Millions, including Simon Wiesenthal, faced horrendous circumstances as a Nazi prisoner during the Holocaust. While performing slave labor, Wiesenthal receives with an astounding request from an unexpected source, a Nazi SS officer, and faces an unimaginable entreaty.
When Simon Wiesenthal awoke each morning in the concentration camp, his primary thoughts were likely on survival and his only concern regarding the SS officers was avoidance. Unbeknownst to him, while performing slave labor at a hospital near the concentration camp, Wiesenthal would interact with an SS officer amid unlikely and unexpected circumstances. After being summoned by a nurse to the hospital room of Karl, a dying SS officer and an individual personally culpable for the …show more content…
Shocked, overwhelmed, and repulsed, Wiesenthal attempted to leave the room numerous times. The officer grasped his hand tightly and implored him to stay; Wiesenthal complied. After sharing his experiences, Karl plead with Wiesenthal to forgive him; Wiesenthal said nothing, left the room, and resumed working with the other concentration camp prisoners. After returning to the camp, Wiesenthal explained the day’s events to Arthur and Josek, two friends who are also prisoners in the concentration camp. After Wiesenthal recounted his ordeal with the SS officer, Arthur responded by simply saying “So you saw a murderer dying…I would like to do that ten times a day. I couldn’t have enough such hospital visits” while Josek supported Wiesenthal’s decision to remain silent, stating “…I feared at first that you had really forgiven him. You would have had no right to do this in the name of people who had not authorized you to do so. What people have done to you yourself, you can, if you like, forgive and forget. That is your affair. But it would have been a terrible sin to burden your conscience with other people’s sufferings.” Wiesenthal seemed to struggle with his decision and appeared to carry the weight of his choice to remain silent with him throughout the remainder of the
When Simon Wiesenthal awoke each morning in the concentration camp, his primary thoughts were likely on survival and his only concern regarding the SS officers was avoidance. Unbeknownst to him, while performing slave labor at a hospital near the concentration camp, Wiesenthal would interact with an SS officer amid unlikely and unexpected circumstances. After being summoned by a nurse to the hospital room of Karl, a dying SS officer and an individual personally culpable for the …show more content…
Shocked, overwhelmed, and repulsed, Wiesenthal attempted to leave the room numerous times. The officer grasped his hand tightly and implored him to stay; Wiesenthal complied. After sharing his experiences, Karl plead with Wiesenthal to forgive him; Wiesenthal said nothing, left the room, and resumed working with the other concentration camp prisoners. After returning to the camp, Wiesenthal explained the day’s events to Arthur and Josek, two friends who are also prisoners in the concentration camp. After Wiesenthal recounted his ordeal with the SS officer, Arthur responded by simply saying “So you saw a murderer dying…I would like to do that ten times a day. I couldn’t have enough such hospital visits” while Josek supported Wiesenthal’s decision to remain silent, stating “…I feared at first that you had really forgiven him. You would have had no right to do this in the name of people who had not authorized you to do so. What people have done to you yourself, you can, if you like, forgive and forget. That is your affair. But it would have been a terrible sin to burden your conscience with other people’s sufferings.” Wiesenthal seemed to struggle with his decision and appeared to carry the weight of his choice to remain silent with him throughout the remainder of the