I have talked to you in the past but we have always exchanged pleasantries. And it has always been assumed that I am Kaltenbrunner, the big bad man next to Himmler and the successor of Himmler. But I think you can see by this time, after having treated my brain hemorrhages, both in the hospital and here in my cell, that I am not the disagreeable, uncouth fellow the public probably thinks because of all the atrocities committed under Himmler's rule, and of which I am totally innocent.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Kaltenbrunner claims he is not the evil figure the public thinks, citing his health issues and innocence regarding atrocities.
- In plain terms
- He says people think he is bad, but he is not guilty of the crimes committed under Himmler.
- What can you take from it?
- Public perception often differs from an individual's self-view.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is it possible to be innocent of atrocities committed under your command?
- How do you defend a tarnished reputation?
Another view
He may be downplaying his involvement to protect his reputation.
More from Ernst Kaltenbrunner
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