For the Record

This is my professional creed… of sorts – professional because by writing this book, I position myself as a professional historian.

First of all, I have nothing but deepest respect for and admiration of Jewish people. History proved beyond the reasonable doubt that Jews made the highest contribution to human progress than any other nation – both in absolute terms and on a per capita basis.

In business, economy, music, science, technology, arts, etc. – but, first and foremost, in religion (the latter is of the highest importance to me because I am Roman Catholic).

It is common knowledge that Western Civilization – and thus the whole human civilization – stands on three pillars: Athens, Romans and Jerusalem. On Greek culture, Roman law and Jewish-Christian religion. And because the latter is the most important (as it deals with Eternity), Jerusalem (and thus the Jewish people) are the “first among the equals”.

Likewise, I have nothing but deepest respect for and admiration of the State of Israel. Jewish people managed to perform a genuine miracle – they created a highly successful state (in all aspects) and a genuine democracy in an incredibly hostile environment (often not that much different from a Nazi state).

Antisemitism (Judeophobia) of any kind – especially a violent one – is a despicable crime that must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and ultimately eradicated completely (the sooner – the better). Eradicated mostly through education as it has but one root – ignorance.

Contrary to a popular misconception, you can be either a Christian (of any denomination) or an anti-Semite, but not both. Why? Because Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ was Jewish (when He walked the Earth in human form).

Her Majesty Blessed Virgin Mary was Jewish (ditto). All 12 apostles – the initial disciples of Jesus Christ – were Jewish. The de-facto founders of Christian church – Saint Peter and Saint Paul – were Jewish. Both Old and New Testament were written almost exclusively by the Jews. The list goes on, and on, and on.

However, all this does not preclude me from being totally impartial and unbiased in my writing (I have not a drop of neither Jewish nor German blood in my veins which helps a lot).

To me as a professional systems analyst and knowledge manager (by training as well as by experience “in the previous life”), history is all about studying prominent individuals (actors), events and organizations.

An individual must be “profiled” which for every Nazi means criminal profiling – as all Nazis were criminals and Nazi regime was fundamentally criminal (sometimes according to its own laws).

As for events, the science of history must provide the answers to fundamental questions “who did what when where how and why”. What were the intentions, objectives and plans – and what was the actual outcome (and if it was different from the intended one – happens all the time – then why).

As for organizations (i.e., SS, RSHA, WVHA, etc.) they must be analyzed using modern systems analysis tools (object-, process- and project-oriented). Just like corporate finance analyst in an investment bank would analyze Google or Amazon.

Finally, genuine history is not propaganda (that’s why there are so few genuine historians). Genuine historian only mines knowledge from available data and information (these are two very different things) and subsequently structures and disseminates this knowledge… and damn the consequences (of any kind).

A genuine historian is not concerned with any political or social objectives (let alone proverbial “political correctness”): his/her creed is “search for the truth, find the truth and share the truth”.

History is as much a science as physics; consequently, a genuine historian NEVER passes moral judgement (which is propaganda because everyone has his or her own moral code).

A genuine historian only passes a legal judgement (whether order or action in question) was criminal according to the laws of that time – and operational judgement (whether decision or action was the best under the circumstances).