Skip to content
quotesby

Few of those who stood on the defendants' dock at the trial of the major war criminals before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg in 1945 to 1946 inspired more revulsion than Ernst Kaltenbrunner. ...This tall, hulking, scarfaced lawyer joined the National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP) in 1930 and the elite Schutzstaffel, in 1931. ...Author Evelyn Waugh noted in his diary that 'only Kaltenbrunner looked an obvious criminal.'

Ernst Kaltenbrunner#31

HistoryWarKaltenbrunnerNaziImageJudgmentLawTrial

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote describes the revulsion Kaltenbrunner inspired at the Nuremberg Trials. It notes his early party membership and Waugh's observation that he looked like an obvious criminal.
In plain terms
It describes the revulsion Kaltenbrunner inspired at his trial.
What can you take from it?
Physical presence often influences judgments of guilt.

Where it applies

  • court proceedings
  • media coverage
  • historical analysis

Putting it to work

  • studying media impact
  • historical research
  • legal analysis

Questions to consider

  • How does appearance affect legal judgment?
  • What made Kaltenbrunner revulsive to observers?

Another view

Judgments based on appearance can be unreliable.

More from Ernst Kaltenbrunner

  1. I know exactly what you've come here to say, Kaltenbrunner. But believe me, if I were not convinced that I'll build up Linz again with your help, as you see it…

    Permalink to quote #30
  2. Can he safely be categorized either as an 'unhealthy' and 'abnormal' individual or as the characteristic product of German society, a phenomenon so distant fro…

    Permalink to quote #32
  3. But how am I going to do that in regard to Kaltenbrunner? I shall then be completely at his mercy!

    Permalink to quote #29

Related quotes

  1. Himmler regarded the accused Ernst Kaltenbrunner as the most suitable successor of the deceased Heydrich, who was executed by Czech Patriots. On January 30, 19…

    Ernst KaltenbrunnerErnst Kaltenbrunner quote #68
  2. The fanatical Frank, who solidified Nazi control by establishing the new order of authority without law, so that the will of the party was the only test of leg…

    Hans FrankHans Frank quote #24
  3. Can he safely be categorized either as an 'unhealthy' and 'abnormal' individual or as the characteristic product of German society, a phenomenon so distant fro…

    Ernst KaltenbrunnerErnst Kaltenbrunner quote #32