Hans: It is no lie that many of the SS were former police officers or security men; this made them ideal people to guard prisoners, and hunt criminals. Himmler was in charge of the police also, so they in turn were made SS men. The men who guarded the many camps were mostly not fit for frontline service; the partisan hunters were specially trained at fighting these terrorists. I have seen the Jews now pin the lie of the Holocaust on the Einsatzgruppen, claiming they killed close to two million Jews. I have spoken to a man who was part of one who said it is not true and they only hunted criminals who were preying on the innocent.

I take no stock in any of the stories Spielberg and his tribe force-feed us, the movie Holocaust, and most all modern movies are outright lies and misrepresentations of German soldiers. Even before the war they had a hold on Hollywood and controlled what people learned about Germany and Hitler. Schindler's List is a good example of their uncontrolled hatred translated into historical lies. The people in the camps were very valuable labor, and to abuse them was punishable by death. Koch let his power go to his head and he paid because Jews spilled the beans on him, the SS court had him executed for abuse. If the plan was to be as cruel and evil as possible to the inmates, he would be praised instead.

The martyrs at Dachau who were murdered are a good example of ignorance controlling emotions. The Americans had been taught these camps were death camps, and the sights before their eyes seemed to prove this. Most just could not understand the actions of their war machine caused these deaths. I saw Germans starving at war's end due to Allied bombing; the camps suffered the same conditions even with the Red Cross helping. Add in the sick and diseased from the east and you have a recipe for disaster. This was unplanned and there was not much Germany could do to stop it. This is where the many photos taken in the camps are misused to falsely claim extermination.

What about all the Germans who came out after the war and agreed with the Allies, some German veterans have even written books critical of Hitler and the National Socialist state?

Hans: The Germany under Hitler was not perfect for everyone. You have to remember we had many who sided with the Marxists, and many who wanted a return of the King, which National Socialism would not allow. Some people lived in Germany secretly working to undermine what was created for their own selfish reasons. July 20th showed how deep these traitors went. They refused to partake in a form of government that really distributed power to the people and they wanted that power back. There were opportunists also, they knew the Allies hated National Socialism and Hitler, so they played up their resistance and aided our enemies as much as they could so they would have a place to fit in the post war government.

They were paid to write the vilest of stories rarely telling the truth. They make the Gestapo out to be on every corner spying on every German. I never saw that, and never had any problems. The families of the July traitors were able to vent their anger against innocent victims who only did their duty. The clergy also was pushed into the fray, even though National Socialist Germany was very pro-Christ. Because our laws took away some power from self-important clergy, they decided the whole system was bad and ungodly.

You also have to remember the Allies ruled with an iron fist, and they were able to show any side they wanted. The vast majority of Germans knew Hitler was right and thought of him as a great leader who does not come around very often. Even living through the worst times of their lives in the war did not change this. The majority of the people were smart enough to sniff out the Allied lies, and understood the war was not in Hitler's plans.

The veterans who have written books have publishers and helpers who control what they say. It is called being politically correct today, so they could not tell the truth even if they wanted to. Some have what I call Stockholm Syndrome; they were so traumatized by the war that they have gone into the enemy's camp. Some may have had bad run-ins with the Gestapo, but I doubt it. I think they mentally want to be accepted by everyone so they add in exaggerations and half-truths. All Germans I have met have said only good thing about their comrades and the Führer.

At war's end some soldiers deserted or as I have learned, were sent home on orders from commanders as the war was lost. I saw this personally and would not turn them in, most all people knew by 1945 the war was unwinnable, we only fought to delay the inevitable, and allow people from the east to escape. The tales of mobs going around hanging soldiers is untrue, this happened very little, especially at war's end. There is a story from the Hitler Youth SS division where a boy deserted after the Ardennes Offensive, and Panzer Meyer had a talk with him instead of sending him to a firing squad.

The soldier went on to win the Iron Cross and served well, he only deserted because he lost his best friend in battle. Meyer was a compassionate leader as were many SS officers and NCOs. A boy in my company had lost his parents and had a sister who was left alone. He was given a long leave and money from our officers to take care of her. He was given desk duty to make sure he survived. This is the truth of how the SS was, Hollywood is lying to everyone.

How do you view the actions of the Goebbels killing their children, and themselves?

Hans: You must look at the backdrop of the times. The facts were that the Red Army was raping women and bringing death and despair wherever they went. Mussolini was murdered along with his entourage and dragged through the streets by Marxist partisans. The world that would be left to the children of the leaders would not be friendly, as we have seen. If you were in fear that your children would be raped and tortured, what course would you take? They took the only way they knew would prevent this. This was nothing new, it happened before in history, due to the fear of what could happen they chose a way out. It is a sad episode but very understandable considering enemy conduct.

Do you have any regrets about serving in the SS?

Hans: The only regret is that I could not go in at a more mature age. I saw an officer shoot himself, as he knew the war was over, and did not want to live in a world devoid of National Socialism. I would have talked to him and told him he has to be a voice for what we saw and went through. I would have been a better soldier, not holding back my belief in what we were fighting for. The SS never faltered and remained loyal in certain defeat, very few military formations can say this. I am glad I was counted as a member.

Looking back, the lies the victors told about the Waffen-SS and Germany in general have made us stronger. Those who were there know the truth; many have just been unable to tell it. I have always been unafraid as I was raised to be brave. I read of a grandfather in Köln who was arrested last year because he told his grandson the truth about the camps. There are many stories like this, I fought for these people so they could be free, and I wish we had won. That is my main regret.

What about the religious persecution, which both the Catholic and Protestant faiths say happened to them under Hitler?

Hans: I view this topic as both absurd and shameful. National Socialist Germany was very pro-Christian, in fact, old churches received special funds to remodel and preserve their history. Even in the supposed ungodly SS, most men were religious; very few were pagans or atheists. We attended battlefield services just like other branches. Many priests and religious leaders volunteered to serve their nation; I believe it was close to seventeen thousand who served at the front.

They had nothing to worry about, the party worked closely with the church to ensure lines were not crossed and feet not trampled. Where there were problems, and the true work of the Gestapo came into play, was when a few in the church defied wartime laws. An example was a monastery in Austria that had been hiding partisans and those who opposed the government, thus aiding them. Today this type of fighter is called a terrorist, and those helping them, supporters of terror.

The police and security service uncovered many who had knowingly harbored and then lied about helping wanted criminals. Of course when they were convicted they went to prison camps like Dachau. In this, it shows the humanity of National Socialism, because if this were Russia they would have been executed. It is shameful these people then went on the soapbox after the war and criticized the government for taking action against them. In every nation fighting the war, the same problem existed; even in America and Britain, the churches aided escaped prisoners and those seeking refuge. When caught, there was punishment. I remind any clergy who speak badly of Hitler that they are lucky they did not have to live in Russia where Stalin would have rounded them all up as a precaution and had them all killed. Most historians agree that on the very low end the Bolsheviks killed 30 million Christians throughout Europe.