#rudolph hoss

[architectureandfilmblog]

The villa of Commandant Höss: a "paradise" which shared a wall with Auschwitz.

ARCHITECTURE OF GENOCIDE: THE ZONE OF INTEREST (2023)

Before I saw this film, I'd assumed that it would illustrate the way architecture can be used to facilitate denial or self-deception. Like PARASITE (2019), in which one - in that case wholly fictional - family creates a lavish domestic retreat from which they can't see the overcrowding, poverty and suffering that surrounds them. But although Hedwig Höss speaks of planting vines to cover the wall they share with Auschwitz, there's no pretending this neighbour isn't there. The Höss's live in a pristine 1937 villa, with a manicured garden where they have parties and their children swim in a pool, and this juxtaposition is chilling. But they can still see the chimneys, and hear the screams, and nobody is denying what's next door.

This is one of the most horrifying movies I've seen, and that's due to the banality of the domestic scenes. We aren't watching a stereotypically deranged mass murderer, or even a psychopathic commandant at work inside the camp. Instead we see a comfortable house, a beautiful garden, two parents who love one another and their children. And who've somehow been able to assimilate the fact that millions are being murdered behind their garden wall.

The film is based loosely on a novel, but also on research into the lives of the real Höss's. A replica was built of their villa and garden, only metres from where the real home still stands. It's suggested that the real Rudolf and Hedwig considered themselves homesteaders, reclaiming rural territory for the 'master race', as was the Nazi ideal. In the film, Hedwig repeatedly emphasises the role of building and grounds as a status symbol. Their villa had been taken from its Polish owners and architecturally altered to fit the Höss's image. Most of the items inside would have been plundered from Jewish homes, and others, such as stools, and the wheelbarrow full of smaller seized items, would have been custom-made by prisoners. This isnt a home that is genteel in spite of the camp next door. On the contrary, everything about it, down to the fur coat on Hedwig's back, exists as a result of persecution and genocide.

The Zone was an exclusion area of over 40 sq. km around the camp, created after Poles and Jews were expelled from nearby villages. It's jarring how idyllic it appears in the film, with meadows, birdsong, a gently babbling river. While obviously not as horrifying as human apathy, the indifference of a place to the evil it houses is disconcerting, especially if you're in a profession like architecture or urban design, where places are thought to be somehow expressive of what occurs within them. We do see the horror occasionally seep beyond camp walls - a practiced scramble to leave sun loungers as crematoria smoke seeps into the garden, a wash of ash infiltrating the picturesque river.

It's likely that the filmmakers were using the extreme example of this family to remind us of our own ability to become apathetic and desensitised to the suffering of strangers, particularly when we feel our personal safety and comfort may be threatened. (Current campaigns to essentially criminalise poverty in the form of homelessness in certain cities, come to mind). Obviously the murder of millions is an evil on a completely different scale, and I have to believe that 99% of us wouldnt be capable of the Höss's actions, but it's a chilling and worthwhile reminder nonetheless.

[kevrocksicehouse]

The Zone of Interest.

D: Jonathan Glazer (2023).

The Zone of Interest opens with a pastoral view of a brook where a well-off family gathers for an idyllic day out. We see them mostly from a distance, though as we follow them, we learn a few things.  The father Rudolph (Christian Friedel) has rapidly moved up in government service to a position of great responsibility and is still climbing – he is about to be put in charge of an exciting new project. The mother Hedwig (Sandra Huller) maintains their country estate and tends a beautiful garden. They have loving children and devoted servants. But the servants are terrified prisoners, there are traces of human remains in the brook, the father is Rudolf Hoss whose job is running the Auschwitz concentration camp and the project is part of the Nazis Final Solution. 

