UC Santa Barbara > History Department > Prof. Marcuse > Courses > Hist 133B Homepage > 133B Book Essays Index page > Student essay
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A Stand Against Evil Book Essay
on: John Waller, Devil's Doctor:
by Johnathan Rosecrance for Prof. Marcuse's lecture course |
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& Abstract |
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About Johnathan Rosecrance I am a senior Poly-Sci major who has studied much Western European history. I have taken multiple courses which covered Germany during and after WWII. I was interested in this book due to the unique story of Kersten and his attempts to save lives in WWII. Abstract (back to top) John Wallers book The Devils Doctor reveals the story of Felix Kersten and his attempts to save lives while working for the Nazis. Kersten was the personal masseuse and physician to Heinrich Himmler; he claims to have used his influence to help people whenever he could. Kersten claims Himmler needed him so much to relieve his chronic pain that he eventually gained influence over the Nazi leader. Kersten asserts he was able to help to thwart three major Nazi plans. Kersten takes credit for stopping the mass relocation of Dutch citizens, eventually turning Himmler against Hitler, and convincing Himmler to release thousands of Jews at the end of the war instead of exterminating them. Many scholars are skeptical of Himmlers actual involvement and importance in many of these events. Kersten may have exaggerated his good deeds in order to separate himself from the Nazis he worked with and under for many years. Waller does an excellent job of telling Kerstens story and makes a very convincing argument for his importance in saving thousands of lives. |
Essay (back to top) The book The Devils Doctor by John Waller reviews the experiences of Felix Kersten through the rise and fall of the Nazi party. Kersten was a skilled masseur and physical therapist residing in the Netherlands before the war. He owned a successful practiced which he inherited from his mentor and teacher Dr Ko. Ko was a Tibetan monk who was trained in a unique form of “physio-neural therapy.” Kersten rose to prominence when he healed Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands. Modern doctors had given the Prince six months to live due to his heart problems, but Kersten was able to revive the Prince’s health and was appointed a royal physician. Kersten’s successful and stable life would soon take a turn for the worse. In March 1939 Kersten was introduced to Heinrich Himmler who suffered from an acute form of colic. Kersten agreed to treat Himmler and was so successful that Himmler asked him to tend him exclusively. Initially Kersten refused and continued to work for the Dutch royal family. When WWII broke out and the royal family fled to England when the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, Kersten was again “asked” to become Himmler’s personal physician. Too terrified to say no, Kersten reluctantly accepted and began a perilous journey navigating the inner circle of the Nazi regime. Kersten was able to slowly gain Himmler’s trust and eventually found himself in a position to manipulate the powerful Reichsfuhrer. Kersten became somewhat of a non aligned double agent attempting to save lives when possible while persuading Himmler to end the war quickly, this was by no means an easy task and Kersten’s life was in constant danger. Kersten asserts he was able to help to thwart three major Nazi plans. While scholars are skeptical of Kerstens actual involvement and importance in changing Nazi plans. Kersten takes credit for stopping the mass relocation of Dutch citizens, eventually turning Himmler against Hitler, and convincing Himmler to release thousands of Jews at the end of WWII. Once Kersten realized the gravity of his situation as Himmler’s personal physician in early 1940 he attempted to flee Germany for Finland. He had acquired citizenship in WWI while fighting against Russia and immediately went to the Finnish embassy and appealed to ambassador Kivimakki for help. The Finnish ambassador made it clear to Kersten that it was his duty to remain in Himmler’s employment and report useful intelligence secretly back to the Finnish government. Himmler considered Kersten as his property and was on call any time Himmler needed him. Himmler found it useful to also lend out his services to foreign diplomats and high ranking officials as a political maneuver, and as a way to gain information. Three notable figures he worked with were foreign minister Joachim Ribbentrop, Dr. Robert Ley leader of the Nazi German labor union, and Italian foreign minister Count Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law. By working with these prominent figures Kersten quickly learned of the intense rivalries between Nazi party members and the strained relations Germany had with Italy. While Kersten writes much about the hostile, suspicious and disrespectable nature of Nazi elites, his most interesting conversations were with Count Ciano. Himmler lent Kersten’s services to Ciano to relive his chronic stomach pains. While together Ciano revealed his deep fear and animosity of the Germans to Kersten. Ciano blamed