To Look a Nazi in the Eye by Kathy Kacer & Jordana Lebowitz

Author:Kathy Kacer & Jordana Lebowitz [Kacer, Kathy & Lebowitz, Jordana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 2017-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Just as the judge had specified, the afternoon session was devoted to cross-examining Groening. Thomas led the way, walking Groening through his testimony from earlier that morning and picking it apart with questions. The questions began with Groening’s motivation for joining the SS. Groening had said that he had no choice but to become a soldier; it was his duty and his job to follow orders. Thomas challenged this.

“Is it not true that you volunteered for the Waffen SS? It was your desire to be part of that elite group,” he questioned Groening.

“Yes, that is true.”

“So it was not merely a matter of being conscripted into the army—as others were. You chose to be part of this police force. You admired them and offered your services with no pressure to do so.”

Groening had no response to this.

Another time, Thomas questioned Groening’s attitude toward Jews. “Do you hate Jews? Do you consider yourself to be anti-Semitic?”

“Everyone hated Jews,” replied Groening. “It was the ideology of the time.”

Thomas rolled his eyes and pushed harder. “You are very quick to quote dogma. But you are not willing to take responsibility for your own feelings. You personally hated Jews. You thought they were degenerates. You believed in their annihilation. I refer to you, sir, and not to general ideology.”

Once again, Groening had no answer.

Sometimes the questioning was about small things, such as what Groening ate while he was stationed in Auschwitz. Other times it was about the larger issues, such as how much he supported the system of systematic killing. Each question seemed to be designed to move Groening closer to the center of the system, closer to the truth of his involvement, and closer to a realization that he was not just a tiny part of the killing factory that Auschwitz was designed to be. Instead he and his actions were an integral part of its outcome.

At one point, Thomas asked about Groening’s activities and responsibilities while in Auschwitz. “You have testified that you were merely holding the belongings of the Jews until they could return to claim them. Your department was like a bank in that regard, where people deposited their valuables.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Tell me, Herr Groening, how many Jews returned to your department in Auschwitz to ask for their belongings back? How many did you see pack up their things and walk out the gates of that place?”

At that, Groening cleared his throat and reached a trembling hand up to straighten his glasses. Finally, in a hoarse voice, he responded, “None.”

In the middle of all of this, Jordana brought out her pen and toilet paper, first checking to see if anyone was watching her. She didn’t have to worry. The spectators in court were focused on Groening and his responses. Jordana began to jot down notes and observations:

Groening claimed that he was merely holding the belongings until the return of the prisoners for their things. Yet he knew very well these souls would not be returning. In describing the

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