National Socialism, Mental Instability, and Suicide

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David Thompson
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National Socialism, Mental Instability, and Suicide

#1

Post by David Thompson » 03 Dec 2002, 06:31

Here is a partial list of Nazi suicides (bio details omitted to save space). Any thoughts about it?

Ahrens, Dr. med. Eberhard (1892-1945) [Admiralarzt]
Angern, Guenther (1893-1943) [Generalleutnant]
Augsberger, Franz (1905-1945) [SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS]
Bärenfänger, Erich (1915-1945) [Generalmajor]
Barde, Konrad (1897-1945) [Generalmajor]
Barth, Dr. Horst (1890-1961) [SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer]
Babor, Dr. Karl (1918-?) [SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer]
Backe, Herbert Ernst (1896-1947) [SS-Obergruppenfuhrer]
Batz, Dr. Rudolph (1903-1961) [SS-Standartenfuehrer]
Becker, Prof. Dr. phil. h.c. Dr. Ing. Karl (1879-1940) [General der Artillerie]
Bierkamp, Dr. Walter (1901-1945) [SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Polizei]
Biron, Walther (1890-1946) [Gen.Stabs Richter]
von Blanckensee, Siegfried [Generalmajor]
Blaskowitz, Johannes (1883-1948) [Generaloberst]
von Bodenhausen, Erpo Freiherr (1897-1945) [Generalleutnant]
von Bodmann, Dr. Franz (1908-1945) [SS-Obersturmfuehrer]
Boehme, Franz (1885-1947) [General der Gebirgstruppe]
Boenicke, Walter (1895-1947) [General der Flieger]
Bolek, Andreas (1894-1945) [SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Polizei]
Bormann, Martin (1900-1945) [SS-Obergruppenführer/ SA-Obergruppenführer]
Bothmann, Hans (1911-1946) [SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer]
von Bothmer, Richard (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
Bouhler, Dr. Philipp (1899-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer]
Bracht, Fritz (1899-1945) [SA-Gruppenführer]
Brandt, Georg (1876-1945) [General der Kavallerie]
Buch, Walter (1883-1949) [Reichsleiter/SS-Obergruppenführer (ABR-SS) or SA-Obergruppenfuehrer]
Budin, Paul (?-1945) -- General Manager of the Hugo Schneider Aktiengesellschaft Metalwarenfabrik (HASAG) in Leipzig, Germany
Bülowius, Karl (1890-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Bürckel, Josef (1895-1944) [SS-Obergruppenführer/ NSKK-Obergruppenführer]
Bumke, Dr. Erwin (1874-1945)
Burchard, Dipl. Ing. Heinrich (1894-1945) [General der Flakartillerie]
Burgdorf, Wilhelm (1895-1945) [General der Infanterie]
von Chappuis, Friedrich-Wilhelm (1886-1942) [General der Infanterie]
Conti, Dr. Leonardo (1900-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer]
Dannecker, Dr. Theodor (1913-1945) [SS-Haupsturmfuehrer]
Decker, Karl (1897-1945) [General der Panzertruppe]
Delmotte, Dr. Hans (1917-1945) [SS-Obersturmfuehrer]
Ding-Schuler, Dr. Erwin Oskar (1912-1945) [SS-Sturmbannfuehrer]
Eberhard, Kurt (?-1947) [Generalmajor]
Eberl, Dr. Irmfried (1910-1948) [SS-Obersturmfuehrer (The Camp Men p. 66) or SS-Untersturmfuehrer (Encyclopedia of the Third Reich pps. 213-4)]
Ehlers, Dr. Ernst (1909-1980) [SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer]
Erdmann, Dipl. Ing. Wolfgang (1898-1946) [Generalleutnant]
Erhard, Alfred (1899-1945) [Generalmajor]
Faber, Walter (1888-1945) [char.Konteradmiral]
Fehlis, Dr. Heinrich (1906-1945) [SS-Oberfuehrer]
Frank, Walter (1905-1945)
Freitag, Fritz (1894-1945) [SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS und Polizei]
von Friedeburg, Hans-Georg (1895-1945) [Generaladmiral]
Gallasch, Karl (?-1947)
Gauss, Friedrich (?-1945)
Genee (Genée), Paul (?-1948) [Generalmajor]
Gerstein, Kurt (1905-1945) [SS-Obersturmfuehrer]
Geyer, Hermann (?-1946) [General der Infanterie]
Geibel, Paul Otto (1898-1966) [SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Polizei]
Giesler, Paul (1895-1945) [SA-Obergruppenführer]
von und zu Gilsa, Werner Albrecht Freiherr (1889-1945) [General der Infanterie]
Glaise von Horstenau, Edmund (?-1946) [General der Infanterie]
Gleiniger, Walter (?-1944) [Generalmajor]
Globocnik, Dipl. Ing. Odilo Lotario "Globus" (1904-1945) [SS-Gruppenfuehrer und Generalleutnant der Polizei]
