Kai Höss confronts rising antisemitism as grandson of Auschwitz commandant

In October 2023, Thomas Harding attended a preview screening of a film about Rudolf Höss, the notorious commandant of Auschwitz, which sparked his investigation into Höss's family. During this investigation, he interviewed Höss's daughter, Brigitte, who revealed her childhood memories of living next door to the death camp. The family resided in their villa from 1940 to 1943, during which Brigitte maintained that she had no knowledge of the gas chambers and crematoria. She depicted her father as a loving and caring individual, although she acknowledged the horrific nature of his work. Brigitte's perspectives were further complicated by her family's efforts to distance themselves from the horrors associated with her father's title. Her recounting of her childhood raises important questions about the knowledge and complicity of those connected to the perpetrators of atrocities, as she insisted that her family was largely unaware of the atrocities committed by Rudolf Höss. Her story adds a personal dimension to the stark historical narrative of the Auschwitz concentration camp, inviting a deeper understanding of the complexities faced by families of high-ranking Nazi officials. In another conversation, Kai Höss, the grandson of Rudolf Höss, shared his thoughts on antisemitism and his struggle to reconcile his Christian faith with his grandfather's legacy as a mass murderer. He uses his platform as a pastor to discuss the lessons of hate and intolerance, stressing the importance of education and dialogue in addressing present-day antisemitism. Kai reflects on how his family's history impacts his life today and emphasizes the need to confront the past when educating younger generations. Both personal stories highlight the emotional weight and moral ramifications faced by families linked to figures like Rudolf Höss. The revelations from Brigitte and Kai suggest that the haunting legacy of Auschwitz continues to influence discussions of morality, memory, and identity, especially in relation to the dark past of the Holocaust. The intersection of personal and historical narrative serves to shed light on the complexities of understanding the legacies of historical figures, contributing to the ongoing discourse regarding remembrance and the eternal battle against hatred and discrimination.