Time Captured E-Book

Varick Addler

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Seitenzahl: 309

Beschreibung

Dietrich Schiederer is a disturbed man. Somewhere between his past and his future, he has lost himself. Absorbed by his delusions of grandeur, Dietrich is a prisoner of his own mind, a warder of his own soul. In this exciting psychological thriller, the reader is taken into Dietrich’s world. It is a disturbing and yet instigating experience. Dietrich’s mind is a maze into which one walks with no idea of what will be found. Is he a delusional man, a sick man with no clue of what is going on in the world right now? Or is he the only one who can actually see the truth? Dietrich wants to convince you that his version of the story is the only one that matters. He will let you enter the darkest side of his personality and lure you into his world of suspicion and manipulation. His personal story will change the very course of History. In this journey, you’ll see the rise and fall of the New Nazi Empire, you’ll meet the Devil and his followers, and you’ll fall in love with the story of a man, an ordinary man, who ends up crossing every line in the name of love. A love he didn’t know was possible... a love that doesn’t know any limits.

Leseprobe

“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.”

-Karl Marx

Table of Contents

Prologue

It’s Time

Meet Dietrich Schiederer

The SS

The Devil’s Spiel

Arbeit Macht Frei

Dream Girl

Probable Sour Romance

2018

The Führer

Cashing Up

Traitors to the Regime

Block 24-A

Martine

Alea jacta est

Swееtеnеd Rоmаnсе

Meine Tochter

Pleased to Meet You

The brave and young

Wewelsburg

Coup D’état

The Battle of Crimea

Zenith

A Brave New World

Police State

Refugee Camp

Resistance

The Geopolitics of Terror

The Great Escape

An Old Friend

Was it me?

Attempts on the Führer

Fiat Justitia, et Pereat Mundus

Leader, my Leader, given to me by God

Suspicion

Stauffenberg

Mrs. Schiederer

What year is it today?

A new alliance

Valkyrie 2.0

Back to the Future

Farewell

Prologue

Where has he gone? Big Brother? Doesn’t he see it? Doesn’t he care? Now that we have dead children on our shores, crying mothers by our fences, broken families, desperate times, desperate measures. Isn’t that all there is to surveil? The sorrow of human nature? But what do I know? I’m just a man. I’m just one man. One man against a brave new world! I am Smith! Winston Smith, pleased to meet you.

I know... I make no sense. But how to make sense of oneself in these times we’re living? I know... I ask a lot of questions. What answers have I got? What answers could I possibly have to give? The world has come to an outrageous state of things. I do not know what Orwell or Huxley would say. I cannot tell if they saw into the future, if they predicted it, if they inspired it. All I know is that things, as they are... Well, they cannot be!

There is this quote. People say it is Buddha’s (could one really know?). It says that three things cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Well, I say, sure as hell they can. Big Brother does it. He follows us everywhere. He watches us, he guides us, he tells us what to think, how to feel, where to live, whom to love. He conceals, he manipulates, he lies – he hides the sun, the moon, and hell yeah... the truth! He “takes care” of us. I say we can take care of ourselves! We are not always sure of what we want, but we know exactly what we don’t, and that’s a start.

We live in a world where Donald Trump is running for President. And can we blame the man? I mean... everyone has the right to be a jerk. But having a shot at winning this? Becoming Mr. President? Come on! Whose fault is it? That is not on him. People have been brainwashed. I refuse to believe they can be so stupid... but brainwashed... who knows...

And what about Europe? What about memory, huh? Guns, germs and steel, all right… but what about history? What about consciousness? Isn’t hindsight an asset? What about mercy? What about compassion, and kindness, and empathy? Have we all gone heartless? Are we soulless creatures just wandering around the world, with no purpose whatsoever?