the Germans for getting the Axis into a European war that could not be won, and had reservations about Hitler because the Italians never knew what he would do next. Kersten’s first attempt to manipulate Himmler came when Hitler ordered the resettlement of millions of Dutch to the Ukraine and the western parts of the Soviet Union. Kersten learned this plan to resettle undesirable Dutch citizens would occur on April 20, 1941, Hitler’s birthday. Kersten immediately went to Rudolf Brandt, Himmler’s assistant who he had become friends with, and asked him to confirm the information. Brandt showed him the secret documents which called for the relocation of 8.5 million people and began with the transportation of about 3 million Jews who would “never reach their destination or any destination” (Waller, 20). Kersten knew he had to do something so he waited for the right moment which came when Himmler experienced abnormally intense stomach pains. This was Kersten’s chance, while working with Himmler that day he pleaded with Himmler not to go along with this plan for various humanitarian reasons. Himmler was completely unfazed by these protests and Kersten was forced to change his tactics. For the first time Kersten began to use Himmler’s fading health against him. Kersten began continually nagging his patient about how his health would be at a serious risk if he undertook such a project. He mentioned to Himmler the added stress and fatigue would make him unfit for work. As Himmler’s health worsened he became more open to Kersten’s opinion. Kersten claimed if Himmler took on any more psychological burden there would soon be nothing more he could do to alleviate Himmler’s chronic pains. Himmler’s health was important to him because he had to compete fiercely with other Nazis to maintain his position of power. If physical reasons emerged why he may not be fit to lead he would very quickly lose his place in the party. Himmler finally agreed to push back the relocation until after the war. Scholars are very skeptical Kersten actually had any influence on the Nazi plans to relocate the Dutch. The Nazis at this time were in the initial stages of invading Russia and never had the resources to follow their original plans. There are Nazi documents which stated Hitler had already abandoned the relocation before Kersten’s conversation with Himmler. Scholars say Kersten exaggerated these claims to prove he had resisted the Nazis during the early stages of the war. During his time with the Nazis Kersten stayed in full contact with his friends in the Netherlands and the resistance informing them of the Nazis plans. Due to his help in preventing this relocation the Netherlands government appointed Kersten “Grand Officer of the Orange Nassau and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize on nine occasions” (Skakun). Kersten’s ability to persuade Himmler was ultimately put to the test in November 1941. Himmler had just met with Hitler and soon confided to Kersten that the aggressive implementation of the “Final Solution” would soon begin. From this moment on Kersten vowed to do everything in his power to save lives. Whenever possible he would try to convince Himmler he needed to end the war. Kersten’s chance to convince Himmler to turn against Hitler came when Himmler asked Kersten if he could treat a person who suffered from insomnia, dizziness, and severe headaches. Kersten responded he would first have to know more about this patient. Swearing Kersten to secrecy Himmler produced a black book and showed him a twenty six page report on Hitler’s health problems. Hitler had been diagnosed with syphilis, progressive paralysis, and unstable mental health. Kersten seized this moment to influence Himmler, telling him bluntly that only a man who was of entirely sound mind and body could occupy the post of Fuhrer. He advised Himmler to take this information to the generals of the army, “explain to them the Fuhrer is a sick man and he has got to abdicate in the interests of the nation as a whole, they’ll gratefully recognize it as the most statesmanlike act on your part” (Waller, 102). Himmler had now been given a reason to rationalize his high treason and begin to distance himself from Hitler so he might be able to survive after Germany’s inevitable defeat. Still Himmler had not yet been convinced to betray Hitler. By September 1944 the war was clearly coming to an end and Kersten’s primary objective was to convince Himmler to save the remaining Jews in the concentration camps. Rumors circulated around that Hitler would have all Jews under Nazi control executed before the allies could liberate them. Upon hearing this news Kersten and Walter Schellenberg a high ranking Nazi official who was looking to find an exit strategy for Germany in its unwinnable war, developed a plan to convince Himmler to release some Jews to Switzerland in exchange for farming supplies and machinery. When the first 2,700 Jews were sent to Switzerland in December 1944 the plan looked promising but it ultimately failed. Once the news was publicized in Allied papers, Hitler and other hard-liners within the party quickly ended the transfers. Still undaunted Kersten worked to convince Himmler to spare more Jews. On March 12, 1945 Kersten was able