated by HA, 237–8
RH’s last letter to, 271–2
later life, 275, 282, 283, 284
Höss, Hedwig (née Hensel; RH’s wife), 102
marries RH, 54–6, 55
birth of family, 58–9
agrees to RH returning to military life, 61
joins RH at Dachau, 64
knowledge of events in Dachau, 294
life at Dachau, 69
joins RH at Auschwitz, 100
life at Auschwitz, 101–5, 110, 139–42, 302
popularity there, 103, 298
rare outings with RH, 106
knowledge of Final Solution, 113, 142, 283, 303, 322
possible affair with prisoner, 303
stays at Auschwitz after RH moves to Sachsenhausen, 158, 159
RH visits, 163
move to Berlin, 167
fears about war’s outcome, 169
flight to near Danish border, 196–9, RH visits
, 202
life in semi-hiding, 226–7
betrays RH under interrogation from HA, 236–9, 317–18
RH writes to from captivity, 262, 263–4
RH’s nickname for, 321–2
RH’s last letter to, 271–2, 273
RH’s wedding ring returned to, 271, 323
later life, 275–6
death, 324
Höss, Heideraud (RH’s daughter), 102
appearance, 101
birth, 58
joins RH at Dachau, 64
life at Dachau, 69
joins RH at Auschwitz, 100
life at Auschwitz, 101–5, 110, 139–42, 302
nickname at school, 140
stays at Auschwitz after RH moves to Sachsenhausen, 159
RH visits, 163
move to Berlin, 167
flight to near Danish border, 196–9
life in semi-hiding, 226–7
interrogated by HA, 237–8
RH’s last letter to, 271–2
later life, 275
Höss, Irene (RH’s daughter-in-law), see Alba, Irene
Höss, Klaus (RH’s son), 102
appearance, 101
birth, 58
joins RH at Dachau, 64
life at Dachau, 69
joins RH at Auschwitz, 100
life at Auschwitz, 101–5, 110, 139–42, 302
stays at Auschwitz after RH moves to Sachsenhausen, 159
RH visits, 163
move to Berlin, 167
flight to near Danish border, 196–8
tries to join nonexistent resistance, 199
life in semi-hiding, 226–7
interrogated by HA, 237–8
HA uses to get information from Hedwig, 238–9, 317–18
RH’s last letter to, 271–2
later life, 275
Höss, Margarete (RH’s sister), 6, 30
Höss, Maria (RH’s sister), 6, 30
Höss, Paulina Speck (RH’s mother), 5, 6, 9, 12, 30
Höss, Rainer (RH’s grandson), 281–6, 281, 315, 323
Höss, Rudolf (RH): appearance, 16, 60
name, xxi
character, 2–3, 16
birth and childhood, 5–11, 288
kidnapped by Gypsies, 7
love of horses, 7
moves to Mannheim, 7
father destines for priesthood, 8
education, 8
disillusionment with Catholic Church, 9
serves as dragoon in First World War, 11–16
first kill, 14
his captain becomes father figure, 14, 16
wounded three times, 15, 16, 289
first sexual encounter, 15
makes way home from war to discover no family left, 29–30
joins Freikorps to fight in Latvia, 30–4
sees atrocities, 32–3
joins Nazis, 35–6
Kadow murder, 37–8
subsequent imprisonment, 38–43
works on Artamanen farm, 52–6, 58–9
and anti-Semitism, 53–4
marries Hedwig, 54–6
spends time with Himmler, 57–8
birth of family, 58–9
joins SS, 60–1
joins Dachau, 61–5
promotions and exposure to Dachau life, 66–9
transferred to Sachsenhausen, 69–71
executes friend, 71
leaves Sachsenhausen to build and command Auschwitz, 96–101
loss of trust in those around him, 99
family life and visitors at Auschwitz, 101–5, 110, 139–42, 302
attitude to Auschwitz prisoners, 105
pressure makes him more taciturn, 105–6
prisoners’ memories of, 106–8
introduces euthanasia program, 110–11
ordered to implement Final Solution, 112–16
reaction to Final Solution experiment, 115
role in Final Solution, 132–7, 301–2
qualms, 136
promoted to Major, 137
management of prisoners, 138–9
affair with Hodys, 142–6, 303
Herff’s report on, 146–7
named as war criminal, 151
removed from Auschwitz after corruption investigation, 156–9
moves to Sachsenhausen to work for Concentration Camp Inspectorate, 159–62
visits all the camps to look into efficiency, 162
supervises extermination of Hungarian Jews at Auschwitz, 163–5
Morgen tries to investigate again but told to desist, 306
revisits camps, 165–7
sees Auschwitz prisoners on forced march to Belsen, 167–8
visits Belsen for last time, 168–9
mentioned in war crimes interrogations, 178, 179, 181, 190
mentioned at Belsen Trial, 193
escorts family to relative safety, 196–9
flight in disguise to Sylt, 199–201
works on farm, 201–2, 312
British need to capture, 204