I have trouble sleeping at night, thinking of how much pain, how much grief a tiny 5-year-old child carries across the Mediterranean. And then the door is closed. And then daddy is lost. And then food is short. And then we don’t belong, we don’t speak the language, we’re not educated enough, we’re not good enough, we’re not white enough. Xenophobia… a long word, isn’t it? But it’s not that… it’s the economy!! Oh my, the economy! This fictional critter! This fable! Our scapegoat! They cannot come in… they will steal our jobs! They will colonize us! They will take over!

Enough! I say we fight! We must and we can! Today! Right now!

Again, Donald Trump is running for President, for Christ’s sake! Trump!!! They play that on us, and then what? They expect us to do nothing? To sit back and watch? Well, I say we take it to the streets! That’s my answer! No more fences! No more walls! No more manipulation! Freedom! We want freedom all the way!

... I hear something. I have to go. I don’t have much time. They’re coming for me.

It’s Time

I woke up one beautiful morning with the strangest taste in my mouth. I couldn’t tell for how long I had slept. Everything looked the same. My chair, the books on my desk, everything looked exactly the same, and everything still does. But I... I didn’t feel the same, and I still don’t. I tried to get up from my bed. I could feel the weight of the world upon my shoulders. I did not recognize myself in the mirror. At that instant, I fell back on my bed. Since then, I’ve been unable to move. At least not through my own will and power. I’m inert, but I’m restless. What a strange feeling indeed.

I know I had something in my mind, but I cannot tell exactly what. I see her whenever I close my eyes. For some reason, I cannot recall her name. And I see things, a lot of things.

I keep seeing these stars, you know. I keep seeing stars and little children. Dead children. Crying children. I tend to ask myself, what do they want from me? All of these people. They keep staring at me, and I’ve got nowhere to hide.

When I open my eyes, the only thing I could see is the ceiling. I feel strained. And I wish I could do something about it, but I can barely move my fingers.

A woman came in, from the look of things, she must be a nurse. I tried to say something. She’s staring at me. Poor girl, she’s almost as static as me. Her pallid face pales even more when she comes near me. I started to wonder, was she scared? What on earth could I possibly do to her in my condition? But I wouldn’t bug myself with that as an issue, let’s go back to what really matters.

My story is a tale of woe. But it is a tale that is yet to be finished. The facts I’m about to tell you might frighten you deeply, from the flesh to the bone. I have no intention of hiding anything and I’m not afraid of the consequences. It all has come to a point in which everyone must be alert. And I myself have come to a point in which I have got nothing left to lose. The one thing that I cared about seems to have been lost forever, never to be redeemed again.

All day long, each and every day, all I think about is how to make things right. I must confess I do not have a plan. But, this question keeps bothering me, does one really need a plan when one has all the time in the world?

People used to say that I do not make any sense sometimes. But I hardly get to see anyone nowadays, so why should I care? You see, there are others like me. We are all stuck here like an iron wedged between some rocks. Some of us want things to remain just the way they are. Others are looking for a second chance. And exactly because I have nothing left to lose, I don’t mind taking my chances on an entirely different outcome. I do not mind it at all. And as soon as I start telling you my story, you will understand why this very story is not starting from the beginning.

Here she comes; the nurse. Martine I think her name is.

“There is a young man here to see you, sir. Should I let him in?”

I had no strength from within to answer. I wondered what has happened to me. I looked at her, and it does not seem to make much difference whether my answer would be yes or the opposite.

A young man in uniform entered the room. I’ve been expecting him. What took him so long? I wondered. I had the feeling that he was hearing me clearly. He looked so proud, so motivated. Perhaps he is one of us... Perhaps it’s time.

Meet Dietrich Schiederer

Dietrich Schiederer liked to think of himself as an ordinary man. Earlier in life, however, he found out that he was anything but that.

Dietrich's father had drunk himself to death. It was the 1920s; hyperinflation was tough on minimum wage workers, one of which he was. The economic crisis took a toll on his family. His father who had lost his job started drinking because he couldn't accept that his wife and children were doomed to this unbecoming fate. He could not stand seeing them in such cruel poverty. Some say the economy was improving... but for whom? It seemed not to be improving for anyone, anyone at all. They didn’t see any perspective, they didn’t have any choice. For many years, he didn’t know what to do, it seemed like all he could do was drink up his sorrow, and he became extremely violent. Dietrich had no choice than to experience this violence, but suffered even more trauma for seeing his beloved mother fall prey to his father’s alcohol-induced madness.

