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sbbarnes's review against another edition
4.0
Read in german
Harrowing. Relentless. Needs breaks to digest.
Harrowing. Relentless. Needs breaks to digest.
nikimgc's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
5.0
The book is incredibly raw and so emotionally exhausting that pauses in between chapters is inevitable. The lack of adjectives in the book undermines that an atrocity like this does not require additional description, what is told is graphic and cruel enough.
lev0001's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
In Die Ermittlung (the investigation) Peter Weiss tackles the lesser-known sequel to the infamous Nuremberg Trials, the Auschwitz Trials, which were conducted in Frankfurt between 1963 and 1965. In the second trial, unlike in the first, the accused were tried under German federal law rather than international law, meaning that their transgressions were judged against German morality rather than global. Weiss took a page from the books of each Brecht and Kafka in his depiction of the trial, for a devastatingly efficient piece of horror: the actual text is composed almost entirely of testimony from witnesses, defendants, prosecutors, and the defense counsel, including examination and cross-examination of both defendants and plaintiffs. The "witness" characters number only nine, although in reality there were hundreds, and are composites of the entire body of witness testimonies. The accused, numbering eighteen, are all individuals.
The actual text of the play is sparse, stripped-down, lacking punctuation or theatrics. In the play, as well as in life, most of the defendants had already successfully reintegrated into German society during the two decades following the end of the war. Indeed, many had become quite successful and wealthy, profiting off the stolen labour and possessions from the death camp. Periodically, throughout the trial, when confronted with the sheer scope of the atrocities they either executed or participated in, the defendants laugh.
The actual text of the play is sparse, stripped-down, lacking punctuation or theatrics. In the play, as well as in life, most of the defendants had already successfully reintegrated into German society during the two decades following the end of the war. Indeed, many had become quite successful and wealthy, profiting off the stolen labour and possessions from the death camp. Periodically, throughout the trial, when confronted with the sheer scope of the atrocities they either executed or participated in, the defendants laugh.
thestoryofts's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
5.0
astralvirgo25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Only giving it 5 stars to mark the importance of the play in preserving memory of the atrocities of the Holocaust
Content Warnings
extremely explicit descriptions of violence abuse and murders
itsphoebetime's review against another edition
2.5
It is only as a piece of literature that I give this play a 2.5 rating. As a piece of history, I think everyone should read it.
grandpa_chic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0