2

by Romulus Linney

April, 1945. The Nuremberg War Crimes Trials against the leaders of Nazi Germany are about to begin. Hermann Goering, in the place of Adolf Hitler, leads the accused and with his German counsel, prepares his defense. Drug free and healthy from a spartan imprisonment, Goering is once again the formidable man who more than any other made Hitler Chancellor of Germany and built the engines of the Third Reich. He defies the Tribunal with wit and ferocity, refuses to blame Hitler for his actions, denies the right of any conqueror to fairly prosecute the conquered, and foretells a disturbing future for crimes of war. As the horrors of what he is responsible for come to light, he demonically refuses to accept them as anything but the natural consequences of human conflict, and after manipulating his own suicidal escape from hanging, asks the audience, "What do you think men are?"

Genres: Plays

Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A play that focuses on Herman Goering during his trial at Nuremberg. It’s mostly based on fact, but there is some speculation regarding his death as well. It’s a quick paced, fascinating read.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this play when it was produced as part of the 1989 Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville. It is one of the most mesmerizing works I've ever seen. The play delves into the last few days of the life of the Fuehrer's second-in-command, Hermann Goering, a mass of contradictions: a charming manipulator, an unfathomable monster, a devoted father. Rather than personify the banality of evil, as Hannah Arendt said about Adolph Eichmann, Goering personified the compartmentalization of evil.

When the play ended, the entire audience just sat in stunned silence. It took nearly a minute for us to gather our wits, leap to our feet, and begin the thunderous applause. When you read the play, you'll understand.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The normalization and justification of fascism. A difficult play to read now. However, incredibly insightful and scary.