The film, which could easily have milked the premise for obvious ideas on “the banality of evil” instead becomes an almost subliminally disquieting horror film. We see the family going about the mundane events of a nuevo Bourgeois household (a visit from an in-law, a we-might-have-to-move plot development right out of Meet Me in St. Louis) while muffled screams and shots are randomly heard in the background. It’s a little while before it becomes clear that those noises are for us – the characters don’t, maybe won’t hear them -- and after a while, they recede into the back of our minds as well. And the characters are so blissfully inured to the horrors they live with it comes as a shock when Hedwig scolds a servant by implying that staying in her good graces is all that’s keeping her from the gas chambers. Frazer ingrains evil’s banality so subtly into the fabric of ordinary life we might start to wonder about the out-of-sight horrors that could be supporting our completely normal existence, that we don’t have to see. The Zone of Interest is the space between It Can Happen Here and It Already Is. 

[travels-with-chris]

Auschwitz

One of the many trips you see in the tourist streets of Krakow are visits to Auschwitz costing 99ZLT about 25 Euro each. Not wanting to feel hurried and overcrowded in a group we decided to make our own way there. Having previously looked the day before for tickets to go on the English tour to find there were none for a week, we decided to chance it and turn up and see if we could get in. So catching the bus from the main station at a cost of 28ZLT return, 7 Euro each way, we took the bus for an hour and a half and it literally stopped every 10 minutes hence why it took so long. The bus arrives right outside Auchwitz 1 where you see most of the tourists queuing. We waited inline for our tickets, to see the number of available places for English tours going down and down. We got to the ticket booth and advised that they had no tours left in English but if we visited Auschwitz 2 first, which is free we can then come back at 4pm and visit Auschwitz 1 Birkenau for free. So with our free passes we went to get the free shuttle bus that runs between the camps. On arriving at the site you could see how intimating and scary this place would be it’s on a massive scale and enough to make anyone’s blood run cold. Now I’m not going to go into the whole story of what went on and what we saw. But the sites and the experience are very thought provoking and it makes you feel lucky to be alive. I sometimes think people forget where they are and should show more courtesy to the nature of the visit and stop doing stupid selfies and poses for their own gratification on social media sites. One thing I will say about Auchwitz 2 Birkenau is that the Germans being very cowardly on being discovered decided to eradicate most of the existence of the camp and its people.

After a short shuttle bus back and a 20 minute rest we then waited in line to visit Auschwitz 1. It was a relatively easy process to get in and your first greeted by the infamous sign which translates “work makes you free” from here you come across barracks after barracks where the holocaust victims where kept at some point and here it is where you see the many emotional scenes of people’s personal belongings, human hair and clothes on display to show the magnitude of what happened. Today most of the barracks have museums dedicated to the victims of the holocaust with so many lives to read about it can become very overwhelming and too much to take it. You feel somewhat guilty for walking past some information as that person/persons are not so lucky to do so. Here you also get the experience the site of the gas chamber again without going into it, you certainly have a shiver down your spine whilst in there. Finally, there are the gallows where Rudolph Hoss, the longest serving commandment of the camp was hung in 1947 having evaded capture for a year.

I would say a visit is necessary to remember these atrocities and to see the full extent of the holocaust. It is very insightful and rightly does not make for a pleasant experience.

There are many plaques to commemorate various ethnic groups and as you go around I try also to remember their previous life before the terrible situation they ended up in.

[watchingalotofmovies]

Gold

Gold    [trailer]

In the summer of 1898, a small group of German compatriots head into the hostile northern interior of British Columbia in search for gold at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush.

It can be seen as a German version of Meek's Cutoff. Seeing a number of renowned German stage actors on a track through western Canada is not easy to get used to. Many scenes and dialogue felt like being from a play, characters were telling their backstories like they were reciting lines. The atmosphere didn't feel right.

The dire story line though is believable.

[junker-town]

How the hell did the Vikings pull off the ‘Minnesota Miracle?’

A few things had to line up just right, and they did! Let’s walk back through the steps that made for the most exciting NFL play we’ve seen in a long, long time.

I woke up Monday still in a daze. Two intense, down-to-the-wire playoff games in one day, not even 24 hours removed from two of the dullest postseason games we’ve seen in a while, will do that to a person.

