Toni

Almost forty years after my grandfather Hans‘ death, my mother reveals a shocking family secret: her beloved father served in the Waffen-SS, Hitler‘s ‘elite troops’, during the Nazi era. A reality that shatters a long-held family narrative. I embark on a deeply personal journey to examine his motives and the choices he made. Through family artefacts, archival documents and historical research, I piece together fragments of his story, revealing a life marked by ambivalence, hardship and complicity. 

Along the way I uncover disturbing links to Nazi crimes and victims, including members of our own family. My mother, struggling with conflicting memories of a loving father and the burden of his past, is forced to face truths she has long avoided. Together we navigate the tensions between strong family bonds and overcoming the silence, exploring the complexities of identity and legacy. 

Toni illuminates dark places in history, challenging us to engage openly and critically with the past to understand ourselves and our responsibilities today.