plans flight abroad, 226–8
HA hunts down, 234–9, 317–18
arrest, 240–5, 284–5, 318–19
confession, 243, 245, 253, 319
sent to Nuremberg, 250–4
visited by psychologists, 254–7
testifies at Kaltenbrunner’s trial, 257–60
transferred to Poland, 260–4
memoirs, 264–7, 322, 326–7
trial, 267–70
execution, 272–4
family tree, 329
PHOTOS: with Bormann, 36
(1928), 53
marriage, 55
in Auschwitz, 108, 141
(1943), 165
after arrest, 244
transferred to Poland, 261
trial, 270
Hössler, Franz, 98, 133–4, 139, 165, 177–8, 193
Hungary, 162–5
Hurst, Sir Cecil, 150
IG Farben, 108–9, 137, 138–9, 299
Imperial Airways, 296
Iron Brigade, 31, 32
Isherwood, Christopher, 52
Isle of Wight, 86
Jackson, Robert, 248–9
Jakubovitz, Helen, 191
Japhet & Co. (bank), 85–6
Jelgava, 32
Jerusalem, battle for (1917), 14–15, 288–9
Jews: as avengers, 3–4
Alexander family Jewish identity, 26–8
Berlin Neue Synagogue, 26, 27, 49, 90, 230
Torahs, 27–8, 290
German anti-Semitism, 53–4, 57
Nazis move against, 72–4, 82
increasing discrimination in Germany, 77–8
German Jews’ attempts at self-preservation, 78–9
initial ease of exit from Germany, 81, 87, 296–7
temporary relaxation of persecution for Olympic Games, 82
Kristallnacht, 90–1
German exodus starts, 91
reception in England, 91–2
differences between German and English traditions, 92
Belsize Square Synagogue set up, 92
Final Solution, 112–16, 131–7, 156–8
Warsaw Ghetto, 149, 300
British mass internment of, 124–5
Allies’ knowledge of and reaction to Final Solution, 148–52, 304
fate of Hungarian Jews, 162–-5, 164
conditions in Belsen, 166
Auschwitz prisoners on forced march to Belsen, 167–8
war crimes interrogations, 174–82, 189–92, 307–8
Belsen Trial, 192–3
Auschwitz death stats, 137, 192–3, 258–9, 268, 310–11, 322
fate of Luxembourg Jews, 206
Holocaust revisionists, 319
see also Alexander Torah; war criminals
Jones, Ken, 318
Jordan, Battle of, see Amman, First Attack on
Judalewsky, Isaak, 191
Juskowitz, Sara, 107
Kadow, Walter, 37–8
&
nbsp; Kahr, Gustav von, 38
Kaltenbrunner, Ernst, 158, 249, 254, 257, 265, 321
Kalter, Sabine, 292
Kapp, Wolfgang, 291
Kauffmann, Dr. Kurt, 257
Kayser, Rudolf, 292
Kindertransport (Refugee Children Movement), 91
Kitchener Camp, 118–21
Klein, Fritz, 164, 177, 179–80, 193
Klein, George, 107–8
Koblenz, 208
Koch, Karl, 155
Koolish, Sergeant, 237
Krakow: Montelupich prison, 261–2
Kramer, Josef, 165, 189
appearance and background, 98
at Auschwitz, 98, 105
promoted to head Birkenau, 139
takes over Belsen, 166, 169
career overview, 310
interrogated by HA, 189–90
absence from RH’s memoirs, 297–8
trial and execution, 193, 312
Kristallnacht (1938), 90–1
Kurzke, Alfred, 191–2
Lang, Fritz, 48
Lasker, Anita, 222–4, 223
Latvia, 30, 31–4
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service (1933), 74
League of Jewish Women, 187
Leo Perl (bank), 76
Levy, Herbert, 306, 319
Ley, Robert, 64, 251, 322
Liebehenschel, Arthur, 163–4
Lolling, Enno, 111, 151, 160–1, 198, 204, 234
Longerich, Peter, 294
Loritz, Hans, 96, 306
Ludendorff, Erich, 57–8
Luxembourg, 206
Lyons corner houses, 86
Mackay, C. S., 318
Malzyner, Maria, 191
Manhattan Project, 304
Mannheim, 7
Massary, Fritzi, 292
Maurer, Gerhard, 160, 198, 199, 204, 234, 263
Max und Moritz (children’s book), 23, 141, 280
Mengele, Josef, 105, 139, 164, 165, 177, 227, 300
Mesopotamian Campaign (1916–17), 12–14, 288
Metropolis (film), 48
Meyer, Otto, 73, 80, 230, 293
Mittelbau-Dora, 192
Moll, Otto, 165
Monowitz, 137, 299
Morgen, Konrad, 155–9, 303, 305, 306
Müller, Hermann, 57
Muller, Captain Léone, 215, 216–17, 218, 219
Munich: Hitler’s Kindlkeller speech, 35–6, 291
beer hall putsch, 38
Mussolini, Benito, 35
Napoleon III, French emperor, 5
Natzweiler-Struthof, 310
Nazis: origins and early days, 35–6
beer hall putsch, 38
early growth, 291–2
early rallies, 48
attitude to Berlin, 52
link with Artamanen League, 53
rise to power, 56–7, 59
consolidation of power, 72
moves against Jews, 72–4, 82
expedition of Jewish exodus, 296–7
Kristallnacht, 90–1
overview of postwar fate, 227
Newbury, 123
Nikitina, Alice, 292
Normandy landing (1944), 128
nuclear weapons, 304
Nuremberg Trials: overview, 248–9
RH’s time in captivity there, 250–7