Below contains testimony from the Auschwitz trial, given at a war crimes trial in ANN:
Is it furthermore true that you stated that in Auschwitz a total of more than 2 million Jews had been killed?
ANN: Did you yourself ever feel pity for the victims, thinking of your own family and friends?
How did Rudolf Höss defend his actions to the court?
A. He believed he was doing what was right for Germany.
B. He stated that the number of people killed by Germans was exaggerated.
C. He testified that he did not personally kill anyone.
D. He said he was just following orders.
MANN: How was it possible for you to excuse these actions in spite of this?
In view of all these doubts which I had, the sole and decisive argument was the strict order. The reason given for it by the Reichsfuhrer Himmler.
Answer (2)
Rudolf Höss defended his actions at the war crimes trial by claiming he was doing what was right for Germany, asserting that the number of victims was exaggerated and that he was following orders. He sought to distance himself from personal culpability by stating he had not killed anyone directly. His defense highlighted the belief that he was fulfilling a duty to the Nazi regime amidst a wartime context. ;
Rudolf Höss defended his actions at the war crimes trial by claiming he was acting for Germany's benefit, asserting that victim numbers were exaggerated, and stating he was merely following orders from superiors. His defense emphasized a sense of duty to the Nazi regime despite personal doubts about the morality of his actions. Ultimately, he attempted to distance himself from direct culpability in the atrocities committed.
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