I D Oppenhiem - Goebbels-The Evil Within and the Titanic Lie

GOEBBELS

THE EVIL WITHIN

and the

TITANIC LIE

Author: I D Oppenhiem

Editor: Ian Davies

Copyright 2012

All rights reserved

T he right to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

INTRODUCTION

T his short and concise history (approx 5,000 words) deals in part with an horrific ending to a ship once used as a 'replica' of the ship RMS Titanic for the making of the later banned Nazi propaganda movie known generally as Titanic 1943.

It also covers some history surrounding the man ultimately responsible, not just for the making of the film, but of the fate of the thousands on board this same ship during its last moments.

The words Titanic Lie are intended in this instance to cover not just this film, but also to a far greater degree, the actions and deeds perpetrated using the political banner as a legitimate weapon against dignity, respect, and humanitarian rights of others, and the man who signed himself as 'Herr Doktor' whose lasting legacy could only be one of hate.

Written as an introduction to this subject, the author has included some of the major influences affecting the life of Goebbels which may have contributed to his views towards other races and likewise may have contributed to his eagerness to emerge superior from the masses. But it should also be remembered that Goebbels was quick to change direction should this suit his purpose and was indeed a master of manipulation and opportunism.

The reader is left to consider whether indeed it was his ignorance which led him on this path or some other weakness that allowed him to become the monster he became.

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GOEBBELS

THE EVIL WITHIN

and the

TITANIC LIE

T he 1943 film itself was in some ways almost like a movie version of a political cartoon strip of 'a reality' as Goebbels wanted the world to see it - his reality - and one which he wanted the world to accept and appreciate.

Goebbels was a fan of political cartoons especially when it came to propaganda, but realistically this was a far more serious venture for him.

This propaganda version of events was to portray to the wider world how the passengers on the ship, wealthy elitist cowards, panicked and trampled on each other without care of others, to escape the sinking vessel. The shining light of this movie was, not surprisingly, a German officer who warned about the iceberg threat and assisted in the evacuation of passengers from the vessel.

The version of the events as depicted in this movie was personally approved by Goebbels.

It set a scene of greed amongst British and American financiers hoping to make a big profit from share dealings on the basis of a record breaking trip to New York without a thought for the safety of the passengers on board.

This is where this history ends.

The once graceful luxury liner SS Cap Arcona's final days having been bombed by UK air forces shortly before the war ended.

Launched in the May of 1927, the SS Cap Arcona was a large German twin screw (propeller) ocean liner with three funnels. The pride of the Germany's Hamburg-South America Line was in service as a trans-Atlantic cruise ship, to carry mainly wealthy passengers.

Late in 1939 she was commandeered by the German Navy to work in a military capacity in the Baltic Sea, and used mainly for accommodating and moving troops.

D uring the final few days of the second world war, and after both Hitler and Goebbels had committed suicide, the ship was one of three on which had been loaded concentration camp prisoners with the intention of sinking the ships and at the same time murdering the prisoners.

The Nazi's idea was to 'hide' evidence of the concentration camps by disposing of the prisoners, mostly Jews and Russians, in them, being one final and brutal act of ethnic cleansing.

The ship had no markings nor any outward indication to show it was carrying civilians, had had the lifeboats removed and was painted in German Navy colours resembling a troop carrier.

At the time this liner was bombed, (on 3rd May 1945 ) unknown to attacking forces, there were around 6,500 prisoners on board with a few hundred SS guards. Only about 350 of the prisoners managed to escape both the bombing of the ship and the bullets from SS guards who shot at those leaving the ship from positions on the shore.

The casualties from this event far exceeded those of the 1,500 plus souls lost with the RMS Titanic sinking.

The Nazi party's propaganda message in making this movie, a fictitious version of events, had expected to reinforce support from the German people by showing, in its opinion, the bravery of the Germans against the shallowness, greed and cowardice of the British and others.

It was hoped by 'Herr Doktor', that it would divide the wider world and set them against the British and be more supportive of Germany and the Third Reich.

Goebbels was given a free hand to make this film and as Minister of Propaganda since Hitler seized power had gained control over much of the media within Germany's borders.

This is where this history starts.

TITANIC

On 10th April 1912 the biggest ship of its time ever built set sail from Southampton for New York.

Many films and documentaries have been made recording the tragedy of its maiden voyage sinking, and many versions of events over the years have been told.

This book however takes a look at the people behind the making of the 1943 Nazi propaganda movie Titanic, based loosely around that true and tragic event of 1912. This was a film made to denounce the British and the capitalist West, and to encourage German faith, by interpretation of this version of events, in the courage and strength of character of the German people, and to encourage the belief of German superiority.