Himmler and the Flag in Stutthof

[Helge]

Why put this type of eagle?

Thanks. Helge

Photo: http://www.gfh.org.il/

[Arto O]

Hi Helge,
As I saw that you was on line, I wanted to say that the photo appeared already in the forum. Which one I cannot say at the moment.
Cheers Terveisin
Arto

[Arto O]

Here: forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=175434

[Helge]

Here: forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=175434

Hi Arto

this post is: Founts used on road signs etc.
Perhaps it is a mistakeFounts used on road signs etc.

I ask because they exhibit the kind of teaching with the eagle

Kiitos. Helge

[J. Duncan]

That's not a flag but rather a home-made type of tapestry. It's simply a decorative piece.

[Phil Nix]

Can we have some names like Richard Hildebrandt at the top on Himmler's right
Phil Nix

[Helge]

Phil, Duncan: thanks for your useful explanations

Helge

[J. Duncan]

I think this event was organized by Commandant Max Pauly. There are many photos of this gathering. Himmler would visit the camps and be hosted and feted by the various commandants where he would give talks and speeches. The commandants themselves put a lot of extra care into these meetings because they wanted to "shine" for their boss. Hoess says in his memoirs that many of these men got very nervous when told Himmler would be visiting. He says that Richard Glücks would be "useless for days" and that he would be extremely fearful of even a slight "reprimand" (see his appendix on Glücks). Although Glücks was not a commandant, Hoess's testimonial illustrates the kind of anxiety that Himmler's visitations would have on many of these men.
Table settings and wall hangings were carefully chosen as well as the menu. These gatherings were very much like business conferences where there would be a lunch or banquet, general good cheer, followed by their boss Himmler giving his views on the situation. These would be followed by an inspection of the camp, in which Himmler expected things to be in exemplary order. Himmler did not like to hear complaints either. He trusted his men to work out their difficulties themselves..."Problems only exist to be overcome!" was his general attitude. After his inspection, he would depart, thanking his men for their service. Hoess speaks of his own experiences with these kind of visits. On one such occasion, he showed Himmler many of the bad areas of the camp where children were suffering from this awful disease they called "noma"...Himmler saw everything and was visibly unmoved, but at the end, he shook Hoess's hand and thanked him for his work.

In other photos of this particular event above, there is much smiling and comeraderie on the part of the participants. It's hard to fathom that within yards of these rather quaint and cozy meetings, people were suffering beyond measure.

Below I have included Hoess's comments on his immediate superior Glücks:

"During the whole time he held office he had an almost unbelievable fear of the Reichsfuhrer SS. A telephone call from Himmler would throw him into the utmost confusion. If he had to pay a personal visit to Himmler, he would be useless for anything for several days beforehand.



His otherwise imperturbable calm would completely forsake him when Himmler requested him to forward reports or comments. He therefore avoided everything that might lead to a discussion with Himmler, or even to a refusal, or, worse still a reprimand.



He was never seriously perturbed over incidents that occurred in the camps, so long as they did not have to be reported to Himmler. Escapes had to be reported, and when one of these occurred, he was given no rest. The first question he asked when work started in the morning was always; “How many have got away?” Auschwitz gave him more trouble than any of the other camps.



His pertinent fear of Himmler determined quite naturally, his whole attitude towards the concentration camps, which, roughly speaking was; do what you like, so long as it doesn’t get to the Reichsfuhrer SS"

[Max Williams]

As far as I am aware, these working lunches were preceded by the camp inspection and did not ocurr before the inspection. I read that Himmler arrived at the camp, had a quick private meeting with the commandant and his immediate deputies, then proceeded to inspect the facilities, rounding off with a further private meeting with the commandant and was then finally entertained for lunch where he would address the camp senior staff before departing. At Auschwitz, where the complex was so big, he stayed overnight.
This photo has been discussed before on this forum, but Wolff sits to Hildebrandt's right and Max Pauly sits to Himmler's left.
Max.

[Helge]

This is the exact date of the visit by Himmler to Stutthof

Photo: http://www.gfh.org.il/

[history1]

Here: forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=175434

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... g#p1567721