Nuremberg Remembered Biography: Hans Friedrich
Hans Friedrich was a member of one of the SS infantry units (SS 1st Infantry Brigade) that was sent to the East to reinforce the Einsatzgruppen
in the summer of 1941. His unit mainly operated in Ukraine. He admits
shooting Jews into a large killing pit. He also admits that he thought
nothing of the victims, standing just a few meters in front of him. His
main thought was to "aim carefully." He never felt bothered by his act.
One action that Friedrich took part in
was in the town of Ostrog on August 4, 1941, where 10,000 Jews were
gathered. Eyewitnesses report that Jews were killed in batches of 50 to
100 at a time all day long.
Friedrich explains how he was involved
and had no empathy for the victims. While growing up he learned to hate
Jews. His father, a farmer, worked with local Jews who served as
traders. Friedrich heard from his parents that Jews gained too much
profit from their transactions. "If I'm honest I have no empathy [for
the Jews]. For the Jews harmed me and my parents so much that I cannot
forget . . .. My hatred towards the Jews is too great."
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