I will take the assumption that this mans words are sincere, and that he was only looking to give it a credible historic establishment. Perhaps he misunderstood, due to many offers in the past and assumed that it was customary to pay for items like this. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, which I agree was something his horrendous grandfather never did. I also appreciate the fact he seems to have strongly wanted to look into the past and seems at least from what I'm reading to be critical of it. I cannot hold the grandson entirely guilty for the actions of his grandfather. Yes his family must answer sadly for the insanity his grandfather wrought upon the world, but at the same time they should not be viewed in the critical manner we would view his grandfather if he were here. A solution I would be very comfortable with, though I am not sure if there are legal issues preventing it, would be to have the man donate all the items, entirely free of charge, perhaps even encourage other individuals he may know who have similiar historical items. In return, Israel would provide him a free ticket to Israel and take him to Yad Vashem to help furthure about the atrocities that occured, and understand how so wrong his familial history was. Wrost case scenario, he knows everything that he's doing and is a sleez bag trying to profit. In that case I sincerely the German government intervenes and demands the shippment of those items to Yad Vashem. I don't agree that it is the property of his family, his family lost that right the moment his grandfather stopped behaving like a human being, so human rights of family inheritance should not apply to this mans family. I am interested to see how other readers feel on this issue.

...you couldn't pay me to accept the items. I'd shove them down your throat and send you home on a johnboat.

I see his father did a real good job of raising him...If his son even had a heart and a brain and cared about humanity..he would be giving these thigns away, may he burn in the same fire his father is right about now

Maybe, but unlikely, Hoss said something interesting from jail and his letters are worth something to historians. His snapshots, strongbox and letter opener are worthless to anyone but a particularly macabre collector. The grandson should just toss them in the trash where they belong.

Think about it, he's never done anything wrong himself. He finds out his grandfather was a monster. He educates himself. He tries to visit Auschwitz and is denied entry because of his name. His family has all this memorabilia which people are offering money for, but he thinks it should go to a museum instead and in his naivety doesn't consider that it should be a donation, and is then insulted for this. Possibly his family might not be happy at the idea of a donation when there are lucrative offers. You can't really blame people for being greedy, even though this is pretty low. And there he is stuck in the middle. I don't know what should be done. Personally I think the family should donate the items, but that's not something in the museum's control.

why sell them to people who won't pay . sell them to hizbollah . they will be happy to have them

Why would any Jew , let alone Yad Vashem want "gifts" given from one filthy nazi to another? For what purpose? If anything they should be incinerated.

If he wanted to profit a crime he would not offer them to Yad Vashem. They should consider the offer of compensating a person who had no person connection or phillosphy against the Jews for property he owns. Ask for a donation but don't berate him. If a Jewish person owned it would they offer a fair value? Don't be hypocrytes.

Anything that would weaken the "arguments" of Holocaust deniers should be taken from whatever source.

If theas items are still looking for a home.Then thay can come to me and I will us them,and place them in a museum that I'm working hear in my home town.Too tell the full story about WW2.I have over 10,000 artifacts in my own collection.And thay have been used by schools,museums,and librarys.I would like anyone to look up my name and see the work I have done in this field.Googel it Darrell English

why are you trying to make him into someone evil?The children and grchildren of Nazis should be taken as individuals and this man is at least confronting those of his family.HE DID NOT DO ANYTHING.OK so he asked for some compensation- omg stop acting like it's horrible.and it is for historical value.CALM DOWN.Many children and grchildren have burdened lives and a conscience too.

wound-up in America, it was part of the OSS/Allen Dulles, Herbert Walker, Prescott Bush initiative to save them from revenge.

I am guide at museum Auschwitz-Birkenau. According to many sources, after the execution of Rudolf Hoess, the remaining family (wife and children) were given new identities and most probably moved outside of Europe. The family would have most likely not been able to keep the items given to them by Himmler... and to top that, Reiner states that he cannot join a group for a tour of Auschwitz because of his name. Nobody checks your name at the door - there are times when the museum has free entery - if he wishes he could come anytime and tour the place himself or buy the services of a guide (still no one would ask his name.) Thank you. KJ

Reiner Hoss is a descendent of a mass murderer...And it feels to me, that his views today are not much different from his infamous grandfather..In the eyes of the few Holocaust survivors, who are still alive and especially to their children and grandchildren, it seems,that the "apple didn't fall far from the tree"...