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The Story:
I think the world can pretty much agree that Hitler was a bad, bad man. Yet what might slip under the radar is that he was surrounded by some equally awful people. Goering. Himmler. Hoess. And many more. Unlike Hitler however, those men had families that lived on past their lifetime, and now you have people that are generations removed from the tyranny of Nazi Germany saddled for all time with a mark of the beast, if you will...a lasting legacy of evil attached to their last name.
If you ever thought your family tree had a rotten branch or two...
Many of these are great-nieces so the bloodline is thin, but still... wow, what a living reminder that they can never escape.
This documentary is very powerful, very sad for what the namesakes did, and for what the generations left behind had to endure because of it.
You've heard of survivor's guilt? Imagine that, amplified to a million in most of their cases.
You have one family who each of the remaining 2 in the bloodline went to a doctor to be sterilized so that no more generations will bear that name.
Think about that for a moment. To actively ensure that you can never have a child so that they do not share the last name you were born with.
It doesn't get much worse than that.
The end though, when the grandson of Hoess, the mastermind behind Auschwitz, actually tours Auschwitz and comes face to face with a survivor is worth the entire price of admission. Bring a tissue, because the emotional release comes at just the right time.
If you have an interest in genealogy and/or World War II, give this one a go!
Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.
Final Grade: B
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: This might make a really good required viewing for a history class. But no, this is haunting enough the first time, I can't see wanting endure their pain again. Though watching the ending could be a nice visit from time to time.
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