Necessary Lies(87)

“That’s him,” Ursula says, glancing at the report. “Professor Claus Herzmann of the University of Breslau. Executed on May 2, 1945. For high treason.”

“What did he do?” Anna asks, overcome by curiosity. She is looking for a shadow of William in his grandfather’s face, but it is not there. “Does it say?”

Ursula picks up the documents from the file. Typewritten reports from interrogations, testimony of witnesses. Photographs. From her purse she takes out her reading glasses and begins to translate.

“Professor Herzmann ... research declared essential for war effort. Address, 7 Gerhart-Hauptmann-Weg, Breslau. Wife, Catholic. One child, K?the Herzmann, daughter. Member of the National Socialist party from January 1939. Maid, Frieda Gottwald, reported that Professor Herzmann did not purge all the forbidden books from his library and tried to fire her after she became pregnant. She wants it recorded that the father of her child was of pure blood and that she got pregnant in response to the order of her Führer.”

Ursula flips through the files, translating what she glances through. “Professor Herzman’s wife frequents Jewish businesses. Dated October 1938. The same Frieda says that her mistress told her to lower the radio volume during the Führer’s speech. Professor Herzmann is also alleged to have a Swiss bank account.”

There is an envelope among the papers and Anna opens it to find a studio portrait of Herr Professor and Frau Professor Herzmann. In this picture William’s grandfather’s face is handsome and distinguished looking. Clean shaven, hair parted, smoothed with brilliantine. Frau Professor is wearing a small round hat, the muslin veil draped over her forehead.

“Listen to this,” Ursula stands up and paces around the table, neatly typed pages in her hands: I have told Fraulein Herzmann that Germany will be reborn. We have suffered for a long time, but we shall suffer no longer. Our Fuhrerhas shown us the way. I told her that we are building autobahns. We are planting trees and forests. We’ve given men work, and with it we have given them their dignity and their honour. But we are such a tiny part of this earth. We have to work hard to conquer our imperfections. I told her that what stops us in this work are old rules and old morality. We have to forget what we, with our limited minds, think is right. We have to let the strong lead us, be ruthless if need be!

I have told her that we have to guard the purity of our blood. Bad blood weakens, dilutes the will. The weak are like disease that has to be contained, like a branch that has to be cut off, so that the tree will grow stronger.

I expressed my disapproval of the school she went to; it was run by the nuns. I told her I didn’t like to think of my fiancee kneeling in front of this crucified Jew! I pointed out to her that her father, a scientist, a professor at the University of Breslau should not remain blind to the laws of nature.

When we found out that my fiancee was pregnant, I declared my desire to marry her. I went to her father’s home the next evening. Professor Herzmann was celebrating his birthday and there were many people in the room. All of them can be asked to bear witness to what has happened.

Professor and Frau Herzmann were in the living room, where my fiancee took me promptly. She had not told her parents about our plans, wishing me to be the one who would break the news to them. It was in front of these witnesses that I asked for the hand of Fraulein Herzmann in marriage.

Here goes a list of names: Herr und Frau Stein... Hanemann, Bauer... Strauss.

“She will go with you if that’s what she wants, but she’ll not have our permission.” These are Frau Herzmann’s exact words. “Not that you care for it, not you with your own laws. But whatever you do I want you to know that it is not with my permission that my daughter will marry a heathen”

I want to report that I was taken aback by Frau Herzmann’s statement but I was also absolutely convinced Professor Herzmann would react to it with the severity it demanded. I was quite prepared to recognize that Frau Herzmann was only a high-strung woman, too weak to withstand such a moment. I want it recorded, however, that Professor Herzmann never said a word to his wife and never offered any apology for what had transpired.

Then I turned to my fiancee and I told her that she knew where to find me. I also made it plain to Fraulein Herzmann that I would marry her, but that I would not stay a minute longer under her father’s roof. I had reminded her that the rotten branches have to be cut off. Only sacrifice will bring rebirth. I waited two days. When she didn’t contact me, I refused to see her or the child again. Signed: Helmut Rust, SS-Sturmbannführer.

“SS?” Anna asks. “Are you sure?” The chill of the concrete walls makes her shiver.

Ursula shows her the report. Helmut Rust’s signature takes an entire line. A strong, determined script, each letter perfectly legible. There can be no doubt.

“Kadavergehorsam, cadaver obedience,” Ursula says. “They, the SS were above all judgement. In their schools, stripped to the waist, they were taught to fight off attack dogs with their bare hands. If they took flight, they were shot. They tore cats’ eyes out, learning not to feel sorrow. They marched in the heat for hours, without a drop of water to drink, crawled through tunnels, ran over obstacle courses, until there was nothing left in them but rage. When they rose from this rage, they believed they were invincible. That they could achieve anything they put their will to. Walk unmoved over corpses, deaf to cries and pleas. Incorruptible.”