Hitler ordered reprieve to his World War I Jewish commander in 1940 (though revoked a year later) - Polidicks

[QUOTE](CNN) -- An estimated 6 million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis and their allies during the Holocaust. Hundreds of thousands more suffered, but somehow survived, in concentration camps. And some escaped, savoring freedom they otherwise never would have known. [B]Then there's Ernst Hess, who was a decorated World War I soldier, former judge and, despite being raised a Protestant and marrying someone of that faith, a "full-blooded Jew" in the eyes of the Nazi regime. According to a groundbreaking report, Hess was granted a reprieve despite this designation thanks to none other than Adolf Hitler.[/B] Susanne Mauss, editor of the Jewish Voice from Germany newspaper, found the August 27, 1940, note from the Gestapo (the infamous Nazi secret police) that saved Hess -- albeit temporarily. The order was revoked the next year, and Hess spent years doing hard labor in Nazi concentration camps and work sites. Still, given Hitler and his colleagues' extreme views and actions on Jews, even the temporary amnesty granted in the letter that Mauss unearthed in a file kept by the Gestapo in Dusseldorf about Hess is extraordinary. Written by the notorious SS figure Heinrich Himmler, the note calls for saving and protecting Hess "as per the Fuhrer's wishes," referring to Hitler, who had led Germany since 1933. The letter, a copy of which is posted on the Jewish Voice from Germany's website, [B]also states that Hess should not be inconvenienced "in any way whatsoever."[/B] Hitler and Hess had crossed paths before, serving in the same infantry unit during World War I. [B]In fact, for a short time Hess had been Hitler's commander -- though the Jewish Voice from Germany said Hess, whose now 86-year-old daughter was interviewed for their story, didn't personally know Hitler[/B] and their fellow comrades described the future Nazi leader as quiet, with no friends in the regiment. But Hess himself was close to many of his fellow veterans, including Fritz Wiedemann, according to daughter Ursula Hess. And Wiedemann, who became a top aide to Hitler from 1934 to 1939 before becoming Germany's consul in San Francisco through 1941, helped connect Hess to Hans Heinrich Lammers, the head of the Reich Chancellery during Hitler's reign. Hess, who was forced to retire as a judge in 1936 -- the same year he was beaten up by special police in front of his home -- had pleaded for leniency before. According to the Jewish Voice, he had petitioned Hitler to make an exception because his daughter Ursula would be considered a "first-degree half-breed" under Nazi doctrine. Highlighting his patriotism and Christian upbringing, Hess wrote, "For us, it is kind of spiritual death to now be branded as Jews and exposed to general attempt." That appeal was denied, though the Hess family was able to move to a then German-speaking part of Italy for the next several years. In that time, Hess still got part of his military pension and his passport wasn't stamped with a red J to brand him as Jewish, the Jewish Voice reported. But after a pact with Italy that ceded that area to the Nazi regime and the family's attempts to flee to Switzerland and Brazil failed, they landed back in Germany in 1940. The reprieve, credited to the fuhrer, came in the summer of that year. But in 1941, Hess submitted the letter of protection, only to have it swiped away. The special order revoked, he landed soon thereafter in a concentration camp, and then began working for a timber processing company helping build barracks for Nazi soldiers. "The slave workers were forced to live outdoors and were treated terribly, and of course they were watched by members of the SS," said Ursula Hess of her father, who besides being a soldier, judge and "sportsman," had once been a concert violinist. "Had he not been as fit as he was, he would never have survived." The name Hess is well established in German 20th-century history. A man also named Ernst Hess was one of Germany's ace fighter pilots during World War I, before being killed in action. Rudolf Hess was once Hitler's deputy, before flying to Scotland on an alleged peace mission in 1941 that instead ended with him becoming a prisoner of war. Ernst Hess, though, was a prisoner of a very different sort through the early 1940s when Nazi authorities deemed him "a Jew like no other." [B]When the war ended and he gained his freedom, according to the Jewish Voice report, Hess was asked to become a judge yet again. He turned down the offer. A year later, Hess launched a new career and gained new prominence as a railway executive.[/B] By then, he'd rejoined his wife and daughter. But not all his family: His sister Berta was killed in 1942 in the Auschwitz concentration camp.[/quote] Source: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/07/world/europe/germany-hitler-reprieve/index.html?hpt=wo_c2[/url]

I love the fact that we're still finding out more and more about the Nazi party and world war 2, though it's scary I find it fascinating

I wonder why someone as cold and heartless as hitler didn't just let him go to a camp [editline]3:33[/editline] rate me dumb for asking a legitimate thought provoking question

Anything new with Hitler nowadays is always interesting. He seems like a strange man to be around

How is this news? there we tons of jews and a couple of gay people in the SS.

[QUOTE=Crimor;36671937]How is this news? there we tons of jews and a couple of gay people in the SS.[/QUOTE] did you even read the article? the guy wasn't in the SS

[QUOTE=areolop;36671936]Anything new with Hitler nowadays is always interesting. He seems like a strange man to be around[/QUOTE] I wouldn't go bowling with him though.

unless that was just an irrelevant sidenote [editline]3:33[/editline] automerge successfully broken

[QUOTE=zzzz;36671934]I wonder why someone as cold and heartless as hitler didn't just let him go to a camp[/QUOTE] I watched a documentary on Stalin a while back and he would have lists of people sent to the Siberian gulags. Sometimes he would write out, "2,000 more, doesn't matter who" and sometimes he crossed people's names out saying to let them stay with apparently no explanation whatsoever. My only guess to the weird behavior of mad dictators is that they like the feeling of having personal control over a complete stranger.

