Himmler's Diary 1945: A Calendar of Events Leading to Suicide by Stephen Tyas & Peter Witte

Author:Stephen Tyas & Peter Witte
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Fonthill Media
Published: 2014-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

Norbert Masur has given his own account of meeting Himmler at Kersten’s farm, Gut Hartzwalde, north of Berlin, on 21 April 1945:

At exactly half past two we heard a car arriving. Kersten went outside and several minutes later, Himmler came into the room, followed by Brigadier Schellenberg, adjutant Dr Brandt and Kersten...

We sat a table laid with coffee for five. Himmler was elegantly dressed, in a beautifully cut uniform, wearing all his medals and the insignia of his rank. He looked well kempt, appeared fresh and wide awake despite the lateness of the hour. He was outwardly calm and controlled....

Himmler talked about Jews and Germany, partisans, epidemics among Jews in the East, “In order to contain the epidemic we were forced to incinerate the bodies of vast numbers of human beings who had died. That is why we built the crematoria. And now they’re trying to use that against us” [emphasis in original].

Masur continues Himmler’s speech: “It was my intention to hand over the camps without resistance, as promised. I handed over Bergen-Belsen and Buchenwald, but with no thanks. In Bergen-Belsen they tied up a guard and photographed him with an inmate who had just died and these pictures have been published worldwide. I even handed over Buchenwald without resistance. Suddenly shots rang out from the American tanks and they hit the hospital which was made of wood. The whole thing caught fire and burnt down and later the burnt bodies were photographed. These photographs are now being presented as evidence of a systematic programme of extermination. When I allowed 2,700 Jews out to Switzerland last year (sic), even this was misrepresented by the press and accusations were made against me personally. They wrote that I had only allowed these people to go free in an effort to gain an alibi. I only did that which I believed to be right and necessary for my people and I am prepared to stand by my actions.” [emphasis in original].

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