"The Stories of Children Whose Parents Were Nazis "

Book Essay on:
Peter Sichrovsky,
Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families
(New York: Basic Books, 1988), 178 pages.
UCSB: DD256.5.S34413 1988

by Loni Russell
March 19, 2007

for Prof. Marcuse's lecture course Germany, 1900-1945
UC Santa Barbara, Winter 2007

About Loni Russell

I am a senior global studies major who has been studying the socio-political economy of modern Europe. I have traveled throughout Germany, and in 2005 completed a semester at the University of Bayreuth. I hope to begin an internship in Germany in 2007. I chose to write about children of Nazi families because I am interested in the issues surrounding identity in Germany and throughout Europe.

Abstract (back to top)

Peter Sichrovsky's book Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families tells the stories of fifteen Germans whose parents were Nazis under National Socialism. Through interviews he conducts of these children, Sichrovsky finds out how they were raised and how much they knew of their parents’ involvement. The stories from each of these children range from emotions of anger and rage to shame and pity. There are however several similarities that seem to link these children together. Many of these children felt like victims, that is victims of their parents.

Essay (back to top)

Introduction

The book, Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families (1988), written by Peter Sichrovsky, tells briefly the stories of fifteen Germans whose parents were representative figures in National Socialism. Through interviews conducted by Sichrovsky, the author explores not what their parents’ role was under National Socialism, but rather what the children knew of their parents’ involvement, and how they lived with what they knew. Once these interviewees became old enough to learn about the role their parents played during the war, most of the children themselves felt like victims, victims of their parents. Even though the democratic structures in Germany had been built, their family life was still structured by their parents’ fascist ideology.

The people who were interviewed for this book were children from a wide range of different Nazi families, from bureaucrats, SS officers, policemen, mayors, railroad employees, teachers and other professions held during National Socialism. Sichrovsky was not looking to find out information on their parents’ involvement during the Nazi years, but rather he was actively seeking the children’s assessment of their parents, and how they saw them. He wanted to know how they were raised under Nazi parents, what they knew, what questions they asked their family, and how they managed to live with what they knew? Through these interviews he found several answers to these questions, including several similarities.

Home Life

The generation of Germans who were interviewed for this book never had the experience of seeing their parents in their Nazi roles, but only saw them in their relationships at home. This made a big difference on how these children engaged and perceived their parents. Many interviewees hardly mentioned personal guilt, shame or responsibility for what had happened. They themselves felt like victims, victims of their parents, and victims of the war. This is because they felt that they had to live with the burden of having Nazi parents. Many said they had problems accepting their parents as role models, and that the only way was to accept their parents as they were, without questioning them or doubting them (p.170).

Anna and Rudolf

Interviewee Anna, labeled by the author as the “decent one,” states that her mother had told her that her father was not guilty of any crimes during National Socialism. She was told not to bother her father with questions because this would upset him (p. 18). This seemed to be prevalent throughout most of the interviews; the children were almost always told by their parents not to speak about the war or their parents’ involvement because it would upset them. This made the children feel guilty for their parents’ guilt. In fear that this would upset one of their parents, they would keep silent, and thus a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was established within most households. Anna felt her main emotion toward her parents was indifference; she was not quite sure what to feel (p. 27). As Anna grew older, she began to resent her parents. This also seemed to be prominent in many of the interviewees. After many years kept in the dark about their parents’ past, a large gap formed between many children and their parents. Some began to resent their parents for not informing them of what they did in their past, and resented that they were never told the truth. Some felt their entire life was a lie. For example, Rudolf, labeled “the guilty one” by the author, states that he was innocent, yet living the life of a guilty person (p. 39). His parents had long died, yet he was left with the guilt (p. 39). He felt that his parents never came to terms with their own past, and in the process left him with what they had not come to terms with. He had to read from outside sources what his parents actually did under National Socialism, and resented that they never told him themselves. His parents never told him to feel ashamed or guilty for what had happened, but when reading those documents, for the first time in his life Rudolf felt ashamed. It seems in many of these interviews, the children felt like they were forced by their parents not to deal with what happened, but once they began having their own experiences in life, they were forced to deal with who their parents were, and did not know how to feel or respond. It is seems many felt they were abandoned by their parents, and not shown how to cope with their future. Many felt what their parents had done was ruining their own lives.

