They got to be the three goofiest looking guys ever.

Pretty ironic if you ask me.

@H.R. - you are very welcome. By the way - I meant to mention that Katrin Himmler, who works mainly as a journalist, married an Israeli and, when last I heard, they had one child together. Great-Uncle Heinrich would be turning in his grave - if he had...

@H.R. - you are very welcome. By the way - I meant to mention that Katrin Himmler, who works mainly as a journalist, married an Israeli and, when last I heard, they had one child together. Great-Uncle Heinrich would be turning in his grave - if he had one ... Best regards, JR.

thanks for the large amount of info

@H.R. - did the brothers know about the Holocaust ? It is difficult to answer this question definively. Ernst seems to have left very little record of his thoughts and experiences. Gebhard, who survived the war and was interned for a time afterwards,...

@H.R. - did the brothers know about the Holocaust ? It is difficult to answer this question definively. Ernst seems to have left very little record of his thoughts and experiences. Gebhard, who survived the war and was interned for a time afterwards, appears to have been notably reticent in setting down his experiences, whether in WW1, WW2, or in between.

The most coherent body of information on these matters is Katrin Himmler's book, "The Himmler Brothers", which I would recommend to anybody who has not read it yet. Its contents might be described as drawing on family tradition and history of Katrin's family (she is the late Ernst's grand-daughter). While this is certainly a very interesting work, it is at times frustrating since, in addition to the reticence of other members of her family, Katrin herself seems at times somewhat careful about approaching some relevant topics. She certainly does not display any direct connection between Ernst and Gebhard and the Holocaust, or any direct knowledge of it on their part.

Having said that, Katrin does offer some interesting information that might suggest a level of awareness. For example, she speaks of correspondence between her grandfather, Ernst, and elder brother Heinrich, about the "Jewishness" or otherwise of at least one radio station colleague that may well have led to the dismissal and (possibly) transportation of the man concerned. Regarding Gebhard - as I mentioned, he ended the war as an inspector of Waffen SS troops, a post which might have put him in a position to encounter a number of that organisation's less ... military activities. While that point is purely speculative, his activities as administrative head of the Reich guild of engineers places him more definitely on the periphery of the process of implementing Nazi national/racial policy, at least. For anybody wishing to practice as an engineer in the Reich, membership of this organisation was mandatory and, for a long period, Gebhard effectively controlled the membership roll. One of the functions associated with this was to exclude from membership not only Jews and other national "undesirables", but also graduates of universities in Poland and Czechoslovakia not deemed sufficiently "German". As far as one can gather, Gebhard performed this duty efficiently and effectively. It might also be borne in mind that it was big brother Gebhard who led his (at the time) impressionable younger brother Heinrich into radical Right-wing paramilitary activity in the immediate aftermath of WW1. While it would be too much to say that Gebhard introduced Heinrich to Naziism, he certainly helped put him into a position where he could become deeply involved in it.

None of this adds up to a definitive answer to your question. However, it does suggest that certainly Gebhard, and probably Ernst, shared the anti-Semitic, anti-Slav, exclusionary agenda of brother Heinrich, even if their knowledge and/or direct involvement in its implementation was peripheral. Beyond this, evidence appears so tenuous that little more can be concluded.

One interesting point about this 'photo - it is posed with Gebhard in profile left (showing his WW1 EK I). Heinrich, not to be outdone any more than was necessary, is in profile right, showing his Blood Order rosette. Not, I think, an accident. Another point of interest - Ernst's right collar patch shows a "lightening bolt" symbol rather than the usual runes. During the 1930s, members of the SS Signals Corps had a collar patch carrying the runes along with a small "lightening bolt", indicating their status as a Signals operative. I do not think I have seen another collar patch quite like Ernst's here, but it would be logical that he should be a member (at least honorary) of the SS Signals Corps in view of his profession as a radio engineer. Best regards, JR.

Yeah,and such defective-looking "aryans" determined the racial policy of Third reich. Irony of fate..

Did Gebhard Jr. and Ernst know about the Holocaust, just asking because I would think they would have know?

All three are tall blondes - "Aryans"

Looks like they shared the same barber too!