IRMA GRESE - VICTIM OF LIES

When I initially began research into the life and death of Irma Grese, I had referred to the trial records and testimony of the witnesses themselves, from which I wrote I rather detailed and accurate essay on Ms. Grese’s case, ‘A German Girl’s Heroic Death,’ which I thought to be a “cause celebre.”  After that essay was picked up by a number of revisionist sites and posted, all hell seemed to break loose and I was immediately deluged with the usual clamouring hordes from the adversarial camp, all claiming that I falsely represented the case, which I did not.  One person even posted a letter from someone who remarked how “dangerous” my essay was; a sure sign of both its truthfulness and accuracy.

Later, individuals took it upon themselves to try and debate the issue with me in depth, and that is what prompted this particular series of essays. 

During the course of the debate, a number of statements from my original essay and later comments were latched upon by the adversary and attacked in various forums.  The usual incitements were in evidence:  name calling and ridicule.  The contested facts were the following:

1.  That Miss Grese’s case was trumped up, and that she was a victim of lies, smears, and fabrications.

2.  That Miss Grese was NOT a member of the SS.

3.  That the charges against her did not warrant the imposition of the death sentence.

Now, to deal with the purpose of this essay, which is a review of the book, “The Beautiful Beast.” 

Upon thoroughly reading the slim book by Daniel Patrick Brown, I was immediately struck by the fact that any facts at all to be gleaned from this book merely confirmed what I had been written in my initial essay. 

In fact, the author’s lame, grasping at straws attempts to prove Grese guilty of heinous crimes-fell flat on its face-the more so when we take into consideration the pertinent fact that Ms. Grese was not even an SS member!   

Appropriately, the author prefaces his book by a reference to mythology, which is as close as he ever gets to the truth-as the entire case against Miss Grese rests upon a mythological foundation.  The author indulges his fantasies on many occasions and refers to the statements of “Survivors” as if he is referring to Holy Writ.  This is usual in cases of this sort.  Does anyone dare to question a survivor?  Yes, as a matter of fact, I DO!  And why?  Because I cannot keep silent in the face of lies and injustice.

Here a few examples from the book might be appropriate to illustrate the point:

In the preface to the book, on page xvii, the author gratuitously refers to Ms. Grese as an “SS-Member” when in fact she was NOT, as his later research incontestably proves.  A point I will deal with later.  The author continues:

“....a study of Irma Grese reveals the high degree of mobility in the Nazi “New Order” that allowed this Prussian peasant girl to attain a position in which she could literally determine the fate of thousands of unfortunate men, women, and children.”

Of course this is a totally irresponsible statement, for which the author provides no proof whatsoever.  It hardly needs to be pointed out that Ms. Grese, who was only 20 years old, was NOT a member of the SS, had absolutely NO authority to make life and death decisions of any kind over inmates at Auschwitz or any other confinement center.  She had NO contact or authority with or over the men or children at Auschwitz, and she was responsible to higher authorities for the women she was appointed to supervise.  The author’s use of  the term “New Order” merely indicates his preference for useful, tried and tested buzzwords in order to elicit the proper emotional response in the affected reader.

It is clear that the author approached his project with a closed mind in that it seems readily apparent that his mind was already made up before he even began writing the book, as the following comments indicate:

“The reader should be alerted to two important procedural points when delving into historical narrative.  First, the historian is dedicated and obligated to search for causes.  Second, owing to the first factor, the historian may very well be searching for causes that simply do not exist.”

I find it curious that the author did not write that the historian should be dedicated and obligated to searching for FACTS, but facts seem to play no significant part in the mainstream story of the Holocaust.  Thus, if the facts in this instance are non-existent, this might prompt the pseudo-historian, in this case, a myth-maker, to search for semi-credible “causes” to non-existent “facts.”

On page xviii, the author, obviously recognizing a problem with the testimony of “survivors” seeks to rationalize their reluctance to have their tales subjected to critical analysis, by remarking:

“...some Holocaust survivors, individuals who have personally experienced starvation, torture, and so forth at the hands of the Nazis, have cautioned me on more than one occasion not to try and explain the behavior of camp murderers.  In effect, they charge that these killers and sadists are simply EVIL and that is all we need to know.  Furthermore, they contend that to attempt to “explain” such atrocious behavior only provides these beasts with the means to mitigate their actions on the basis of some suspect motivations (they were deprived as children, their adolescent needs weren’t met somehow, and so forth).”

Again, this is certainly revealing, as it is usually “survivors” whose motives have now become suspect, and the reluctance expressed by many of these individuals to have their accusations objectively considered says volumes about their motives, in my opinion.  Even if we were referring to someone whose guilt was overwhelming and proven in a court of law, such as Geoffrey Dahmer, one would still want to discover what motivates such individuals.  Understandably, victims of insane criminals such as Dahmer, usually express the opinion that the offender be executed as soon as possible, but in the case of Holocaust witnesses, where there is no convincing evidence to back up their accusations, the testimony needs to be examined critically and in depth.

In referring to Ms. Grese, the author writes:

“Irma Grese came to maturity in a milieu in which racism and murder were encouraged.”

Another irresponsible statement, as racism and murder were neither condoned nor encouraged in the Third Reich.  Rather, love of one’s race and culture, along with their preservation, were the motivational factors involved.   These same beliefs and determinations were not philosophically denied to those of other races and cultures, according to the data I have examined.

Finally, in his preface, the author acknowledges the difficulties which confronted him while preparing for the extensive research which this book would necessarily require.  He states:

“...ACCESS TO DATA WAS SHARPLY LIMITED.” 

“It was not possible to interview relatives or review old concentration camp files.”

Same old story.  The relatives do not wish to be disturbed because they are tired of the lies and slanders, and the evidence is never available, as if they might have something to hide.....

The author continues:

“Finally, even in the relatively free West, many individuals who were willing to speak with me about their experiences with Grese, were UNWILLING TO GO ON RECORD AND PROVIDE DIRECT TESTIMONY. “  

“A survivor whom I had the opportunity to work with at the Martyrs Memorial & Museum of the Holocaust in Los Angeles ,

 COMMENT:  [The Holocaust seems to become daily more and more of a religious event]

spoke to me about an experience that she and her sister had had with Grese in Bergen-Belsen.  One day toward the end of the war, a rumor was being bandied about that there were potato peels near the kitchen area, and, for those daring enough, these little scraps of food were there just for the taking.  Since everyone in the camp was driven almost to insanity for even one potato peel, this survivor and her sister decided to take the chance and go look for the prized potato scraps.  Using the cover of darkness, the two young women came to the area and were seized from behind by Irma Grese.  According to the survivor, Grese had set the entire ruse up and, true to form, the infamous SS-Aufseherin took the hungry sisters and banged their heads together so hard that the survivor said that she remained dizzy and nauseated even beyond liberation.   I have asked this survivor on a couple occasions to allow me to credit her sadistic encounter with Grese.  This victim of Nazi cruelty will not, and I believe personally cannot, let me acknowledge this traumatic incident in her life. (!!!??)  Perhaps it is embarrassment or humiliation that haunts her.

COMMENT:  Or perhaps it is fear of being caught in a lie!

“Whatever the rationale, I cannot dishonour her wishes, as much as I would like to include this pertinent episode in the Grese story.”

Well, he saw to it that the story was included with or without her credits.  I also agree that it is pertinent if only to show AGAIN the fabrications of alleged “eyewitness survivors.”  As if Ms Grese did not have anything better to do in this stench filled, garbage strewn camp, than lay little potato-peeling traps and then lurk about for hours into the night until a couple of suckers came along to snag a few….

END of Part ONE