The Meeting: An Auschwitz Survivor Confronts an SS PhysicianFifty years after the war Dagmar Ostermann, a former prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Hans Wilhelm Münch, former Nazi and SS physician, talk face to face. In this rare interview Münch—the only SS member acquitted during the 1947 Cracow war crimes trial refers to himself as a "victim," claiming that because he had to follow orders he was "no less a victim than his prisoners." The Meeting grew out of a documentary film in which Münch was first interviewed by Viennese filmmaker Bernhard Frankfurter. As head of the Waffen SS Hygiene Institute Münch had controlled hundreds of lives. Intrigued by Münch's responses, Frankfurter arranged for Ostermann, whose mother was German and her father Jewish, to conduct a book-length interview, for which he provided a concluding essay. The dramatic structure of the discussion follows the events of the Nazi occupation chronologically. As Ostermann initiates questions regarding reasons for Münch's involvement (Was it a conscious endeavor? Did he participate willingly?), the book adds important new information to the testimonial literature of the Holocaust. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
The Meeting | 3 |
Wiping the Slate Clean? | 97 |
We Are Still Here | 131 |
Thoughts on the Totality of National Socialism | 151 |
A Biographical Data | 169 |
Rank Comparisons of the WaffenSS | 177 |
Glossary | 183 |
Other editions - View all
The Meeting: An Auschwitz Survivor Confronts an SS Physician Bernhard Frankfurter Limited preview - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
active actually already arrived asked assigned Auschwitz barrack became become believe better Birkenau block called camp commando course Dagmar death describe doctor don't emotions everything example exist experience explain extermination fact father feel fellow finally FRANKFURTER friends front German guard hand happened head heard Hitler human Hygiene immediately Institute interested JAHN Jewish Jews kind knew later live look marched matter mean mentioned military mother MÜNCH Nazi needed never normal once organization OSTERMANN party past perhaps physician Political Section position possible prisoners probably question reason remember selections sent side simply situation so-called speak standing stay talk tell things Third thought tion told took train transports tried uncle understand victims whole women