Responsibility

Many children felt that they had absolutely no responsibility for National Socialism and just wanted the past to go away. Interviewee Rainer stated that he hated his father, and what he had done in the past. Rainer tried to distance himself from his family, by joining the Communist Party, contemplating converting to Judaism; anything possible to break off his relationship with his father. Rainer’s sister Brigitte argued that Rainer was just trying to erase his past, and was playing victim. She had not hated her family, and felt at peace with herself. She felt that Rainer was just as extreme as the Nazis had been, except that Rainer was channeling his energy into Communism.

Another commonality between many of the children of Nazi families was that those who had had estranged or strained relationships with their parents, felt at peace only after their parents’ death or old age. This was the case with both Anna and Susanne. Susanne’s father was a Nazi under National Socialism, but when Susanne was growing up she viewed her father as a calm and quiet man. After her own son had questioned her father’s role during National Socialism, Susanne had to face her own feelings about her father. She started to doubt him and what he had not told her, and slowly he became a stranger in her eyes. As they drifted further and further apart, she became more at peace with her past and her future.

Victims

There were also the others who felt that not only were Jews, Gypsies and Communists victims of National Socialism, but so were the Germans. Interviewee Stephanie is a good example of one who felt like this. She felt that her family and all those who participated in National Socialism were victims. They were the victims who were ignored and not compensated. She argued that the Jews received compensation, money and such, yet her family did not receive anything. Her family members had died for the cause, yet their only reward was “a rope around their neck” (p. 35). She said her family was looking to provide a good life, and there was nothing wrong with that. One can see why some felt this way, and their parents were not telling them otherwise.

Conclusion

I feel the book, Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families, is a good compilation of stories of some experiences within Nazi households after the war. Sichrovsky did receive answers about how some of these families lived, mostly living in guilt, yet not dealing with their past. Their parents said they were following orders, and there was nothing else to be said further. Many of these families acted like nothing happened, and thought they were doing the right thing during National Socialism; following their duties, making a living for their families, and protecting their homeland. Many chose to ignore and avoid their past, almost as if everything was a dream, and did not affect anyone other than himself or herself. Many of the children seemed that they did not care or think about the more serious victims who were killed, or abused because of who they were. These children were more concerned with their own loses and reputation. Sichrovsky also found out that these children hardly asked any questions because they were told this would upset their parents. Only when the children were older, did some begin to ask more questions, but for most their parents died, and they did not have any more answers. Some children rebelled and acted against their parents to prove to them that they were different, but it seems that most accepted the situation, and held their anger and frustration inside, until the issue later in life confronted them. The children do not reflect or admit what their parents actually did during that time. For the most part, many felt sorry for themselves and did not look at how those actions affected others. Maybe if many of them dealt with their parents they could have found closure, and not have to feel sorry for themselves. Maybe then they would be determined to never let it happen again.

The interviewer, Peter Sichrovsky, is himself Jewish, and I think this may have affected how the interviewees responded. I think that the interviewees may have portrayed their story in a certain way because they were faced with a different victim, a Jew. Would their stories have been different if they were talking to a fellow child of a Nazi, an American, or a Russian? I think that this would produce slightly different results. Would more information be given if a fellow German were conducting the interview? Would they be able to relate to one another? Or would this cause them not to discuss their shared anxieties? What I like about this book is that it starts the conversation about the identity of children of Nazis, but more importantly of the entire German population. Coping with the idea of identity for all Germans is a big question, and this book helps to explore this topic, thereby helping others to understand the concerns and mentality from this part of society. As Germany struggles with its place in international affairs, and coping with the responsibility of their past, this book helps to start a dialogue. One can agree, refute or challenge the statements made by these individuals, but any position furthers the conversation, and may help understand and address identity for Germans and the others affected by National Socialism.

