Wansee conference

Corporal Punishment · Post by **Corporal Punishment** » 06 May 2003 18:13

I was reading through this book I rented for a researh paper entitle "Illustrated history of the Gestapo", and I remember a nazi friend of mine (I claim no political affiliation) saying that Hitler himself had not come up with the final solution (and of course I already knew that, and knew of previous plans that Germany had to rid itself of "inferior" races), and that it was Adolf Eichmann and about 12 others at the Wansee conference without Hitler's knowing.
Now I was recalling this as I read through the book, and lo and behold was a section about the Wansee conference and old Eichmann himself. I read through it and found that Eichmann was in charge of the "Jewish question", and though I did not read anything about Hitler not knowing of the events that took place at the Wansee conference, can anyone clear this up for me?
Thanks,
Cpl. Punishment

Tarpon27 · Post by **Tarpon27** » 07 May 2003 00:28

I believe it was a letter from Goering (in charge of Germany's economic planning early in the war) in July of 1941 to Reinhardt that precipitated the Wannsee conference.

The History Channel here has run a two hour documentary on Hitler this week, and one of the more interesting comments was from a former Wehrmacht general who stated that it was virtually impossible to do anything of any importance in the Third Reich without Hitler's approval or even limited participation.

He may have set up a system where his chief leaders all created their own little spheres of power and fought amongst themselves for his own political survival, but I do not believe he was unaware of the creation of the extermination camps, nor what was being done to various groups such as Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, political enemies, communists, etc.

I also think the furor generated by the T4 euthanasia program made it very clear that in the future disposal of people not up to the racial requirements of National Socialism were not to be disposed of under explicit written orders.

Mark

demonio · Post by **demonio** » 07 May 2003 10:21

Goering sent the letter to Heydrich asking him to "make the necessary preparations for the final solution to the jewish question", the nuremberg court sealed his death when they introduced that document into evidence at the trial.
Heydrich hosted the conference and eichmann kept the minutes.
They casually discusses the proposed destruction of 11,000,000 people.
From memory only one person present was opposed to the proposed measures, the rest were so so and all for it. I dont know the name of the fellow who gave some resistance but Heydrich put him in his place. He argued that the churches raised hell over the euthanasia stuff that was going on and the same thing would happen. Heydrich said sternly that "no one will lift a finger to help jews", then he shut up.

DunklerProphet · Post by **DunklerProphet** » 07 May 2003 10:45

demonio wrote:I dont know the name of the fellow who gave some resistance

Maybe this will help you:

Teilnehmer der Wannseekonferenz:

Gauleiter Dr. Meyer
Reichsamtsleiter Dr. Leibbrandt
Staatssekretär Dr. Stuckart
Staatssekretär Neumann
Staatssekretär Dr. Freisler
Staatssekretär Dr. Bühler
Unterstaatssekretär Luther
SS-Oberführer Klopfer
Ministerialdirektor Kritzinger
SS-Gruppenführer Hofmann
SS-Gruppenführer Müller
SS-Obersturmbannführer Eichmann
SS-Oberführer Dr. Schöngarth
SS-Sturmbannführer Dr. Lange

demonio · Post by **demonio** » 07 May 2003 10:51

He was one of these guys

Gauleiter Dr. Meyer
Reichsamtsleiter Dr. Leibbrandt
Staatssekretär Dr. Stuckart
Staatssekretär Neumann
Staatssekretär Dr. Freisler
Staatssekretär Dr. Bühler
Unterstaatssekretär Luther
Ministerialdirektor Kritzinger

Corporal Punishment · Post by **Corporal Punishment** » 07 May 2003 14:01

Ah, I knew Goering and Reinhardt were part of it... it seems curious, however, that Eichmann gets so much credit for it if all he did was take minutes of the conference.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 07 May 2003 23:42

When I visited "Haus der Wannsee konferenz" outside Berlin I got the impression from their exibition that it was Reinhard Tristan Heydrich who was holding the meeting. The thought of Hitler not knowing about what was going on I would find impossible. Everything went through him. Anyway being there felt quite unreal since the house itself is a beautiful villa with a nice view over a lake. To think that planning of the murder of so many innocent men women and children were so coldly executed in there was a bit creepy to tell you the truth.

Matt Gibbs · Post by **Matt Gibbs** » 08 May 2003 00:18

Dr Meyer and Liebrandt from the eastern territories administration were not adverse to it, they just wanted it to happen asap to clear theor ghettos and problems, I think it was Dr Stuckart who had created the Nuremberg racial laws who thought the legal process would be too complicated and the Church wouldnt like it. However I think he soon realsied the SS were happy to make their own laws...
Regards
Matt Gibbs

demonio · Post by **demonio** » 09 May 2003 06:52

Thank you to everyone for the information

Chadwick · Post by **Chadwick** » 09 May 2003 07:25

I also would have to agree that Adolf Hitler had to have had knowledge of this conference. The pattern for genocide in Europe was actually set up long before the Wannsee meeting ever occured. Hitler in Mein Kampf clearly laid out his blue print for how he believed Europe's future should be. One can see in his book the hatred towards Communist Russia, Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, etc. and his solutions. The men at the Wannsee Conference only put into practice what Hitler had written before his rise to power.
Home Box Office I believe did an excellent movie dealing with the subject of the Wannsee Conference. Did anyone happen to also see this film?

thanks,

Chris

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 09 May 2003 12:07

do you mean "Wannseekonferenz" (1984)? The Sciencefiction film "Fatherland" (1994) also deals with the konferenz as far as I remember.

Dennis Redler · Post by **Dennis Redler** » 09 May 2003 12:34

Yes, I saw the movie. My public library has two copies of it. It was one of the most chilling and engrossing films I have ever seen. If you ever get the chance to see it , I believe you will agree. In fact, I had to watch it several times to be able to grasp the meaning of all the subjects that were discussed.
Dennis

Nick Pears · Post by **Nick Pears** » 09 May 2003 12:58

The is a fantastic film about the conference called "Conspiracy" you can see more about it here - http://us.imdb.com/Title?0266425

It really is superb and I reccomend anyone seeing it - it picked up a couple of BAFTA's if I recall correctly.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 09 May 2003 15:02

looks highly stylized, but interesting. Thanx!

Helly Angel · Post by **Helly Angel** » 09 May 2003 20:32

Jhonny,

Is the same "Wannse Conference". The film is based in the meeting.

Last night i saw "Conspiracy" in HBO, highly recommended.

Best,

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