Nazi In The Family

by Derek Niemann

WARTIME The Niemann family - Karl, Minna and their four children - live in a quiet, suburban enclave. Every day Karl commutes to work, a business manager travelling around inspecting his "factories". In the evenings he returns home to life as a normal family man. Three years ago Derek Niemann, born and raised in Scotland, made the chilling discovery that his grandfather Karl had been an officer in the SS - and that his "business" used thousands of slave labourers in concentration camps, such as Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. Derek had known little about the German side of his family, but now a lifetime of unsettling hints and clues began to fall into place. With the help of surviving relatives and hundreds of previously unknown family photographs, Derek uncovers the true story of what Karl did. A Nazi in the Family is an illuminating portrayal of how ordinary people can fall into the service of a monstrous regime.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Germany, Holocaust, Biography, World War II, War

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2015

Reviews

[ReadingwhileWalking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up after seeing Derek Niemann participating in a discussion, along with the daughter of a Jewish Holocaust survivor, and the son of a British WW2 prisoner in Italy, at Bradford Lit Fest. Not always an easy read, this is a detailed and scrupulous analysis of what Niemann's grandfather, an officer in the SS, got up to in WW2. The conclusion may be that ordinary people do terrible things in extraordinary times -- though I don't go along with that as an excuse -- and nor does Niemann, ultimately. I'd have liked to see more analysis of his own reactions when he stumbled across his grandfather's SS membership just 7 years ago... but it made me think of my partner's uncle, who was the Fascist podesta' (mayor) of our village, and about what he really got up to, and how no one in the family has ever had the courage to look into it, and how very easy it is to excuse and brush aside such things. All credit to Derek Niemann, then, for his bravery and honesty.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sobrely written and fairly interesting family history where the titular figure was a senior administrator in the organisation that managed the Holocaust.

The photographs at the end of the book are thought-provoking. How ordinary even the worst people can look.

[Nissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the truth and heart that was put out by the author. This magnificent story kept me gripped from start to finish. It's worth it to read this, plus it’s kindle book is priced very low.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely written account of how the second world war affected two generations of the Niemann family. The book is not simply about discovering there is a Nazi in the Niemann family tree - but instead is more of a biography of two family generations affected by war - with his granddad at the centre of the story.
Its impressive how much the author was able to discover and piece together from interviewing family members, and you really do get an appreciation as to how hard it must have been for German families living through (and after) the war.

[CR Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read about a family’s dark past. Well researched and written, the story tells us about a long dead member of the family who just happened to be a member of the SS during the Second World War. The account moves along quickly from Karl Nieman’s early association with the Nazis to when this bank clerk from Hamelin in Germany becomes an officer in the Waffen SS responsible for producing wooden items in the concentration camps. The author makes clear that, like many Nazis, his grandfather never really accepted that he did anything wrong even though he visited nearly all the death camps. It’s a little difficult to claim he didn’t know what was going on in places like Auschwitz. Nieman was there at Dachau in the beginning and then to Berlin to supervise production in the other camps. Nieman was sentenced to one year in prison for his crimes under the Denazification process. Overall, an excellent read.

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

After discovering that his grandfather, Karl Niemanns was an Nazi SS officer responsible for the organisation and use of slave labour taken from concentration camps whose mere names are symbols of horror, the author dispassionately researches his family history, drawing on historical archives and family memories. How much did Karl really know about the atrocities that happened in the camp? How did he live with himself afterwards - even appealing against his Nuremberg conviction after the war? Unlike the author, these are questions many descendants of Nazis often avoid asking - as discussed on the excellent BBC programme, Hitler’s Children, which, coincidentally, was broadcast whilst I was reading this book.

[Jo Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

SS war time and families all intertwined

A fascinating insight into how everyday German families struggled and suffered through the war.

It was a horrific time for so many, of all nationalities.

I feel particularly for Minna trying to do the best for her children. I’d like to think that Karl could have chosen to find another job, away from the SS, but under the political circumstances can see that there was probably little option. He after all had to provide for his family.

Also for Anne who moved to Scotland in the hope of a better life with her new husband. What a terribly lonely & difficult existence. So sad.

These things need to be talked about and understood so we avoid religious hatred and greed from taking such a hold again.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Should post war Germans be collectively held to blame for the holocaust. Are the sins of our fathers and grandfathers our sin, the Second World War is moving from reality to history with passing years. We must learn from history, but I think it’s time German people stop apologising for something they had no control over . The past is just that, as long as we learn from that past, and as individuals not follow ideals that are bad and evil, we can make sure it never repeat’s itself.

[Amanda Maio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Nazi in the family

This book was ok but I found it confusing in some parts and overlong in others.
It must have been such a shock to the family to find out that their Grandfather had not only been a Nazi but a member of the SS who had worked at the concentration camp of Dachau. He claimed he had no idea of what was happening to the jews in the camps (he travelled to other camps as well) but he would have to be wearing a set of headphones with a bag on his head because the camps occupants must have changed on a daily basis.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I was expecting.
It's the biography of the German family whom the father became an SS and worked at Dachau. The writor is a family member and I was, I don't know, expecting more suspense during his research about his family past but no. I was expecting a story like the book "my grandfather would have shot me" but it's not the same at all. From the 2nd chapter to the end, it's just facts about his family during and after the war time. To bad the photographs are at the end of the book.