Sichrovsky states at the end of his book that most of his feedback has been positive since its release, and has opened up the dialogue of identity and responsibility within Germany and Austria. He also states that he felt Austria was much more silent in its response to this issue. This may be a topic of further investigation, why there may be a different response from Austrians, compared to the Germans. The generations of people who were directly affected by National Socialism are dying out, and a new generation whose grandparents or great-grandparents were involved, has changed the dynamic of the conversation as well. Are today’s Germans less responsible for what happened?

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a different side of Nazism. Although there is so much material on Nazism, there seems to be less about the Germans themselves and their lives before, during and after the war. I think that this book will upset many; because I know for myself I was upset by several comments as well, but I think it is still important to read. I think that this book might also seem like most of Germany does not feel any guilt or responsibility for what happened during National Socialism, but I feel that this is not true, and there are many who feel some responsibility, and are determined to never let it happen again.

Bibliography and Links (back to top)(links last checked 3/x/07)

Books and Articles

• Alison Owing, Frauen: German Women Recall (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1993), 494 pages.
  This book was written from a compellation of interviews collected by Owing of German and Jewish women who lived through the Third Reich. The women discuss their lives and the lives of their husbands. Many women recall that they were never made aware of the atrocities that were being committed on the Jews.
• Dan Bar-On, Legacies of Silence: Encounters of Children from the Third Reich ( Harvard University Press; Reprint edition, 1991), 353 pages.
  This book is about family life during the Third Reich and its repercussions in contemporary Germany. Bar-On traveled to Germany to conduct 50 interviews where he probed questions from family members of former Nazi elite.
• Norbert Lebert, My Father's Keeper: Children of Nazi Leaders-An Intimate History of Damage and Denial ( Back Bay Books, Reprint edition, 2002), 256 pages.
  In 1959 Norbert Lebert interviewed several young adults whose parents had been high-ranking officials within the Nazi state. His son later found the interviews and published them in this book. Many of the children defend their fathers and followed similar patterns that were witnessed in Peter Sichrovsky’s Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families.

Web Sites

• Identity http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-personal/
  This web page comes from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and explores the question of personal identity. This web site explores the problems associated with identity, its understanding and its use within society.
• Non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust http://www.holocaustforgotten.com
  This site is in honor of the victims of the Holocaust who were not Jewish, including Jehovah Witnesses, Blacks, Homosexuals and Polish peoples. This site provides some information on how these groups and others were treated during the Holocaust.
• Wikipedia: War Children http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_children
  This site discusses the term “war child,” who is a child of a parent belonging to a foreign military force. This site also discusses the background of war children, including WWII children, children of German soldiers throughout different countries in Europe, and the Lebensborn program under the Nazis.
• BBC Article regarding Nazi children, March 8, 2007
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6429565.stm
  This very interesting article describes how Norwegians, who were fathered by German soldiers during WWII, are suing the Norwegian authorities at the European Court of Human Rights for discrimination and fear that they experienced after the war.

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Any student tempted to use this paper for an assignment in another course or school should be aware of the serious consequences for plagiarism. Here is what I write in my syllabi:

Plagiarism—presenting someone else's work as your own, or deliberately failing to credit or attribute the work of others on whom you draw (including materials found on the web)—is a serious academic offense, punishable by dismissal from the university. It hurts the one who commits it most of all, by cheating them out of an education. I report offenses to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

• For more information, see:
  • UCSB Office of Instructional Consultation: Promoting Academic Integrity
  • UCSB page on academic dishonesty
  • Princeton plagiarism page with 3 commented examples.