Hitler's Children (2011 film)

Hitler's Children is a 2011 documentary film directed by Chanoch Zeevi. The film explores the lives of the descendants of high-ranking Nazi officials, examining the burden and complexities they face as a result of their family history. It features interviews with individuals such as Niklas Frank (son of Hans Frank, Governor-General of occupied Poland), Rainer Höss (grandson of Rudolf Höss, commandant of Auschwitz), Monika Göth (daughter of Amon Göth, commandant of Plaszow concentration camp), and Bettina Göring (great-niece of Hermann Göring).

The documentary delves into how these individuals grapple with the knowledge of their ancestors' actions during the Holocaust and World War II. It explores the various ways they have chosen to cope, ranging from embracing activism against neo-Nazism to struggling with internalized guilt and shame. The film also touches on the wider themes of collective memory, inherited trauma, and the enduring impact of historical events on subsequent generations. Hitler's Children seeks to understand the psychological and emotional toll on those directly related to the perpetrators of some of the most heinous crimes in history, and how they navigate their identities in the shadow of such a dark legacy.