His father was a tall man. He wasn’t very burly, but he was strong as a bull. Sometimes, he would come home very late at night, after one or two days away from the night, the smell of alcohol could still be felt on his breath and pores. One of those nights, he could barely stand on his own two feet, and Dietrich’s mom started crying her heart out. He slapped her in the face, to make her stop sobbing. She couldn’t help herself, so he punched her over and over, harder and harder. She was slim and fragile – even slimmer now, with less and less food on the table. Dietrich watched the beatings, ever more frequent, always quiet and powerless. He started to grow a thick skin having witnessed all of that, the bullying, the man-handling and the battery. At least on the outside, it seemed like he was becoming an indifferent, unresponsive guy.

In 1929, after years of suffering and inflicting pain on his wife and son, his father finally passed away. He was actually relieved to see him go. But Dietrich was just a young lad and suddenly and automatically became the man of the house. It was overwhelming indeed, but it was about time. He couldn’t bear his father’s encumbrance any longer. He started to think in practical terms. But it would definitely not be easy to provide for his family on his own. He had time for nothing else but to care for his mother and sisters. He blamed local Jewish traders for the disgrace of his father. They were increasing the prices of everything. And they wouldn’t give jobs to anyone, so how were they supposed to pay for commodities?

Dietrich was not completely stupid. He knew, rationally, that the whole tragedy was his own father's fault. How could it be any different? But deep in his heart he could not accept it, he needed a scapegoat. Besides, the Jews had made Germany lose the First World War – hadn’t they? – And now they would have to pay. The diktat of Versailles, the humiliation, the ruined economy, all of it was their fault. They had planned it and executed it. They would have to pay. And their time was coming.

The nation also needed a scapegoat. As we have seen time and time again throughout history, at times of severe economic turmoil, states often employ political spectacles for the masses. The results are an increased form of nationalism and manipulation. States (and people) resort to violence not because they are powerful, but because they are weak. And as Dietrich had learned from his father, violence entails fear, which conceals the original problems by creating a new one. Terror, then, becomes the new normal – totalitarianism, in turn, finds its very own spawning ground.

He was never really interested in politics. He never had time for this kind of stuff. But he did hear what people were talking about. It was their entire fault, those damned Jews. His hate for them grew deep inside his soul. Those people had more than he could ever have, and they were not even German, were they? Well, they should go back to the place where they came from. And they should leave them alone. If they insisted on staying, hell, they would have to pay the price. That was right. They had a new chancellor now. This Hitler now in government; it seemed like he could finally change things, do something about it. But Dietrich... he had to go to work. There was absolutely nothing else he could do at that point. He thought of studying, of doing something better for his future, but he didn’t have a choice. He had to cater for the present. One day, he thought, he would go to one of Hitler’s rallies; he wanted to hear him speak, to see him in person.

He was not disappointed when he went to see Hitler. Although he was lost in the huge crowd and could not see the man himself, he heard the words. The words of a man who wanted to set Germany free from the clutches of those Jews. From that day on, Dietrich had faith that things would change. For the better. A revolution by Hitler would put things in correct order. The way it ought to be.

He was happy when the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service was passed. Those Jewish who had taken over the economy were now subjected to humiliation. No more working for them, no access to market or amenities. What Hitler was advocating for was coming to pass. He was happier when two years later the Nuremberg Laws were passed forbidding marriage between true Germans and the Jewish. Those Jewish were no longer citizens of the state. It was only a matter of time.

Every morning, Dietrich would wake up very early, drink up a cup of tea or coffee, and walk briskly to work. He had worked for as long as he could remember. Newspaper boy, waiter, janitor. His life had never been a bit easy. Ambition, for Dietrich, was not a whim; it was a means of survival. He had to look after himself and after his family, especially now that his father was gone, never to return to the surface of the earth again.