But the moment that stuck in my head was Stefon Diggs’ game-winning touchdown. I spent most of Monday trying to figure out what happened, how it happened. Here’s what I got.

Here’s the set up for ‘seven heaven’ and the Minneapolis Miracle.

It’s third-and-10 at the Minnesota 39-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock and the Vikings down 24-23.

All the Vikings really needed to do was to get the ball another six yards down the field, get it to a receiver, get out of bounds to stop the clock and send out Kai Forbath and the kicking team.

A fourth down on the Vikings’ 33-yard line means a 50-yard field goal attempt. It wouldn’t have been that hard for Forbath. He had just kicked a 53-yarder at the 1:34 mark, a kick that looked like it would have been good from 70 yards out. He nailed a 49-yard earlier in the game.

Minnesota has a sad history with game-winning field goal attempts. But it was the smart play, the play that the Vikings were attempting when they called the “seven heaven” play, something they’ve practiced many times before.

One receiver on the outside runs seven route, down the field and near the boundary. The “heaven” part comes from the idea that if the receiver on the seven route catches it, good things will happen.

Stefon Diggs was the angel designated for heavenly things on that play. He’s lined up in trips on the right side of the Vikings offensive formation, with tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver Jarius Wright.

Rudolph runs a short route down the sideline, and Wright runs a little deeper, but not as far down the field as Diggs. It’s their job to look for the throw, catch it and get out of bounds, the safe thing to do on that play.

Wright said after the game it was unusual for Diggs, the deep man, to get the ball.

“We practice that play all the time,” he said. “But the high seven never gets the ball. It has never been thrown to that route, as far as I can remember.”

Not this time. With a little help from the Saints defense, Case Keenum pushed it down the field for the big play. Diggs delivered.

The first question that came to mind, how does the Saints defense let that happen?

The Saints defense was doing exactly what it wanted, and it was a big mistake.

The Saints defense was actually good this season, something that hasn’t been true for several years of 7-9ness lately. Along with the running back duo of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, that defense is a big reason why the Saints got this far in the first place.

So it’s even more confusing that they did what they did on third-and-10 against the Vikings.

This is the defensive alignment they rolled out on that play.

Per #NextGenStats, here's another look at the @stefondiggs game-winning TD to send the @Vikings to the NFC Championship Game http://pic.twitter.com/lq0OgciB7I

— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) January 15, 2018

This alignment left them at risk for a deep ball, but that wasn’t what the Vikings were going for on third down. They needed to get the ball into field goal range and stop the clock. For the defense, that meant emphasis on the boundaries, which is exactly what they wanted.

Sean Payton explained it after the game:

“It was an outside zone [defense]. We were protecting the sidelines. Anything inside and you’re in a pretty good position when the game is over. It’s a situation we practice quite a bit.”

By protecting the boundaries, the Saints could tackle the receiver in bounds, keeping the clock running and letting time expire. There was five seconds left on the clock when Diggs caught Keenum’s pass. No amount of hurry in the world would have given the Vikings enough time to get the kicking team onto the field and lined up for the field goal attempt.

A bigger problem is where they had two linebackers, in the middle of the field and bunched up close to the line of scrimmage. One of them does end up dropping back and moving toward the ball, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’ve got two defenders tied up in the middle of the field where the Vikings could not afford to throw it and hope to stop the clock with less than 10 seconds left when they snapped it in the first place.

And what the hell is P.J. Williams, No. 26, doing here? He’s in the flat to cover tight end Kyle Rudolph, but he’s starting within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage. Rudolph doesn’t go more than 5 yards down the field and toward the sideline.

It all sets up so that when the deep man, Marcus Williams, missed the tackle, there was nothing between Diggs and a touchdown. More on that in bit.

Where was the Saints pass rush?

The Saints pass rush had a pretty good night, until it didn’t.

Keenum was sacked twice in the game. Cam Jordan didn’t have a sack, but he finished with eight total pressures and two hits on the QB, according to Pro Football Focus. But it was his inability to get to Keenum on the only play that mattered that ate away at Jordan after the game.