Glücks, Richard (1889-1945) [SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS]
Goebbels, Dr. phil. Joseph Paul (1897-1945)
Göring, Hermann (1893-1946) [Reichsmarschall]
Goertz, Dr. Hermann (?-1947)
Gonell, Ernst (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
von Gottberg, Curt (1896-1945) [SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei]
Grawitz, Prof. Dr. med. Ernst-Robert (1899-1945) [SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS]
von Greim, Robert Ritter (1892-1945) [Generalfeldmarschall]
Gutknecht, Alfred (?-1946) [Generalmajor]
Hasse, Ernst (1867-1945) [Generalleutnant (ABR-Croisier-H) or General der Infanterie (ABR-H)]
Hassenstein, Erich (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
Hausmann, Emil (1910-1947) [SS-Sturmbannfuehrer]
Heidl, Dr. Otto (1910-?) [SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer]
Heinlein, Dr. h.c. Konrad (1898-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer (hon.)]
Hess, Rudolf (1894-1987) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer (hon.)]
Hewel, Artur (1904-1945)
Heyde, Prof. Dr. Werner (1902-1964) [SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer]
Hilgenfeld, Erich (1897-1945) [SS-Gruppenfuhrer]
Himmler, Heinrich (1900-1945) [Reichsfuehrer SS]
Hirt, Dr. August (1898-1945) [SS-Sturmbannfuehrer]
Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945)
Hitler, Eva Braun (1912-1945)
Hoefle, Hans (?-1962) [SS-Sturmbannfuehrer]
von Hofmann, Helmuth [Generalmajor]
Holm, Dr. med. Karl (1884-1945) [Generalstabsarzt (ABR-Croisier-H) or Generaloberstabsarzt (ABR-H)]
Holz, Karl (?-1945) Gauleiter, Franconia 1938-1945
Jaeger, Karl (1888-1959) [SS-Standartenfuehrer]
von Jagow, Dietrich "Der Degen" (1892-1945) [SA-Obergruppenführer]
Jahr, Arno (1890-1943) [Generalleutnant]
Jungkunz, Otto (1892-1945) [SS-Oberführer]
Jury, Dr. med. Hugo (1887-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer]
Kammel, Friedrich (?-1942) [Generalmajor]
Kastner-Kirdorf, Gustav (?-1945) [General der Flieger]
von Killinger, Manfred Freiherr (1886-1944) [SA-Obergruppenführer]
Kinzel, Eberhard (1897-1945) [General der Infanterie] (c. 1892-1945)
Kleinheisterkamp, Matthias (1893-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer und General der Waffen-SS]
Klemm, Kuno (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
von Kluge, Hans-Günther (1882-1944) [Generalfeldmarschall]
Kobus, Arthur (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Koch, Ilse Kohler "Bitch of Buchenwald" (1906-1967) [SS-Helferinnen] --
Koegel, Max (1895-1946 or 1947) [SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer]
Korreng, August (1878-1945) [SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Polizei]
Krapp, Oskar (1888-1945) [Generalmajor]
Krebs, Hans (1898-1945) [General der Infanterie]
Krueger, Friedrich-Wilhelm (1894-1945) [SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei/SA-Obergruppenführer]
Krueger, Walter (1890-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer und General der Waffen-SS]
Kuttig, Dipl. Ing. Hans (1890-1942) [Generalmajor]
Lenz, Dr. Günther (?-1945) [Generalarzt]
Ley, Robert (1890-1945)
Lieschke, Dr. Johannes (?-1945) [Generalarzt]
Link, Edwin (?-1945)
Lolling, Dr. Enno (1888-1945) [SS-Standartenfuehrer]
Lorenzen, Dr. jur. Erich (1896-1945) [Admiral Richter]
Loritz, Hans (1895-1946) [SS-Oberfuehrer]
Lueben, Werner (?-1944) [Gen. St. Richter]
von Majewski, Georg (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Meier, August (1900-?) [SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer]
Meyer, Dr. rer. pol. Alfred (1891-1945) [SA-Obergruppenfuhrer]
Model, Walter (1891-1945) [Generalfeldmarschall]
Mooyer, Otto (1877-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Müller, Ludwig (1883-1945) -- Reichsbischof (Reich Bishop) 1933-1945
Müller, Vincenz (1895-1961) [Generalleutnant]
Müller-Kahle, Albert (1894-1941) [Generalmajor]
Muntsch, Dr. habil. _____ (?-1945) [Gen. Arzt Pr.]
Murr, Wilhelm (1888-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer]
Nobe, Fritz (1880-1945) [Adm. St. Int.]