[QUOTE=Banned?;36671946]I wouldn't go bowling with him though.[/QUOTE] I bet hitler would make a great bowler. I'd go bowling with him.

[QUOTE=Crimor;36671937]How is this news? there we tons of jews and a couple of gay people in the SS.[/QUOTE] Though this guy is way off, it reminds me of this terrible book called the Pink Swastika, which tried to claim the homosexuality among nazi leaders cause the ruthlessness of their actions. The author of that book is also known for encouraging Ugandan anti-homosexual laws. Kinda unrelated, but the more you know. Worth looking up on wikipedia.

Still a dick.

[QUOTE=areolop;36671936]He seems like a strange man to be around[/QUOTE] Because he was batshit insane and constantly doped up beyond belief.

[QUOTE=zzzz;36671934]I wonder why someone as cold and heartless as hitler didn't just let him go to a camp[/QUOTE] hitler was a sensitive man

gee wiz. i'd probably say that at first Hitler didn't realllllly mind, but as the NSDAP grew in prominence (even moreso), it got to a point where he had to be really strict. just my 2 cents, but that would be the ideal situation hitler was in, shows that he would've had some kind of empathy

A persons humanity is a lot like karma. it moves in mysterious ways and always wins in the end. It shouldn't surprise me he has a few random acts of kindness throughout history. But honestly, it really does.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;36672336]Because he was batshit insane and constantly doped up beyond belief.[/QUOTE] Insanity is being unaware of your actions, Hitler was aware. He just didn't give a fuck, he was an angry man with several (albeit inhumane and unjust) motives. He was smart (in a manipulative sense) and in turn, he knew how to get what he wanted.

[QUOTE=Character;36672528][B]Insanity is being unaware of your actions[/B], Hitler was aware. He just didn't give a fuck, he was an angry man with several (albeit inhumane and unjust) motives. He was smart (in a manipulative sense) and in turn, he knew how to get what he wanted.[/QUOTE] I think he was unaware his actions were bad He [I]truly[/I] believed he was good

[QUOTE=ButtsexV3;36672034]I bet hitler would make a great bowler. I'd go bowling with him.[/QUOTE] Now I'm picturing Big Lebowski with Hitler instead of John Goodman.

[QUOTE=The Baconator;36672624]I think he was unaware his actions were bad He [I]truly[/I] believed he was good[/QUOTE] Part of that was the amphetamines screwing up his judgment, but I agree, Hitler thought what he was doing was beneficial. In reference to "Insanity is being unaware of your actions", I dont necessarily agree with that definition. I think if people realize what they are doing is wrong, they are just as messed up. Take the Joker blowing up hospitals as a case of being aware. Pretty insane. Take Kevin Spacey from Se7en as a case of being unaware, and he is just as insane.

Pretty crazy how roughly 70 years after his death, we're still learning about the man.

[QUOTE=Character;36672528]Insanity is being unaware of your actions, Hitler was aware. He just didn't give a fuck, he was an angry man with several (albeit inhumane and unjust) motives. He was smart (in a manipulative sense) and in turn, he knew how to get what he wanted.[/QUOTE] he was a soldier in what was, at the time, one of if not [I]the[/I] worst conflict in human history. though he spent most of his time far behind the frontlines, he was likely trained to dissociate people he thought were his enemies from having actual lives. this probably helped him after the war, and it'd seem he went crazy in one way to stop himself from going crazy in another. either way he thought he was doing good, so he was arguably somewhat insane. he didn't give a fuck because he was a short, angry psychopath.

From what I know Hitler wasn't the one that wanted the Jews dead and for the most part just used the Jew hate to get power and it was pretty much Himmler's idea to exterminate them all.

I think this is late though, I have a feeling I have read this before.

The Nazi's weren't bad people, they took it upon themselves to rid the world of a common detriment to us all Russian Tanks. [sp]in before no one laughs because no one plays World of Tanks[/sp]

[QUOTE=goon165;36672928]The Nazi's weren't bad people, they took it upon themselves to rid the world of a common detriment to us all Russian Tanks. [sp]in before no one laughs because no one plays World of Tanks[/sp][/QUOTE] this game is invading my life

[QUOTE=monkey11;36672678]Part of that was the amphetamines[/QUOTE] Wait, Hitler was on drugs the whole time? shit, I thought he just snapped

hitler was good but he was pressured and manipulated by the nazis and his doctor was giving drug cocktails which fucked him up

Why don't we have a big Nazi/hitler knowledge pool in General Discussion, it'd be a good read

[QUOTE=Tureis;36672660]Now I'm picturing Big Lebowski with Hitler instead of John Goodman.[/QUOTE] [img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--VMiSb8WNEY/TextXCB7LZI/AAAAAAAAAF8/C7kyFQw2CAQ/s1600/hitler%2B1.jpg[/img] [b]Mark it zero![/b]