Talk:Werner Best

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Military history: Biography / European / German

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Untitled

This article is in a miserable state. 201.29.191.17 21:42, 4 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, given Best's importance -- and how relatively unknown he is -- the article is not good. I've made a start by expanding the Intro greatly, and will try and expand other sections as and when I have time. Petercascio (talk) 05:51, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The first post above, in relation to the article, was written in 2007. The article has been greatly improved since then. It can use added detail and cites at this point. Kierzek (talk) 20:32, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Concerns

This article seems to need additional sources.Mtsmallwood (talk) 07:17, 28 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That has been done. Kierzek (talk) 16:49, 24 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Death sentence

What was Best charged with in the Danish courts? The article indicated nothing that would have been illegal, much less anything that should result in a death sentence.Royalcourtier (talk) 22:56, 27 December 2015 (UTC)[reply]

moreover, in the article about the rescue of danish jews it is clear that intentionally or not he was actually partially responsible for this rescue.--Jrm2007 (talk) 02:34, 15 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

That's something I'll have to look at because Best was by no means responsible for the rescue of the Danish Jews -- one only need to look at his actions in Germany and France to see that he would have persecuted them if he had had the means. However, unlike in Germany and France there was no registry of Jews, so when Best had the membership lists of synagogues confiscated, and additional police brought in from Germany, he was met with unified resistance by the Danish bureaucracy, police and population, threats from the resistance, and unwanted attention from the free world press.

He really didn't have much of a choice other than to turn his back, let the evacuation happen, and then send a telegram to the Fuehrer to report that "Daenemark ist Judenfrei!" which the Fuehrer looked at without comment, apparently, because it was so late in the war. This is what saved Best's life in his war crimes trial in Denmark.

But make no mistake: if he had had his way, the Danish Jews would have all gone to Auschwitz. Petercascio (talk) 05:51, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

And its rather clear from these that Best played an important role in sabotaging the removal of Danish Jews, both administratively and through his deputy Duckwitz. (And by personally tipping of at least one Danish Jew.)

http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/best.html

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/13/countrymen-untold-story-denmark-jews-escaped-nazis-bo-lidegaard-review

https://jewmus.dk/en/frequently-asked-questions/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.38.143.228 (talk) 15:40, 13 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

192.38.143.228 (talk) 15:41, 13 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

It you can help clear this up, that would be good. I always found it to be suspect. Kierzek (talk) 20:35, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Historians may be of varying opinions as to Best's exact motives, but AFAIK there's no debate about the fact that Best played an integral role in their rescue/sabotaging their removal. Both through administrative sabotage as well as tipping off Danes. There wouldn't have been any Jews for the fishermen to ferry to Sweden, if Best (through Duckwitz) hadn't let the Danish authorities know what was planned.192.38.143.228 (talk) 15:53, 13 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

He no doubt knew the war was lost, and that he wanted to keep his name off as many war-crimes charges as possible at the end of the war - as noted, his previous actions in other states show he was no lover of the Jewish people.

The Nazi state and World War II

"Prior to September 1939, as an SS-Brigadeführer, Best while head of Department 1 of the Gestapo oversaw organization, administration, and legal affairs."

This sentence needs to be re-written but I hesitate to do so since I fear I'd change its actual meaning.

Well, it was not badly written, but I tweaked it. Kierzek (talk) 13:26, 1 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The whole section needs major work. In case anybody is interested in working with me, please get in touch. Petercascio (talk) 05:51, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I will be glad to copy edit and check the additions, when I have time. It would be good to see some detail added to this time frame. Kierzek (talk) 20:34, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks to @Obenritter: for taking the time to make some major improvements with WP:RS citing the last few days. The article is in better shape. Kierzek (talk) 14:01, 31 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Kierzek: Just happened upon the page and noticed it was in need of some work. Happy to help.--Obenritter (talk) 16:27, 31 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]