Otto, Kurt (1910-1943) [SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer]
Petersen, Heinrich (1904-1945) [SS-Standartenführer]
Petri, Hans (?-1945) [General der Infanterie]
Philipp or Philips, Ernst (?-1944) [Generalleutnant]
Pohlmann, Edmund (?-1944)
Prentzel, Wilhelm (1878-1945) [Admiral]
Prützmann, Hans-Adolf (1901-1945) [SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei]
von Pückler-Burghaus, Carl Graf (1886-1945) [SS-Gruppenfuehrer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS]
Querner, Rudolf (1893-1945) [SS-Obergruppenfuehrer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei]
Rediess, Wilhelm (1900-1945) [SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei]
Riedel, Theodor Heinrich (1884-1946) [Konteradmiral]
Roch, Heinz (1905-1945) [SS-Oberfuehrer und Oberst der Polizei]
Roedl, Arthur (1898-1945) [SS-Standartenfuehrer
Rosenthal, Dr. Rolf (1911-1972) [SS-Obersturmfuehrer
Rumohr, Joachim (1910-1945) [SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS]
Rust, Bernhard (1883-1945) -- Reich Minister for Science, Education and Culture
Sauberzweig, Karl Gustav (1899-1946) [SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS/Generalleutnant (Heer)]
Schaefer, Gotthold (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
Scherffim, Walter (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
Schimana, Walter (?-1948) [SS-Gruppenfuehrer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS und Polizei]
Schmidt, Gustav (1894-1943) [Generalleutnant]
Schmidt, Gustav (?-1945) -- Buergermeister of Cochstedt
Schmidt-Logan, Wolfgang (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Scholze, Georg (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
von Schrader, Otto (1888-1945) [Admiral]
Schrader, Rudolf (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
von der Schulenburg, Winfried (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Schwedler, Hans (1878-1945) [SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Polizei]
Seetzen, Heinz (1906-1945) [SS-Standartenfuehrer]
Sieckenius, Rudolf (?-1945) [Generalmajor]
Simon, Gustav (1900-1945) [NSKK-Obergruppenführer]
Sodan, Ralf (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Sprenger, Karl (?-1945) -- Gauleiter
Steinhoff, Fritz (?-1945) [Kapitaen-Leutnant]
Stempel, Richard (?-1943) [Generalleutnant]
von Stettner von Grabenhofen, Walter (?-1944) [Generalleutnant] --
Stobwasser, Hans-Herbert (1885-1946) [Vizeadmiral]
von Stosch, Hans Hubertus (1889-1945) [Vizeadmiral]
von Stülpnagel, Otto (1878-1948) [General der Infanterie/General der Flieger]
Tauscher, Fritz (?-1965) [Polizeioberleutnant]
Terboven, Josef (1898-1945) [SA-Obergruppenfuehrer]
Thierack, Otto Georg (1889-1946) -- President, Volksgericht (People's Court) 1935-1943; Reich Minister of Justice 1943-1945
Thomas, Dr. med. Georg Max (1891-1945) [SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei]
Topf, Ludwig Jr. (?-1945) -- managing director, J.A. Topf & Soehne, crematorium and oven manufacturers {
Treite, Dr. Percival (?-1947)
von Treuenfeld, Karl (1885-1946) [SS-Gruppenfűhrer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS]
Voegler, Albert (?-1945) -- leading German industrialist and General Manager of the Vereinigte Stahlwerk (United Steel Works)
Wagner, Gustav (1911-1980) [SS-Sturmscharfuehrer]
Waldeck, Robert (?-1945) [Gen. Richter]
Weberin, Wilhelm (?-1945) [Generalstabintendant]
Weingart, Erich (?-1945) [Generalleutnant]
Weinheber, Josef (1892-1945) -- German writer on National Socialist themes
Weiter, Eduard (1889-1945) [SS-Sturmbannfuehrer]
Westphal, Karl (?-1947) --
Winkler, Paul (?-1945)
Wirths, Dr. Eduard (1909-1945) [SS-Sturmbannfuehrer]
von Wühlischbeim, Heinz-Hellmuth (1892-1947) [Generalleutnant]
Zech, Karl (1892-1944) [SS-Gruppenführer]
Zehender, August (1903-1945) [SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS]
Zimmer, Dr. Arthur (?-1945) [Generalstabsarzt]
Zutavern, Karl (?-1944) [Generalleutnant]
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Bill Medland
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#2