“As a defensive end and player of my caliber, I should have been able to eradicate that play all together. ... Had I been a half-step faster, I would have been able to get off the tight end and tackle and completely take over that play.”

Take another look at it. Jordan is No. 94.

An extra half-step definitely would have helped, but the offensive tackle does a nice job riding him out of the play. I’m not a pass rushing expert, but I have read enough of Stephen White’s Hoss of the Week columns to recognize that Jordan could’ve used a different set of pass rushing moves, or maybe a pass rushing game to throw off the blockers.

Notice too that they sent four on the pass rush. That’s slightly unusual in a situation where a defense is trying to prevent a big play. They might have rushed three and had an extra man in coverage to help prevent the big play. Were they worried that Keenum, who’s pretty good on his feet, would slip outside the pocket and make a play?

The Saints could have really used those timeouts.

Remember earlier in the fourth quarter when Sean Payton challenged not one, but two plays that he had no business challenging? He lost a pair of timeouts for the effort.

They used the third timeout before the Vikings’ second down, the play before the big one, to get set.

So on that fateful third-and-10, another one would have been handy to get the defense lined up the way they needed to, like getting the linebackers in the right place or figuring out how to cover the receivers in trips on the offense’s left side of the field.

We need to talk about Williams’ tackle attempt.

Williams should not be the scapegoat for the Saints here. Fortunately, this is one time where the internet doesn’t seem to have irrationally turned on someone for a legitimate mistake.

He goes low here, dropping his head and leading with his shoulder in an attempt to lay out Diggs. And his misses him completely.

As we explained after the game, there’s some logic here. The Saints cannot afford a pass interference penalty that would stop the clock and give the Vikings a great spot for a game-winning field goal attempt. They’d already picked up four PI calls in this game.

He could’ve played the ball, going up into the air to contest the catch. That would have courted an interference call at precisely the wrong time. He also could have waited for Diggs to come down with it and tackled him in-bounds.

The decision he did end up making wasn’t necessarily wrong, but wrapping up and just making the tackle would have been better.

Unfortunately for the Saints, Williams’ miss happened to take out cornerback Ken Crawley, who was originally covering Jarius Wright, and happened to be the last man standing in the area with a chance at making the tackle.

With those two down, it set up Diggs for the big play.

Look at the moment Diggs realizes he’s free to the end zone. Damn.

The whole point of this play, as drawn up, was to give Keenum someone to throw to on the sidelines, and then for the receiver to get out of bounds, stopping the clock so the Vikings can try for the game-winning field goal.

And it’s here that Diggs hesitates, just for a teeny bit of a second. Momentum should have pushed him out of bounds, but as he comes down, he looks behind him, back toward the line of scrimmage.

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Look at it in slow motion. Notice what he sees there.

Right after he comes down with it, he sees the Saints defensive backs — No. 20 is cornerback Ken Crawley, who gets bowled over by Marcus Williams’, No. 43, failed tackle attempt — behind him on the ground. That’s when he realized there was no need to get out of bounds.

The men who were in front of him are now behind him, sprawled out on the turf. He turns around, regains his footing and he’s gone.

Keeping himself upright was also pretty impressive.

In the process of going up to make the catch, landing and turning upfield, Diggs loses his balance. He almost goes down. Any more wobble, and his knee, at least, would have been on the ground, in bounds. That would have effectively done what the Saints’ would-be tacklers couldn’t bring down the receiver in bounds to kill the clock, ending the game.

And all we’d have to talk about was a great catch that didn’t matter.

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The reaction on the sideline is priceless. Half the people standing there are pointing downfield, imploring Diggs to run to the win. The others are still in shock.

Hell, I’m still in shock. It’s hard to believe that actually happened.

I’m just going to let Everson Griffen sum it up for me.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Well put.