When he was old enough to join the army, he decided to do so. He had never thought of himself as a soldier, but what choice did he have? He had to gather enough income and fend for his family.

The only thing he would miss was the sweet look in her eyes. She was the slim girl who sold flowers at the corner, close to his house. Every morning he would pass by her, and she would let slip a timid smile. Dietrich felt that there was a deep connection between them. One that became deeper and deeper every single time their eyes met. They had never exchanged a word. They didn’t have to, but they exchanged more, with the smiles, they communicated.

Her skin was fair and her eyes were blue. And her hair had this deep hazelnut color... And it was her hair, the perfect frame the most splendid face he had ever seen. She indeed looked like an angel. She smelled like an angel. And she carried flowers. What was there not to love about her? Maybe nothing at all, she was all good.

From his first day at the army to the very last, he thought of her and dreamed of the day he would see her again and have her in his arms. He could wait for as long as it would take. As long as he could cherish the memory of her, he could wait for his whole life.

Dietrich soon found out that he was extremely good at the art of being a soldier. He was not the kind of man who asked too many questions. He didn’t talk much. He was reasonably methodical, highly disciplined, and painstakingly careful. All of these were the qualities of a true fighter. In all matters related to war and strategy, he excelled. He could have made a career in the army, for as long as he wished. Life, however, had different plans for him.

Earlier on, he saw an opportunity. You see, Dietrich’s problems at that moment could be reduced to one big issue – he needed money, and he needed it desperately. He had heard of a paramilitary group that was expanding its troops. It had something to do with politics, and he didn’t know so much about it. Whatever it was, he could have better chances there. They were offering benefits that could really help his mother. Tragedy had struck, she had been sick for the past few months, his younger sister had died; the older one had eloped. She had run away to England with the most disgraceful Jew – so, yes, she was as good as dead, too. Now, more than ever, he was his mother’s rock, he had to do everything possible to get her in a lasting good shape.

He would not let politics get in the way of giving her better days before the end. Yes, he would join that group, it was for the betterment of the lot of himself and his mother, but, in the main, for his mother.

While still in the army, he looked for people who knew this group and could explain to him exactly what to do, where to go, and who to follow. He was relieved to know that it had something to do with Hitler. A private security team for him. Perhaps he would have the chance to meet him in person... can you imagine? So he started his job as some kind of bodyguard. Wherever there was a Party meeting, he would go.

… It was the Schutzstaffel.

The SS

It wasn’t long before Dietrich found a Nazi mentor and was accepted to join the SS Junkerschule. To join however, he had to provide proof of his Aryan ancestry dating back to a while. He passed through a series of physical tests to check his fitness before he was accepted into the SS. He was instructed to denounce his Christian faith which he did. After all, where was God when his family was suffering? Where was he when those Jews took over Germany? A few esoteric rituals were performed at the school but he paid them no attention, they were all for a good cause.

His mother was extremely proud of her son’s achievement. And, at that moment, there was nothing in the world that mattered more to him than seeing her eyes glitter and sparkle with joy and satisfaction.

The school provided leadership training. Its building was designed in such a way that it would impress anyone who passed by it. Dietrich was indeed fascinated.

His first days at the school were difficult. He felt out of place. Most fellow students were from noble backgrounds. He felt extremely lucky to be among them, but also utterly out of place, it was like he was the odd one out, as if he didn’t belong there, as if he didn’t deserve it.

He was also a loner at the school, keeping to himself. It seemed the other men did not want to be a part of him. He decided then that he would make something of himself, be the best at what he was.

For a long time, Dietrich was indoctrinated, persuaded and brainwashed. And so his transformation began – politically and, above all, morally.

