|
Photo by Herbert Escher, shown courtesy of John P Moore
Adolf Rudolf Reinhold
Diekmann (the man who led the attack on Oradour-sur-Glane) as a
Hauptsturmführer. I have no date for this photograph, but it must lie between
20th April 1942 when he was promoted to Hauptsturmführer
and 20th April 1944 when he became a Sturmbannführer. Given his light uniform
dress and his generally smart appearance, my best guess is that this photograph
was taken during the summer months, whilst he was acting as an instructor at Bad
Tölz. He is wearing the Iron Cross, which he won in both 2nd and 1st class.
It was a fashion with members of the Nazi party and the SS, to shave the sides of the head,
so as to accentuate their Nordic appearance. Contrary to what many people have thought,
he does not look 'mad' or 'bad', just a normal pleasant man with a nice smile. Take away
the uniform and you would not think him anything extraordinary.
When I think about Adolf Diekmann, I am reminded of the November 1971 song by
The Who, titled, "Behind Blue Eyes" and I wonder if the sentiments expressed in
it, applied to Sturmbannführer Adolf Rudolf Reinhold Diekmann after his
actions at Oradour-sur-Glane on 10th June 1944?
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool
If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
© Universal Music Publishing Group
Back to top of page
Back to Picture Gallery
Back to Home Page
© Michael Williams: 10 March 2000: this page was last
updated on
Saturday, 01 October 2022
|