[keepyourgoodheart]

Nazi hunter: Hanns Alexander, a Jewish refugee serving in the British Army, captured Rudolph Hoss

[leagueofawesomedudes]

Week 4 Preview

After a less than satisfying recap from LOAD Presidente I figured we could get a little 2 for 1 action here. No shit talking, just wasn’t your best effort, you ruined a fantastic week of football and possibly the entire evening. But the original OG preview/recapper is here to pick up the slack. I mean honestly who doesn’t love a little 2fer action, 2 girls 1 weekend, 2 fingers 1 hole, and 2 giant LOADS 1 night comin at ya. Not only do we have some promising divisional matchups this week, we have some steaming hot (dude) LOAD matchups. Not to mention the return of this guy to Cleveland Friday after a 1 week hiatus to give little Solden a rest (plus my bed is a little comfier than hugging the toilet). But seriously, if Chad doesn’t step up with Lexi, my best bud Dom (unless he teases drunk Solden with tequila shots) will take our next step into the promised land and become brothers. Of the eskimo variety. Alright, back to football. Let’s get after it.

Holla’s Heavy Hitters (1-2) VS. 2 Gurleys 1 Cup (2-1)

After accidentally shouting out Sam for his name in the introduction, it’s safe to say this will be roast session on Sam. I mean honestly, could you think of a more annoying friend to win this much in fantasy? Mostly kidding roomie. Holla has some decisions for this week as his current lineup is relies heavily on a 2 hard hitting games (get it?) Atlanta facing a Buffalo defense that still hasn’t given up a passing touchdown this year and Tennessee at Houston which could be a snooze fest or actually fun to watch. Sam has some favorable matchups as his RB’s face defenses who have been struggling stopping it and Jameis facing a Giants team that’s never the same week to week. I gotta go with my guy Holla this week as I see both of his premier games being shootouts. And I mean seeing as no one else has banged a 50+ year old, who am I to bet against him.

Holla’s Heavy Hitters > 2 Gurleys 1 Cup

Ain’t EZ Bein Breezy (0-3) VS. Jon SnOBJs (1-2)

A lesser man would probably pack it in and call it quits after an 0-3 start, hell relationship Matt with a bush on his chest probably would too. But not this guy, we’re staying positive and sticking it wherever it fits. The only two to make a trade this year are already facing off as we see who got the better hand. I expect Brees to continue to shred it up but need some consistent help from my wingmen receiving core, after all everyone loves a good assist besides Sam. Chad is somehow more blacked out than me on a Wednesday reading this thinking he’s in a good spot. I do have to agree as his trio of receivers are locked in for solid performances but expect Chris Thompson to come back down to earth and minimal production from the rest. With that being said, Chad will be face first in a bottle of Tito’s this weekend living it up knowing he’s walking away with another win this weekend as I fall to a pitiful 0-4.

Jon SnOBJ’s > Ain’t EZ Bein Breezy

The Brady Bunch (1-2) VS. Julio Tones (3-0)

I thought about making this the matchup the week but I couldn’t let that be that boring with Doug being involved. I’m not sure anyone could have predicted the monster starts TB12 and Kareem Hunt would be off to. But just like any conversation with Doug goes, it slows down and becomes about Parker or IT as I see happening this week with those hosses. Still not sure how TJ nabbed this team but unlike his pants it is LOADed. I’m almost tempted to rosterbate to another mans team. That’s not weird you’re weird shut up dude. Continued success from his big 3 receivers (who honestly might be able to compete with Boston’s “big 3″ on the hardwood) and beefy backs I see TJ falling asleep at dive bar all the way to victory.

Julio Tones > The Brady Bunch 

G-reg 3rd Leg (1-2) VS. Little Diggs (2-1)

The matchup of the two people who have probably seen each other the least out of this whole group. Bennett feeling a little of the Cinci neglect can wag his little pecker in celebration that his just wait and see strategy finally paid off. Jordy and Aaron are set to have big weeks again against Da Bears (Mitchell starting week 8 you heard it here first) and the woman beater himself will probably go off against the Browns. Seriously Bennett, what the fuck is wrong with you drafting a black guy like that? I expect Dom to tinker the hell out of his lineup after a week like that but the decisions are easy this week as every position is projected over 15 points besides the kicker and D. You still don’t fuck more than me. I expect Dom to pull back the tequila shot of victory back on Bennett and take this one all the way back to the butthole (ass eating season is always in season).

