Rudolf Höss's Role In The Holocaust

Rudolf Höss was a Nazi leader who had an important role in the Holocaust. Höss was responsible for the deaths of many Jews and other Europeans. He thought of new ways to kill Jews quicker and more efficiently, and also made other improvements to Auschwitz. He was dedicated to his job and guaranteed the executions at Auschwitz would work with little error. Though Höss appeared to be a hard-working individual, some argue that he was a lapdog to other German leaders. No matter what, Höss accomplished his goals and did his job very well. Rudolf Höss murdered millions and played a crucial role as an executioner in the Holocaust. To begin, Höss lived a life of murder and war since he was a teenager. Rudolf enlisted to fight in World War I as a
In 1945, he hid in Germany for a short time under the alias Franz Lang; he was eventually caught by a Jew named Hanns Alexander and captured by the Allied forces who gave him to Polish officials to be tried for his crimes (“Rudolf Höss” Bard). Höss had been captured and had zero chance of being proven innocent in his trial. There was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty and there would be no way for him to hide what would come. In the year 1946, Höss would accept his crimes during his tribunal and claimed he purely acted because of his beliefs and duty to follow orders, he also said he had no hatred for Jews and he realized the executions were wrong (Hughes). Höss never acted out of emotion, but solely because of his ideas and political views. He was simply following orders and supporting the cause he believed in, even if it meant ending the lives of many innocent people. Höss was given the death penalty for his war crimes and was to be hanged, he wrote a letter to his family telling them to not follow his path and to live a life of humanity (Hughes). Höss showed regret for his actions and gave advice to his family so they would not make the same mistakes as he did. This shows Höss as a caring father and husband instead of an insane man obsessed with murder. On April 10, 1947, Höss confessed his sins and rejoined the Catholic church, and was later hanged on April 16 in Auschwitz near the gas chamber, yards away from the former home of his family (Hughes). Höss did not only openly state he had done wrong but also begged God for forgiveness and confessed his sins. Rudolf Höss had ended his life in admittance to his crimes and looking to God to give him mercy for the terrible deeds he had