Post by Bill Medland » 03 Dec 2002, 10:06

Am interesting point to note is the fact that most of them happened between 1945-1948 with Germany in defeat.
Does not a Captain go down with his ship?


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#3

Post by kelty90 » 03 Dec 2002, 10:32

Why does anyone commit suicide?...a sense of worthlessness...a feeling that the whole world is against you...the sure knowledge that your sins are going to find you out...a reluctance to face reality...terror at the prospect of facing justice for your crimes...cowardice...
Any true leader or patriot would help to rebuild their country after a defeat. Good examples being the military leaders of the American Confederacy exemplified by the dignity and statesmanship of Robert E Lee.
That so many leading nazi Germans could find nothing worthwhile in staying alive says a lot about the ethics and morality of the nazi regime.
Mind you, the phrase "good riddance" springs to mind, after all, what possible use would these people have been to Germany?.

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Marcus
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#4

Post by Marcus » 03 Dec 2002, 10:37

kelty90 wrote:Mind you, the phrase "good riddance" springs to mind, after all, what possible use would these people have been to Germany?.
Those are very damning words, do you have any knowledge of the individuals listed that make you so sure that "good riddance" and "they would be of no use to Germany" are the appropriate responeses to their suicides?

/Marcus

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#5

Post by Benjamin Fanjoy » 03 Dec 2002, 11:18

Those are very damning words, do you have any knowledge of the individuals listed that make you so sure that "good riddance" and "they would be of no use to Germany" are the appropriate responeses to their suicides?

/Marcus
If these people chose the path of suicide then they turned there back on their country and there people.

Is suicide an appropriate course of action in the face of loss and adverse conditions?

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#6

Post by Birgitte Heuschkel » 03 Dec 2002, 11:33

Suicide is never a solution to anything. I certainly have a lot more respect for those Nazis who stayed alive and helped rebuild Germany after the defeat. However, I think it is dangerous to condemn anyone for chosing that way out; there has been a lot of change in how we view suicide since back then, for example. Today, telling someone to 'take the gentleman's way out' would be considered a no-no. But it's called the gentleman's way for a reason, implying that it was the only proper response to being defeated and disgrace for those of class -- the rest of us rabble could better afford to live in disgrace because ordinary nobodies don't really matter. It was indeed very much a captain go down with your ship cultural trait, much akin to the Japanese samurai.

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#7

Post by Marcus » 03 Dec 2002, 11:36

Benjamin Fanjoy wrote:If these people chose the path of suicide then they turned there back on their country and there people.
True, but does that necessarily mean that "they would be of no use to Germany" had they lived?
Benjamin Fanjoy wrote:Is suicide an appropriate course of action in the face of loss and adverse conditions?
Not in my opinion, no.

/Marcus

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#8

Post by Benjamin Fanjoy » 03 Dec 2002, 11:39

but does that necessarily mean that "they would be of no use to Germany" had they lived?
The point is they chose a cowards and a traitors way out, they are of no use to anybody. So I agree good riddance.

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#9

Post by Marcus » 03 Dec 2002, 11:49

Benjamin Fanjoy wrote:The point is they chose a cowards and a traitors way out, they are of no use to anybody. So I agree good riddance.
I would love to hear you explain why the skills of say good leaders (for example in business or unions) etc would be of no use to Germany after the war.

In my opinion you are way to quick too judge those people, most of whom I would guess that you know nothing about.

/Marcus

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#10

Post by Roberto » 03 Dec 2002, 14:04

Suicide Wave (after 1929)