Little Diggs > G-reg 3rd Leg

The Injured Reserve (2-1) VS. Crows Before Hoes (2-1)

Interesting matchup here as the tallest and smallest square off. The newly wifed up LOAD member against the 2nd newest wifed up member. The morning after boozing pacer against the thinks he’s a big time beat maker. That’s right, with the surprise pick I’m coming atcha with the MATCHUP OF THE WEEK. ch503710 (it’s been nice knowing ya) goes into the week coming off monster performances from key players and hoping to see Gillislee and Rudolph join the fun. Pauly finally gets a big week from Kirky and half his squad ends up as questionable as his sexuality. No way Oakland doesn’t rebound after that pitiful week so see Crabtree to rack up some points Mike Evans and the renewed fan favorite old man Larry against the 49ers. I see this one being a nailbiter, but expect Paul’s dreams to come true as these large black men carry him to the promised land of victory. Speed kills, and I mean who else can get 25 rushing yards on Alabamas defense??

Crows Before Hoes > The Injured Reserve

In conclusion, I’m ready to go 5-0 with my picks this week and reclaim my throne of the ultimate LOAD layer this weekend. Paul - I think it’s been 5 minutes since you showed a group of girls your abs. Boom Roasted. Casey - You have a girlfriend. Boom Roasted. Doug - The only thing worse than your 401k plan is having to hear about it every weekend. Boom Roasted. Bennett - Have you fallen asleep at your kitchen table lately? Boom Roasted. Holla - Are we too cool to hang out with the friends you got at the hillbilly convention? Boom Roasted. Chad - Do you know what the difference between you and an alcoholic is? Nothing, seriously text me we need to talk. Boom Roasted. Sam - The only thing worse at closing than you is a revolving door. Boom Roasted. Dom - How you get laid every weekend wearing clothes off the mannequins in the little boys section? Boom Roasted.  TJ - I like you better now that you’re not at Kent changing your major ever 2 weeks. Boom Roasted.

Much love my dudes but someone’s gotta keep you in check. Ready for a big fantasy free agency add/drops at 4am from Dom and seeing how the waiver wire works. Let’s get an early start Friday and keep the train rolling into the Tribe playoffs. And Holla, seriously invite me to your next gathering of guys that ring of fire wrestling looked wild.  

Solden out.

[fallalittlewhilebeforewesoar]

Rudolf Franz Ferdinand Höss

1st Commander of the Aushwitz concentration camp

4 May 1940 – 1 December 1943

8 May 1944 – 18 January 1945 This one man is responsible for the deaths of 2 500 000 - 3 000 000 human beings. Four days before his execution, Höss sent a letter to his prosecutors stating: "My conscience compels me to make the following declaration. In the solitude of my prison cell I have come to the bitter recognition that I have sinned gravely against humanity. As Commandant of Auschwitz I was responsible for carrying out part of the cruel plans of the 'Third Reich' for human destruction. In so doing I have inflicted terrible wounds on humanity. I caused unspeakable suffering for the Polish people in particular. I am to pay for this with my life. May the Lord God forgive one day what I have done."

Even the good-hearted who are crafted into something evil can realize in the end what it is that they have done wrong to their fellow man. "Since I was Commandant of the extermination camp Auschwitz I was totally responsible for everything that happened there, whether I knew about it or not. Most of the terrible and horrible things that took place there I learned only during this investigation and during the trial itself. I cannot describe how I was deceived, how my directives were twisted, and all the things they had carried out supposedly under my orders. I certainly hope that the guilty will not escape justice. It is tragic that, although I was by nature gentle, good-natured, and very helpful, I became the greatest destroyer of human beings who carried out every order to exterminate people no matter what."