[justify]In this moving memoir and carefully researched historical study, an insider tears apart the popular image of the postwar American-run "war crimes" trials of Germans. As a young court reporter at the U.S. war crimes trials held at Dachau, the author returned to the transcripts -- and his memories of those proceedings -- after more than 40 years for a fresh look at how injustice was done to the defendants, and to historical truth. Incorporates the personal experience of a sensitive American observer and original archival digging to make a major contribution to the study of the postwar trials. Banned in Germany![/justify]
[center]Halow Joseph -Siegerjustiz in Dachau
http://archive.org/details/Halow-Joseph ... -in-Dachau[/center]
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[justify]Anyone who believes that post-war military tribunals represent anything other than victor's justice needs to read this extraordinary book.
I challenge anyone to look at the cover photo of the wretched prisoners in the dock both before and after reading this book. Any smug feelings of hatred or horror are soon dispelled by a sorry tale of what was in effect a series of judicial lynchings.
Professional witnesses paid to testify and prompted often by saving their own necks, defendants damned for obeying or disobeying orders, a full onslaught of vengeful American Jewish prosecutors out for blood, military tribunals determined to find "someone" guilty, gutless German collaborators (especially governmental authorities) etc. etc. all add up to a very sorry tale of justice undone by expediency.
This book, added to the much-maligned David Irving's "Nuremburg: The Last Battle" shows that the Allies were hypocrytical and merciless in their damnation and judgement of a people already ruined by years of war. The fact that the Allies committed many of the same crimes in the indictments is a fact shockingly lost to history.
For the non-historian however, this book shines with the deep glow of humanity that emanates from the author. A man who was prepared to see the defendants as human beings first and always; a man who felt the pain of strangers being judicially lynched before his eyes.
He even visits one of the "convicted" in his hometown 40 years later and sees the good innocent person that he always was.
If the tribunal judges had only a fraction of the humanity of the author then they would have had the courage to absolve many many more of the accused instead of cravenly ordering their execution to save face.
Mr Halow it was a pleasure to spend this time in your company. You represent the best sort of American that should ever be let try to interfere in the businesses of other countries.
An engrossing and controversial read. What more can I say. Pick it up or are you afraid of upsetting your certainties?[/justify]