Now a good story might be nothing more than just a good story. In this instance it is much more than that.
The idea that there was concentration camps in Argentina for Jewish immigrants is frightening enough. What Philip Kerr suggests in his novel is that these concentration camps were also extermination camps built and operated in the same way as those of Auschwitz/Birkenau is a chilling thought.
Here's a question posed by Uki Goñi the author of The Real Odessa. Who was the more evil of the two, those who extorted money from the Jews in exchange for visas to leave Germany or those who followed strict orders and didn't grant visas to Jews? At least those who sold visa's and helped the Jews leave Germany saved lives...
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2 comments:
I don't think you could call it extortion to expect payment for taking a serious risk to help someone. Those who aided Jews and got caught would suffer the same fate as those they tried to help. They may not have cared so much for the Jews as they did for the money, but they didn't hate enough to leave them doomed.
Following orders is an extension of fear rather than evil. Evil would be enjoying that you could deny freedom knowing the fate that awaits those you deny. I'll bet the fear and guilt tormented many and likely turned them heartless and dead inside as a means of keeping it together.
Jeannie, I did skim over the details of the book and obviously created the wrong impression. I was hoping to create an interest in readers to pick up the book. Believe me it was extortion!
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