to get Himmler to agree to sign a hand written letter that halted Hitler’s orders to kill the remaining Jews in the concentration camps. The way Kersten convinced Himmler to allow the release of Jews was to convince him this would be the only way the Allies would accept him after the war. Kersten was able to get Himmler to believe that if he showed enough humanity to the remaining Jews and distanced himself from Hitler he might avoid becoming a war criminal. Through a stroke of luck Kersten was able to set up a meeting between Himmler and Norbert Masur, a member of the World Jewish Congress to negotiate the release of death camp prisoners. The meeting resulted in three concessions by Himmler. No more Jews would be put to death, the Jews would all be kept in the camps so they could be liberated by the Allies, and all Jewish prisoners would be cataloged so they could become known. These conversations were kept totally secret so no other high ranking Nazi officials would discover what had transpired. This meeting saved about sixty thousand Jews who remained in the concentration camps. While it is historically accurate that Kersten set up this meeting, scholars disagree with Kersten’s actual influence on Himmler. There is not enough historical information which proves Kersten was more than just an intermediary for Himmler. Scholars see this as another example of Kersten embellishing his importance in positive events. While Himmler eventually agreed to go along with Schellenberg’s plan and make peace with the western Allies and turn against Hitler it was much too late in the war. The Allies would not negotiate with Himmler, and soon Hitler found out what Himmler had attempted. Before his death Hitler ordered the execution of Himmler. While Waller’s book shows Kersten to be at the center of the action influencing Nazi leaders some scholars disagree with Kersten’s importance to the war effort. They claim this information had already been discovered by other researchers and Kersten was an insignificant figure who lived in the shadows of the big players. David O’Donoghue claim Kersten embellished his importance so he would not be remembered as a personal masseur to the Nazis. Kersten’s views of events are supported by some but not by others. “Count Bernadotte never mentions Kersten in his memoirs, and the post war Swedish government was reluctant to give him credit as well” (O’Donoghue). There is also much disagreement about whether Himmler actually ever considers toppling Hitler. Scholars disagree that Himmler knew of the plot to kill Hitler in 1944 but let it happen anyway. While some of Waller’s conclusions in the book are supported by unconfirmed claims his overall argument is quite strong. It will never be possible to truly understand the importance Kersten played in many of these events, but it seems likely he had at least a small hand in many positive events. The story of Felix Kersten is a riveting view into the rivalries and interworking of the Nazi party during WWII. It is fascinating to learn how one man was able to save thousands of lives due to his skills as a masseur. Kersten’s story clarifies the high stakes reality of working and living among the Nazi elites. At all time Kersten’s life was in danger but he continued to try and help in any way that he could. Sweden’s wartime foreign minister was quoted saying “There can be no doubt that Dr. Kersten, during the closing stages of the war saved the lives of thousands of people” (Devil’s). Large amounts of independent research have been done that back up many of Kersten’s claims. While he may have embellished his role in some of these events his importance should not be undervalued. He was able to give large amounts of useful information to the Finnish and American governments throughout the war as well. Kersten should be considered responsible for saving many innocent lives form the Nazis. |
Bibliography and Links (back to top)(links last checked 3/x/09) “Nazi leaders.” History Learning Site. 5 March 2009 <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Nazi_leaders.htm>
“Heinrich Himmler.” Heroes and Killers of the 20th century. 2009. More
or Less.com. 5 March 2009 <http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/himmler.html>
Schellenberg, Walter. The Labyrinth: Memoirs of Walter Schellenberg, Hitler's Chief of Counterintelligence (USA: Da Capo Press, 2000), 413 pages. <amazon link> Schellenberg was a chief counterintelligence agent for the Nazis during WWII. His Memoir explains his plans to convince Himmler to turn against Hitler and end WWII, which he thought Germany would inevitably lose. He attempted to convince Himmler to take control of Germany himself and sue for peace with the western allies. At the end of the War he also set up ways for Germany to release Jews, so Nazi Germany would be treated better once the allies won the war. Herma, Briffault. The Memoirs of Doctor Felix Kersten (Germany:
Kessinger Publishing, 2008), 352 pages. <amazon
link> Masur, Norbert. En Jude Talar Med Himmler (Bonniers, Stockholm
1945) <http://www.zwoje-scrolls.com/zwoje38/text18p.htm>
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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:
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