[Sally-W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The factual account of an ordinary man (and his family) who joined the Nazi party, and then for want of a job worked for the SS. Someone whose awareness, knowledge and culpability of what happened in the concentration camps was more than he ever admitted to, yet who fixed deals to have inmates freed.
Well-written and very thought-provoking.

[Dana Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well written and researched - an interesting story and thought Niemann approached it well and remained unbiased. Incredibly interesting and I didn’t want to put it down. I did find it a bit confusing at times to keep track of dates/people but think that’s because I read it on kindle and it’s hard to flip back and forth.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the most boring books I’ve ever read. A dull account of some middle ranking Nazi who performed an admin role during the war. A totally unremarkable bloke - not the most evil but no hero. Absolutely no compelling reason to write a book about him. Full of speculation and boring facts. Can’t believe I finished it.

[Nicola Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this absolutely riveting and economically written, a style I really enjoy. It was brave of Neimann to risk the wrath of his family (and others) to write of the part they played in the rise and fall of the Nazis. He took a no-nonsense, unemotional approach to the story and the result is a highly readable book full of incredible history and an examination of those times. I highly recommend this.

[Kevin Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read - so good to read about this period from a family point of view - I felt connected with the author about how it feels to find out about who your grandfather was, and their actions and views.

[maggie waldock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written account of the discovery of a dark secret in a normal working class family in Scotland. Pragmatic approach without losing any of the drama. A little dry to start with but worth reading to the end

[jan and heather jasiok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very brave and informative author

Having a Polish Father in Law who escaped from Poland and a Father in the British Army in Germany in 1952 onwards I found it so informative . Met many children at school with German mothers and British Fathers. Explained alot!

[Amy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a tough subject to tackle, the story of your family members participation in the Holocaust. The author handles it well, appearing to stay honest and allowing the reader to judge for themselves.

[Georgia Rawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has worked in historical research for this time period the ‘uncle Jim was a Nazi and we found out later on’ narrative has been super overdone. However, this is simply one of the most intriguing accounts I’ve come across, and opened my eyes to nee information, whilst keeping me utterly gripped.

[Electra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest account as well as insight of what is like to be confronted with a Nazi legacy difficult to comprehend....

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

[mr a j davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

.

A well written story of an ordinary family's journey through extraordinary times due to their nazification. Photos also add to this work

[richard towner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Very interesting and eye opening i thoroughly enjoyed the story so much description of life and loves of the war good and evil .

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable read. This is and interesting and well researched document on the author's grandfather who played a minor role as an SS admin in Nazi Germany.

[Gerard Lafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and honest account of a family during the two world wars and the influence of Hitlers Nazi Germany.

[Stewart Cotterill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A searingly honest account of a grandson’s inquisitive research into his grandfather who was in the SS. The banality of evil shines through in this very interesting book.

[Meenehansgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartrending family history. The sins of the fathers? No winners in that war.

[Davidg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably a 3.5 but I'm feeling generous.

Derek Niemann discovers that his paternal grandfather was a relatively high ranking Nazi, something his father and uncle and aunt had never mentioned. This book is his research into his family's past. He hides nothing and thanks his father and uncle for sharing what memories they have of their childhoods.

I have been reading Dadland: A Journey into Uncharted Territory in parallel. Keggan Carew puts herself into her book, describing her father's wartime career and his dementia. I felt that Niemann could have improved his book by doing something similar. How did it feel for someone from the UK to discover this family secret and as he discovered more, how did that affect him and the rest of the family?

A short worthwhile read.

[a_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The perils of Google. One day while living in Scotland Derek Niemann discovers on the internet that his reclusive German grandfather was charged with Nazi war crimes in 1947. This sets him on the path to uncover the true story of his paternal family history. Many, including his family, believed that Karl Niemann was just a paper pusher during the war but in reality he was a member of the SS and managed factories that used slave laborers from concentration camps. He traveled throughout the German territories and witnessed first hand the living conditions of the camps, yet he would go home at night and not speak a word at all to his family. The main problem with this book is that Karl left behind no journals or letters so we never get a complete picture of his thoughts or beliefs. Instead there are many assumptions which tend to favor Karl and paint him as being more innocent without any evidence to support them. I get it, nobody would want to believe that their grandfather would witness such atrocities and be able to sleep peacefully at night. At the end of the war the Niemann family flees Berlin and given orders to retreat to Bavaria. After several days of travel they arrive at Dachau to get more supplies. This was during the last week of the War and the Germans stopped burying the bodies from the concentration camp. Instead they were left to decompose in piles outside. Imagine the stench in the air! Yet the Karl Neimann and his wife never acknowledge this according to their children who were interviewed for the book. I just can't wrap my head around it.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Derek Niemann and his family. The author was born and raised in Scotland, and he happened to discover that his grandfather was an SS officer during World War II. He went on a search to find out more about his German heritage and what his grandfather was involved in during the war. This was a very good book. I wonder how many other people are like this author, with their family hiding secrets under the rug or not knowing anything about the past of someone so central in their lives. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in World War II.