Behind the Bastards: Part One – Adolf Eichmann: Mr. Holocaust Himself

Behind the Bastards, a compelling podcast produced by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts, delves deep into the lives of history's most notorious figures. In the episode titled "Part One: Adolf Eichmann: Mr. Holocaust Himself," host Robert Evans engages in a thought-provoking discussion with guest Joe Kasabian to unravel the complexities surrounding Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust.

Introduction

The episode opens with a candid and humorous exchange between Robert Evans and Joe Kasabian, setting the tone for an unflinching exploration of Adolf Eichmann's life. Robert introduces Eichmann not just as a bureaucrat but as "Mr. Holocaust himself," emphasizing his pivotal role in orchestrating the genocide of millions.

Robert Evans (00:40): "Mr. Holocaust himself... he worked very hard to make himself the number one name associated with the Holocaust internationally."

Eichmann's Role in the Holocaust

Robert Evans dismantles the notion of Eichmann as a mere cog in the Nazi machinery, arguing that his reputation often surpasses his actual involvement. Eichmann was primarily responsible for the logistics of the Holocaust, managing the deportation of Jews to extermination camps.

Robert Evans (06:00): "If you're making like a top five list of the Nazis who were most directly responsible for the genocide of European Jewry, Eichmann is gonna make the list every single time."

The discussion highlights Eichmann's trial in the 1960s, which brought Heinrich Himmler's orchestrated genocide into the global spotlight. The philosopher Hannah Arendt coined the term "the banality of evil" based on Eichmann's demeanor during the trial, portraying him as an ordinary bureaucrat who claimed he was merely following orders.

Robert Evans (08:30): "Arendt coins a term called the banality of evil to describe the man that she sees in Israeli captivity."

However, Evans challenges the adequacy of this term for Eichmann, suggesting that his actions and personality exhibited more than mere banality.

Robert Evans (09:46): "Eichmann is not a good example of that. He was not banal at all. He is like a super villain in terms of his actual personality and how he talked about what he did."

Debunking Common Myths

The conversation critically examines popular biographical accounts of Eichmann, which often mirror the stereotypical narratives constructed around Adolf Hitler. Early biographies painted Eichmann as a victim of bullying and a troubled youth, a portrayal that Evans and Kasabian deem largely inaccurate.

Joe Kasabian (14:17): "He was living in a men's home. That cannot explain why he did what he did."

Robert Evans (15:43): "It's an easy thing. Easy biography to accept... But for Eichmann, unfortunately, it's also hogwash."

They reference Bettina Stangneth's Eichmann Before Jerusalem, which seeks to debunk these myths by presenting a more nuanced and less victimized Eichmann. Contrary to earlier accounts, evidence suggests that Eichmann was not ostracized or constantly bullied, and he maintained friendships with Jewish peers during his youth.

Robert Evans (12:43): "There’s room for debate as to what he would have given as his name during different points in his life."

The Banality of Evil Revisited

While acknowledging the usefulness of Arendt's concept in describing systemic evil, Evans argues that Eichmann's personal disposition was far from banal. Instead, Eichmann exhibited traits of a calculated and ideologically driven individual.

Robert Evans (10:07): "He is a dude with a social life. He’s a dude who’s reasonably good with women... He has options to be happy outside of joining the Nazi Party."

This perspective shifts the focus from Eichmann's supposed mediocrity to his active and intentional participation in genocidal planning, challenging listeners to reconsider the depths of individual culpability within oppressive systems.

Eichmann's Family and Background

The episode delves into Eichmann's upbringing in Linz, Austria, highlighting his family's evangelical Calvinist Protestant beliefs, which were in the minority in the predominantly Catholic town. This environment fostered a sense of German nationalism that later influenced both Hitler and Eichmann.

Robert Evans (23:21): "Schonerer is a massive influence on Hitler... These guys are destroying Jewish newspapers, they're getting into fights in the street and they're like a Pan German nationalist group."

Eichmann's familial connections, including his marriage into a Jewish family, complicate the narrative of his unwavering anti-Semitism. Despite these ties, Eichmann chose to immerse himself in far-right nationalist organizations, indicating a conscious alignment with Nazi ideologies over personal relationships.

Robert Evans (34:13): "This is not a guy who's destined to the kind of antisemitism that he is going to adopt in adulthood. It's a choice he makes."

Path to the Nazi Party

Eichmann's professional journey portrays him as an opportunistic individual seeking advancement within the evolving political landscape of Austria and Germany. His early career in logistics, managing fuel deliveries and establishing gas stations, provided him with the skills essential for his later role in the Holocaust.

Robert Evans (56:29): "So his first big boy job is hydraulic fracking... His training for how to make the Holocaust trains run is setting up gas stations and fuel delivery."

Eichmann's strategic alignment with the Nazi Party in the early 1930s was driven by his foresight into the party's impending rise to power, positioning himself to gain prominence and influence within the impending regime.

Robert Evans (65:24): "He's like, this is a new organization. I can push myself in there and find a place where you can sort of make it your own."

This calculated approach underscores Eichmann's role not just as a perpetrator but as a skilled administrator and strategist within the Nazi hierarchy.

Conclusion

Behind the Bastards presents Adolf Eichmann as a complex figure whose life contradicts the simplistic narratives often propagated about Nazi officials. Through in-depth analysis and critical examination of biographical sources, Robert Evans and Joe Kasabian challenge listeners to reassess their understanding of Eichmann's motivations and actions. The episode sets the stage for a continued exploration of Eichmann's transformation from a seemingly ordinary individual to one of history's most infamous villains in Part Two: Adolf Eichmann: The Architect of Murder.

Robert Evans (70:00): "Someone needs to give that kid a swirly immediately. I do wonder, would we have been better off if Eichmann did get the shit bullied out of him when he was a child?"

Behind the Bastards effectively combines historical analysis with engaging dialogue, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on Adolf Eichmann's life and his instrumental role in one of history's darkest chapters.