One morning, when Dietrich woke up, he didn’t know exactly where he was. He had this persistent thought of some kind of “invasion”. The images would come and go, over and over again. Was it Germany invading Poland? Was it Russia invading Crimea? And what difference would it make? He was still a soldier. Was he not? He started having visions. They seemed real; he could really feel the things that he saw – the cold, the heat, the fear, the pain, the pressure. Perhaps he was just tired from all the training, which was making him feel the way he was feeling; they barely had time to sleep. It must have been that, he concluded.

His time at the Junkerschule was extremely valuable; there is no doubt about it. He gained confidence as well as knowledge. He prided himself on being a called and true German, a calling which would make him serve his land. More and more, he would think of the damage that Jewish people had caused in his life. His father might have been an abominable and violent addict, but he was right about this one thing – these people, the Jews were not to be trusted, they had to be stopped from causing further harm.

He slowly started to understand the doctrine of the Nazi Party. And why had it taken him so long? It was all crystal clear now. He had something to hold on to. He should have joined the movement earlier. He would fight tooth and nail to defend his country against the international Jewish conspiracy.

At school, he quickly learned that they were the superior race. And that others like those Jews, those homosexuals were unclean and had to be gotten rid of no matter the cost. When there was conflict, whatever aspect it was, brutality and terror was the answer. Only those could make things right. His loyalty and obedience was unto death and was to the Führer, Hitler.

His dedication to training and service at the school was much appreciated by the staff. He was not exactly exceptionally brilliant, but he was bold, he was dedicated, and more importantly, he had nothing to lose. They could really use this guy, he would be fit for the job.

Besides, Dietrich had developed a taste for power. Although he wasn’t much of a talker, he sure knew what to do in order to be listened to, heard and obeyed when he wanted to. His ambitions grew and waxed stronger every day.

One day, he heard something about an agreement in Munich. People were thrilled by some new addition to the German territory. Apparently, Germany would now be larger. And all of those German people from this new land would be really at home where they belonged. There would be more living space for the Germanic people. He felt dignified. Things finally seemed to be taking a turn for the better. He couldn’t help but think of his family. If only his father had lived to see this... it could have changed their whole story for the better, it would have made their lives worth living. It was too late now, but he could see a bright and beautiful future for himself.

He was obedient. He knew that his efforts were worth it and he wanted to be a part of this new Germany that was rising and growing strong even from inception– the Reich that would last a thousand years. Now, beyond any shadow of doubt, he had figured out what he wanted for his life. And people were right; the Führer was the one to thank for the new development. He deserved Dietrich’s loyalty and hard work. Now, more than ever, he would say... no, he would scream “Heil Hitler” at the top of his lungs.

The following year, when he heard that Germany would take Poland, he volunteered. He was eager to be a part; he wanted to be at the front. Not only had he felt it was his duty, but he knew that there was nothing else in the world that could be more important than undertaking it. Besides, he knew that, when he came back later, as a war hero, he would have the guts to find out her name, to talk to her, and to finally have the life he had dreamed of. Day and night, he would think of her, and those thoughts would keep him safe until they later meet.

Everything happened so quickly. Within months, the Nazis started to build more and more concentration camps. In Poland, Dietrich seized an opportunity. He didn’t even fight at the front. By the time he arrived, he heard of a new camp that would host Polish political prisoners. And he quickly volunteered to help.

When he arrived in Auschwitz, there was so much to be done. The dilapidated buildings had once served as a home for the Polish army and a few workers. The old installations needed to be cleaned, the buildings needed to be renovated, and there was no source of supplies around. But he was determined to build something great. And so were his peers. He fell under the command of Rudolf Hoess, one of the most important officers of the regime – a man that was very close to Himmler and Hitler. Dietrich saw this as the opportunity of a lifetime. He had to give his best and prove his value, and prove to the world that he would do anything, anything at all to defend Germany and by so doing, rise to the peak of his dreams.

The Devil’s Spiel

What a strange conversation he had one night! He was getting up and getting ready to assist his master. What a strange dream he had! Would he have the strength to face the enemy this morning? He felt haunted, and wasted, and he also felt small. He dreamt someone else’s dreams. He fought someone else’s fight. He must conquer his own life, not another person’s. Perhaps this is what that conversation was about. It’s hard to interpret now… there’s just so much to do. The enemy seems to be everywhere.

