Nazi films
Fletcher O'Donta
Are the execution films of the German conspirators who tried to
assassinate Hitler with the briefcase bomb available for public viewing?
Thanks
Fletcher O'Donta
Marco
> Are the execution films of the German conspirators who tried to
> assassinate Hitler with the briefcase bomb available for public viewing?
No. In fact there is no evidence that these films ever existed.
Marco
Bibio
"Marco" <md...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9gii0j$brr$1...@beast.TCNJ.EDU...
But then why on earth would any saddo want to watch men being hanged to
death on meat hooks for God's sake? (Yes I know Herr Hilter had his ears
perforated and wanted revenge)
Pekka de Groot
>"Fletcher O'Donta" <kingti...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<9g=
g1lb$3mp$1...@beast.TCNJ.EDU>...
>
>> Are the execution films of the German conspirators who tried to
>> assassinate Hitler with the briefcase bomb available for public viewin=
g?
>
>No. In fact there is no evidence that these films ever existed.
Would you care to elaborate on that?=20
John Toland: Hitler p. 818:
"In line with Hitler's specific instructions, the eight men [who had
taken part in the conspiracy against H. in 1944] were trucked to
Pl=F6tenzee [sic] prison, then into a small room where meathooks
dangled
from the ceiling. Here the condemned were stripped to the waist and
hung by nooses of piano wire. Their agonized jerking was recorded by a
movie camera, and that same evening was reproduced on a screen at the
Wolfschanze. According to Speer, "Hitler loved the film and had it
shown over and over again," but adjutant von Below and others in the
family circle still assert he never saw it."
Cheers,
Pekka de G.
Republican
But then why on earth would any saddo want to watch men being hanged
to
death on meat hooks for God's sake? (Yes I know Herr Hilter had his
ears
perforated and wanted revenge)
Miki
Andrew Clark
"Marco" <md...@hotmail.com> wrote
> No. In fact there is no evidence that these films ever existed.
There is certainly evidence of the fact that Hitler ordered the
films to be made: Bormann's written order to Kaltenbrunner is in
the US National Archive. In addition, the testimony of the actual
cameraman is on record. Speer and others also attest that they
themselves saw the films with Hitler, although von Below and some
others say otherwise.
It is important to realise that Himmler and other senior SS
officers were in contact with the German resistance and the
Allies prior to the bomb plot and were dabbling with the idea of
treachery and supporting the Army in the overthrow of Hitler.
Himmler in fact repeatedly postponed the execution of many
plotters and asked them to prepare lengthy denunciations of the
Fuhrer which he read avidly.
Hitler was aware of the mixed views within the SS, although he
did not suspect Himmler himself. His order to film the death of
the conspirators was not merely sadism, but a way of getting
solid evidence that they had in fact being killed and not
spirited away. This suspicion also underlay the cruel method of
death - slow strangulation in a wire noose - as it could not be
easily faked on camera.
casita
> But then why on earth would any saddo want to watch men being hanged to
> death on meat hooks for God's sake? (Yes I know Herr Hilter had his ears
> perforated and wanted revenge)
Apparently the films did exist. Hopefully, they have been lost or destroyed
as they have no historical value. There are plenty of photos of WW2 firing
squads and hangings available for ghouls, including the Nuremburg
executions.
Playing the devil's advocate: Hitler was badly shaken by that bomb
physically and mentally. The morale effect to the physical was likely 20:1.
Men he trusted he now considered murderous traitors. I believe there were
people killed in the blast (?). He also had to set an example at this stage
of the war. We currently have another thread estimating that thousands of
German soldiers were routinely being executed for less serious items than
attempts on Hitler's life. German civilians also had to be careful about
their words and actions. Germany was on a down hill slide by July 1944.
Marco
news:<3b4fb64d...@news.pacific.net.au>...
> Would you care to elaborate on that?=20
>
> John Toland: Hitler p. 818:
>
> "In line with Hitler's specific instructions, the eight men [who had
> taken part in the conspiracy against H. in 1944] were trucked to
> Pl=F6tenzee [sic] prison, then into a small room where meathooks
> dangled from the ceiling. Here the condemned were stripped to the waist
> and hung by nooses of piano wire.
This is a legend with no evidence in its favour, especially the bit
about the "piano wire". Extensive searches have been made for this
films but no copy has ever been found. A German government publication
(available at the Berlin Document Center) includes the detailed
accounts
of two cameramen who allegedly took part in this filming. According to
them the execution was much more plain with rope nooses being placed
around the condemned men's necks and stools being kicked out from
under
their feet. No mention of meat hooks or piano wire. However, even
these
accounts are not without controversy because it has been impossible to
trace the cameramen who are said to have made them. For more
information
see the last part of chapter 10 of "In the Name of the Volk" by H.W.
Koch,
probably the best work so far on the history of the nazi judiciary.
Marco
Andrew Clark
I wrote
> This suspicion also underlay the cruel method of
> death - slow strangulation in a wire noose - as it could not be
> easily faked on camera.
On checking, I gather that the hangings were not done with piano
wire, but with ordinary rope, although the rope was suspended
from meat hooks. I gather that Hitler himself referred to the
films in a harangue of OKW officers on 22 April 1945 which was
transcribed verbatim by his staff. In it, he wrongly mentions the
use of piano wire for the execution of General von Witzleben.