German Forces

Amon Göth at Płaszów.

SS-Hauptsturmführer Amon Göth ("Schindler's Nazi") as commander of the Płaszów forced labour camp, Poland. Göth enjoyed (in every sense) an extensive career as mass murderer, both at Płaszów and elsewhere. The 'photo reflects one of the things he enjoyed - lots of alcohol. Some will recall the reference made to his excessive drinking by the SS doctor in the movie, "Schindler's List" - booze is not, not good for the waistline. Or for other bits of the body - Göth's eventual diagnosis as suffering from diabetes and "mental illness" may not be without connection. An interesting point about Göth is that he had been a member of the Austrian SS from 1930. A recent historian of Austria has suggested that participation by Austrians in the National Socialist State was broadly in proportion to its population by reference to the Reich as a whole (he suggested about 1 to 7). That having been said, there was some particularity about the Austrian element in the SS. Nazi activity was discouraged or banned for a long period prior to the Anschluss. This tended to give the lead to that part of the Austrian Nazi Party organisation that was the most dedicated, the most ruthless, and the most willing to involve itself in terrorist activity. Göth was a product of this sub-culture; so was his "boss" in Poland (to 1943) Odilo Globocnik; so (most prominently) was Reinhard Heydrich's successor, Ernst Kaltenbrunner. "Graduates" of the Austrian SS take a particularly prominent place in the SS Roll of Dishonour ... Best regards, JR.