As soon as he closed his eyes, Dietrich heard a voice. He had been lost in his thoughts for a moment. Memories and plans, regrets and expectations, all merged into one deep feeling of emptiness. Suddenly, this deep voice interrupted his trance and called on him to go to the hall and face the mirror for a moment. He hesitated for a second, thinking of how silly that would be. What if someone caught him there? Doing nothing but staring at the mirror, what would he say? He would say that “a voice” told him to do so? What would they think? Wouldn’t they start thinking he had gone nuts or something? They could send him away. But he got carried away by this unearthly impulse, he couldn’t stick to his will and defy the voice that had come from nowhere, and within seconds, he was standing there in the hall, facing and staring at himself in the mirror.

In a jiffy, the most aberrant figure loomed behind him, appearing to be the owner of the voice. A dark shadow taller than anything he had seen before with features that had called him to the hall. Then the figure spoke, would make the bravest run, Dietrich lets out a gasp of fear.

Do not move! Do not turn around! Through the mirror we talk. I have been watching you, Dietrich. I have been able to hear you. Since the day you were born, I have followed your steps, and now it is time I presented you with the opportunity of your life. I know how much you crave meaningfulness, how much you want to be loved and admired. I know how important you deserve to be too. Your mere existence must be recognized and celebrated. I have seen how different you are from other people. You have what it takes, Dietrich. No mercy, no compassion. You have discipline and ambition, and that is what I want. You can be who you long to be. Destiny has brought you here for a reason. You have a mission, you see. All you have to do is follow my lead, submit to me. I have great plans for this world, and you might be just the exact tool that I have been looking for, to carry out my mission on earth.

And don’t you worry about anything right now; you will know what to do and how to do the things that need to be done when the time comes. In fact, you will not be able to avoid any of it. And I promise you this: until you fulfill your mission and achieve the greatness you deserve, I will watch you closely. You will have a thousand chances. I will open a gate for you. It is a gate that never closes. You will never fail, because you will always have another chance. I have great plans for you, Dietrich Schiederer. Great plans! Great plans beyond the comprehension of mere human beings, I have singled you out to carry out these plans. All you have to do is say yes, and I will make it happen.

Dietrich was mesmerized, he was hypnotized. He couldn’t move any of the parts of his body. Standing there like figure one, staring at the mirror like his life depended on the mirror, or that the answer to the looming mystery resided in the mirror, he could only feel his ambitions grow within him. Yes, he wanted power more than anything, he craved it with all his. Although he did not know this being, everything he wanted in life was being handed to him. He knew he would not have such an opportunity again. Silently he nodded his head in agreement, the creature smiled and vanished without a word. He was left standing in the hallway wondering if it had been a dream or his imagination.

He spent all day mulling over those feelings. His whole body felt so unfamiliar. What a dreadful experience he had had. But it all felt so right. All of those promises… they made so much sense to him! It was like a dream come true, and he could feel that he had been on the right path for quite a long time already. He wondered if the occurrence was as a result of a change of environment or was it those rituals performed at his initiation into the SS. But that was a while ago. Was he going crazy? He started to wonder. Well... people do say there’s more to this world than meets the eye. He didn’t have to tell anyone about it... it wouldn’t hurt to believe in what happened as a reminder of his chances in life.

That very morning, he went out to fetch the barber at a salon to get himself in good shape, so he could look like he ought to look like. Even in Auschwitz, he still seemed meant to do the simple things. Every week, Rudolf Hoess would have the barber over to groom him. Dietrich was in charge of bringing the man in. During every grooming session, he would stay around to watch the barber closely, avoiding any reckless attempts against Hoess. At that point, Auschwitz was not the mass murder concentration camp that it would later become. Nevertheless, it was already no ordinary prison.

