Commandant of Auschwitz

Rudolf Hoess

Commandant of Auschwitz

Thesis:Rudolf describes the death process of Auschwitz, which focuses on the keeping the situation calm and he also recalls the words of those going to their death while reflecting on the scenes of life around those going to their death.

· Rudolf Hoess (1900-1947), the commander of the Auschwitz who was executed by Poland after the war, recalls the murder process

· Rudolf stresses the importance of keeping the prisoners calm at their arrival at the “cottage” which is the gas chamber.

o Individuals who seemed to express signs of alarm where taken and shot with inaudible gun to keep the situation calm

o Prisoners where told they were going to be disinfected

o A Special Department (Sonderkommandos) who were a special squad of prisoners

§ They picked over the corpses looking for gold and other valuables

§ They also kept the prisoners calm and aided in the process of preparing them for death

§ They kept the process moving quickly and even had to convince mothers to bring their children with them

§ At times they would come across their own family members but never produced instances

§ October 7, 1944 they attacked the SS and killed some and burned a crematorium.

· The Jews still knew what was happening despite efforts to conceal and Rudolf recalls several of their damning words and even acceptance of what was happening to them

· Rudolf remembers particularly the people walking to their death through orchard trees as a picture of death in the midst of life

· Particular incidences occurred in the sorting process where families where separated and Rudolf compares the Jews family ties to limpets