Today I learned about Norbert Masur, a German Jew and member of the World Jewish Congress, who must have experienced one of the most surreal days in 20th century history... 
As the US, French, British and Russian forces liberated Germany, and Berlin was about to fall, Norbert Masur, as the Swedish representative of the World Jewish Congress, was tapped to meet one of the Third Reich's most notorious individuals...
Seeing the writing on the wall, and hoping to save his skin, Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, used connections in the Red Cross and the intelligence services - and his personal masseur - to tee up a meeting with the World Jewish Congress...
Reading horrific reports of Nazi treatment of Europe's Jews, Masur was flown to Berlin, and then driven to Harzwalde, in Brandenburg. He arrived on the 21st of April, 1945
He was kept waiting for Himmler...
He was kept waiting for Himmler...
When he arrived, Himmler spent around two hours downplaying the Holocaust - saying such things as concentration camp crematoria were only for typhus victims.
He wanted to 'bury the hatchet with the Jews'. This, unbelievably, was the core of his message...
He wanted to 'bury the hatchet with the Jews'. This, unbelievably, was the core of his message...
Masur listened. God knows how he must have felt throughout the meeting. He wrote a report on it later, but you can't truly express the enormity of meeting such a vile individual, with such a bizarre request...
As a result of the meeting, and further negotiations, the entirety of the Ravensbruck women's camp were released and driven to Sweden, as part of the 'White Buses' operation.
Himmler's gamble was for naught. The Third Reich surrendered, and Himmler and a small band of trusted officers tried to make a break for... nowhere in particular.
He was captured by the British and committed suicide shortly after his identity was discovered, on 23 May, 1945...
He was captured by the British and committed suicide shortly after his identity was discovered, on 23 May, 1945...
Masur lived until 1971. Along with negotiator Folke Bernadotte of the Red Cross, they are responsible for saving thousands of lives.
You can learn more about this extraordinary meeting in this @TorontoStar article. /FIN thestar.com/news/insight/2…
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