Ohlendorf paused to go ask his orderly for another pot of coffee. “Here too, in Russia, the initial idea was much more limited. Everyone thought the campaign would be short and we planned to do what we did in Poland, that is, decapitate the leaders, the intelligentsia, the Bolshevist chiefs, all the dangerous men. A horrible task in itself, but vital and logical, given the excessive character of Bolshevism, its absolute lack of scruples. After the victory, we could have once again considered a global, final solution, creating for instance a Jewish reservation in the North or in Siberia, or sending them to Birobidjan, why not?”—“It’s a horrible task whatever the case,” I said. “Can I ask you why you accepted? With your rank and your abilities, you could have been more useful in Berlin.”—“Of course,” he replied briskly. “I’m neither a soldier nor a policeman, and this minion’s work doesn’t suit me. But it was a direct order and I had to accept. And also, as I told you, we all thought it would last a month or two, no more.” I was surprised that he answered me so frankly; we had never had such an open conversation. “And after the Vernichtungsbefehl?” I went on. Ohlendorf didn’t reply right away. The orderly brought the coffee; Ohlendorf offered me some more: “I’ve had enough, thanks.” He remained plunged in his thoughts. Finally he replied, slowly, choosing his words carefully. “The Vernichtungsbefehl is a terrible thing. Paradoxically, it’s almost like an order from the God of the Jews’ Bible, isn’t it? Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. You know that, it’s in the first Book of Samuel. When I received the order, that’s what I thought about. And as I told you, I believe that it’s a mistake, that we should have had the intelligence and ability to find a more…humane solution, let’s say, one more in agreement with our conscience as Germans and as National Socialists. In that sense, it’s a failure. But you also have to look at the realities of war. The war goes on, and every day that this enemy force remains behind our lines reinforces our adversary and weakens us. It’s a total war, all the forces of the nation are involved in it, and we can’t afford to neglect any means to victory, any. That’s what the Führer understood clearly: he cut the Gordian knot of doubts, hesitations, divergent interests. He did it, as he does everything, to save Germany, aware that if he can send hundreds of thousands of Germans to their deaths, he can and must also send to theirs the Jews and all our other enemies. The Jews are praying and striving for our defeat, and so long as we haven’t won we can’t nourish such an enemy in our midst. And for us, who have received the heavy burden of carrying out this task to the end, our duty toward our people, our duty as true National Socialists, is to obey. Even if obedience is the knife that guts the will of man, as St. Joseph of Cupertino said. We have to accept our duty in the same way that Abraham accepts the unimaginable sacrifice of his son Isaac demanded by God. You’ve read Kierkegaard? He calls Abraham the knight of faith, who must sacrifice not only his son, but also and especially his ethical principles. For us it’s the same, isn’t that so? We have to accomplish Abraham’s sacrifice.”