Dietrich was ambitious, but he was still a simple man. Even with his previous studies at the Nazi academy, he didn't know much about geopolitics. Ratzel, Haushofer and such... those were names he had never paid attention to before. But he knew that Germany was destined for greatness. He knew that the government of his country, more than any other, was to rule its people with a very firm hand and to conquer the greatness the Fatherland deserved and has always deserved.

So, as an exception to his ordinary style, that morning, he actually spoke to Hoess. He had started hearing rumors of a “final solution”, but no one seemed to have the guts to come up with a good plan for that. Well, why not let the men dig up their own graves? It would be so much easier. At that time, the killings were not so... how to put this... abundant. And his idea pleased the boss.

Dietrich started having so many ideas. Just to start with, he did not think of the enemy as real people. They were numbers, figures, expenses, and problems to be dealt with. And Dietrich knew what was expected from him when it came to solving problems: this was efficiency.

Arbeit Macht Frei

Under the rule of Rudolf Hoess, Auschwitz was soon to become a symbol of Nazi terror. Most people knew that by now. What no one knows, however, is the role Dietrich Schiederer played in all this.

When he arrived, Auschwitz was just an isolated site, with a bunch of decaying buildings. The rooms were mouldy, the floors were chipped, windows broken and the roofs were leaky. Nothing was easy to fix. There were no supplies around or any stores where to buy them. They had to bring the Jews that lived around that region to lay the foundations of the new camp. The areas around also had to be cleaned. Polish Jews were evicted along with local residents, and some of the properties nearby were allocated to German officials. German citizens were offered benefits if they would move to the area. Soon, other annexes would be constructed to serve as concentration camps.

Getting food was another challenge at the beginning. Until a train line was established, they had to rely on local farmers to provide for the premises. Some of them used to help the Jews escape, so that was a problem, too.

Dietrich had worked too hard for way too long in that place. And with effort and patience, he ended up gaining the confidence of Rudolf Hoess himself. After a long time of service, Dietrich became his right hand. He was extremely discreet; so discreet that no records of him could be traced to this very day. He influenced the transformation of Auschwitz to achieve his ambitions of grandeur, both for himself and for Germany. His superiors always liked the fact that he wouldn’t boast about his ideas, he just kept his calm and made noticeable wave.

When the Nazis needed to deal with the shortage of manpower, Dietrich was the one who suggested that they brought Polish Jews. They needed a lot of people to do the work. The camp was now to receive Soviet prisoners – thousands of them. And as these prisoners began to arrive, some 10,000 of them, the camp started to look grimmer and grimmer. But this was exactly what these people deserved. They had disgraced and floored Germany. And they had yet no clue of what plans Dietrich still had in store for them.

Conditions at Auschwitz was horrible for the prisoners. Thousands of them were put into compartments of the buildings. Some would even sleep standing. There were no latrines for a while and prisoners were exposed to vermin and so many diseases. The day began at 4:30 with prisoners given hot tea for breakfast, a thin meatless vegetable soup for lunch and a small moldy bread at night. The prisoners were identified by the color of triangular pieces of cloth sewn onto their uniform jackets. While that of political prisoners was red, Jehovah witnesses was purple, criminals green and Jewish yellow. Prisoners were also tattooed with their prisoner number either on the chest or arm.

The camps were getting filled on a daily basis. When new prisoners arrived by train, there would be a selection by the SS. Those who were deemed capable of being laborers were sent to the right and admitted to the camp. Those who were not deemed capable which mainly consisted of children, women, the elderly and the disabled were sent to the left for execution.

Dietrich was the one who came up with the idea for the Zyklon B experiments that were undertaken in Auschwitz. He acted very carefully, in fear that Hoess would not approve of it. As he often did, he made it look like it was someone else’s idea. For him, all that mattered was the efficiency of the method. He wanted to provide a large scale solution. For a long time, he had been thinking of a solution that would reduce the costs and, at the same time, spare the soldiers the unnecessary stress of having to shoot women, children, and the elderly.