Rolf Hochhuth, 32 year old German playwright, discusses his work "The Deputy" with political scientist Hannah Arendt. Hochhuth's play, just opened in New York City, has attracted a great deal of attention by its theme-- that Pope Pius XII did so little to protest or prevent the extermination of the Jews by Nazi Germany as to amount to complicity in the holocaust. On a larger canvas Hochhuth says "Pius is a symbol of all men who are passive when their brother is harmed." Arendt, a dean of the political scientists in the United States, teaches at the University of Chicago and is the author of "Human Condition" and "On Revolution". The conversation is in English, with Hochhuth's words receiving simultaneous translation from German. 1964
Rolf Hochhuth, 32 year old German playwright, discusses his work "The Deputy" with political scientist Hannah Arendt. Hochhuth's play, just opened in New York City, has attracted a great deal of attention by its theme-- that Pope Pius XII did so little to protest or prevent the extermination of the Jews by Nazi Germany as to amount to complicity in the holocaust. On a larger canvas Hochhuth says "Pius is a symbol of all men who are passive when their brother is harmed." Arendt, a dean of the political scientists in the United States, teaches at the University of Chicago and is the author of "Human Condition" and "On Revolution". The conversation is in English, with Hochhuth's words receiving simultaneous translation from German.
3:15 INTRO: MacAndrew introduces the guests, the Nazi extermination of Jews and the Pope's refusal to intervene, the controversy, and the background of the play.
INTERVIEW:
1) A letter was found in which proof was provided that pressure was brought on the Pope to protest the treatment of the Jews. The playwright was writing facts.
2) Pope Pius refused the plea of a bishop who wanted to go into France to stand up against the Nazi's while Hitler was occupying the area.
3) The treatment of the Catholic Jews by the Catholic Church.
4) Would things have been better if there had been a different "better" pope?
5) Has the power of the Church been over estimated? Pope Pius (the 11th) of Pope John (the 23rd) reacted differently. Pope Pius II left notes in which he compared Hitler to Nero. They were hidden and not published until Pope John brought them forward.
6) Did the Pope have a moral right to call on Catholics to stand up to Hitler and more to the point, would they?
7) Why is it easier to throw out the whole tradition of Christianity and the Catholic Church than to face the blame for the Church action under Pope Pius the 12th.
8) The Church had power and had used it in the following ways: bishop protests stopped the destruction of the mentally ill and stopped the deportation of some Jews. Bishops stopped the deportation of non-Jewish marriage partners. Rome, under Pope Pius the 11th agreed not to protest or interfere.
Produced by Sig Moglen, Directed by Nick Havinga. Writer Sig Moglen. Air date: 3/14/64. 27 mins.
Rolf Hochhuth, author of "The Deputy"
Hanna Arendt, historian and philosopher