Heinrich Himmler: Anatomy of a Mass Murderer

Michael Kloft's documentary profiles Heinrich Himmler, the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany and one of the main architects of the Holocaust, a figure whose rise to grisly power seemed—in many ways—wholly unlikely. A physically unimposing scion from an upper-middle-class Roman Catholic family, Himmler as a young adult rejected the financial comfort and spiritual strength that framed his youth in favor of the fringe politics of Hitler's Aryan-obsessed agenda. When he finally consolidated power within the Nazi regime, Himmler created a socioeconomic monster that eventually exploited millions through slave labor while systematically murdering millions more in a highly organized network of extermination camps. Perhaps too late, Himmler recognized that the Nazi machinery could not withstand the rush of Allied forces, and his attempts to negotiate peace without Hitler's permission made him a traitor within the German ranks (the Allies were wary of his entreaties and ultimately rejected his offers). Kloft's film effectively combines archival footage and rare photographs with expert commentary on the rise and fall of the Third Reich to add contextual background to Himmler's life story. A well-made and informative documentary, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)