During the World Economy Crisis the number of suicides in Germany saw a “ghastly” increase; a “suicide wave without parallel” gripped the country; suicide, more common in Germany than elsewhere anyway, reached a “world record by far” – all this was maintained by renowned German historians in standard works about the history of the Weimar Republic. The facts, on the other hand, are the following: In the second half of the 19th century – due to industrialization and urbanization – mental diseases and cases of suicide rose steeply in Germany. In 1910 the suicide rate in the German Reich was 214 per one million inhabitants, the greater part being men, city dwellers, protestants, elder people.
Economic need had little influence on this. Nothing, wrote Stefan Zweig, contributed more to making the German people “embittered, hateful, and ripe for Hitler, than the inflation”, yet the German suicide rate in 1923 remained at 214. In the five years 1924-1928 it rose to 248 – but the population had also become considerably older and more urbanized since 1910. Almost all suicides were older than 15 years – this segment made up only 65.9 per cent of the population in 1910, as opposed to 75.9 per cent in 1933; big city dwellers had increased from 21.3 percent (1910) to 30.4 per cent (1933) – so that this alone could lead to expecting an increase of the suicide rate.
In the five years 1929-1933 the suicide rate was somewhat higher still, reaching 281. It was much higher than this, however, in the successor states of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy: in Hungary it reached 300 already in 1926 and between 300 and 350 after 1928; in Austria it stood at 360 in 1929, and later exceeded 400 by far. In Germany the suicide rate remained at the high level of 1929-1932 after 1933; the really “ghastly” suicide wave – which is so far relatively unexplored – only came at the end of the war in 1945.
I translated the above from an article by Manfred Vasold published in Wolfgang Benz et al, Legenden, Lügen, Vorurteile, 12th edition 2002 by dtv Munich, pages 186/187.

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the only viable solution

#11

Post by Schmauser » 03 Dec 2002, 14:32

Most of those on the list were in danger of being captured by the Soviets. I think suicide was their only option considering what they had done, apart from escape, and most of them tried and failed to escape. If I was in their situation, suicide was probably the best choice over the Russian gulags.

~Regards Schmauser

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#12

Post by Scott Smith » 03 Dec 2002, 14:35

Germany lost a Total War, one with Unconditional Surrender as the only terms. Would life as a Seydlitz traitor have been preferrable to death by suicide? I think not. And assuming that one didn't hang, it was either commit suicide or continue the fight like Rudolf Hess, a quirky cipher in a political prison. A symbol to be feared or a parody of himself? I really can't see that as accomplishing more than biting a bullet or a cyanide capsule. Sure, some of Germany's top leaders could have converted to the New World Order without becoming hypocrites and liars like Speer, getting rich off of memoirs trashing their patron-chief. But most could not. Rather like Dönitz they are dangerous not for who they are or who they might be but for who they were.

We should not be so quick to condemn Germany's defeated leaders until our own countries have lost a Total War against an ideological enemy. Even Napoleon was a comparative God in his political prison. Bobby Lee was all but lionized in his own country and even by the Yankees after the war; it is not a valid comparison to the Nazi cadre. Believe it or not, we name military bases after Confederate generals. And in the North you can buy Confederate flags at county fairs. But in Germany putting a swastika decal on a toy airplane is a big no-no.
:roll:

Btw, David, you can add Jeschonnek and Udet to your list, as well as Rommel and Beck.
:)

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#13

Post by Bill Medland » 03 Dec 2002, 14:43

It was considered years ago in Germany correct to commit suicide in the military if one was a commander of a unit in defeat.
Feldmarschalls never fell alive into enemy hands for three hundred years, the first to break this rule was Feldmarschall Von Paulus at Stalingrad.
For Hitler it was perhaps the correct way out considering he was the head of the armed forces.
Others would wait until they had looked after the welfare of their men first, for example of Captain Langsdorf in 1939. Others went into a quiet area in a forrest and no one new at first that they had killed themselves, like Feldmarschall Model, Ruhr Pocket 1945.
Some sat on a pile of explosives in their office in full uniform and blew themselves up as the enemy knocked on the door! For example Josef Terboven, 9th May 1945.
Regards,Bill.

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#14

Post by viriato » 03 Dec 2002, 14:50

...and probably deduct from the list Rudolf Hess whose death is still a mistery, some people thinking it was a murder and not a suicide.

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#15

Post by David Thompson » 03 Dec 2002, 17:38

Scott -- Thanks for the note on Rommel, Udet, etc. The original list was about 3/4 of a page longer, but I tried to weed out the suicides that probably weren't directly connected with the collapse of the Nazi regime, and I took out the non-Germans as well.

The number of Nazi suicides has always seemed extraordinary to me. I've never been able to determine whether this suicide rate was due to an identification of the individual person with the regime, or a reaction to an especially ruinous defeat, or some sort of mass psychology phenomenon, or part of some broader cultural pattern. Obviously, there are individual reasons or a story behind each suicide, but here we have a lot of stories with the same ending. The number of "surrender suicides" in the German civil and military administration of occupied Norway was particularly striking, given the fact that the German garrisons surrendered intact.

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