Trials of war criminals before the Nuernberg military tribunals under control council law no. 10, volume IIVarious
Philosophy
Trials of war criminals before the Nuernberg military tribunals under control council law no. 10, volume II
Various
Nuremberg Trial of Major German War Criminals, Nuremberg, Germany, 1945-1946; War crime trials -- Germany -- Nuremberg
(Hoven) tried to justify the killings [of concentration camp inmates] by
stating that these inmates were informers, spies, and stool pigeons of
the SS and therefore had to be exterminated. He said that if they had
been permitted to carry on with their activities, the illegal camp
management would have been wiped out and the criminal inmates in the
camp would have gained the upper hand. Hoven’s attempt at justification
for the killing of inmates of concentration camps is, of course, no
defense. It may well be true that Hoven sympathized and even
collaborated with the illegal camp management. It may also be true that
some of his victims may have been killed by him on the basis of
suggestions put forward by this illegal camp management. But it goes
without saying that these political prisoners, who instigated the murder
of their opponents, were in no position to judge whether it was really
necessary to kill them for the sake of the camp community. They only
judged this emergency from their own point of view, i.e., from the point
of view of the benefit of themselves. Hoven himself had no judgment at
all in this respect and simply made himself the willing and bought tool
of a small clique in the camp, who undoubtedly often tried to eliminate
not only persons whose activities were considered detrimental to the
well-being of their fellow inmates, but also personal opponents and
enemies. That Hoven was corrupted by the inmates and paid for his
murders is proved by the testimony of several witnesses.
Kogon testified:
“I can only conclude that both motives, the political motive and
the motive of corruption, were active in the case of Dr. Hoven.
_If Dr. Hoven expressed any desire—and he expressed many
desires—then these wishes were always filled._” (_Tr. p.
1213._)
“_He himself expressed many wishes constantly and all possible
advantages were given him by such people whom he had saved._”
(_Tr. p. 1214._)
Kirchheimer testified to the same effect. (_Tr. p. 1346._) The defense
witness Pieck painted pictures for Hoven and his family, and the defense
witness Horn in his affidavit stated that Hoven was very corrupt. The
prisoners knew it and they corrupted him in every possible manner and
made him gifts of furniture, underwear, and food. There were periods in
which complete workshops were erected for Hoven in which thirty or more
inmates were working.
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