The passage below contains testimony from the commander of Auschwitz, given at a war crimes trial in 1946. DR. KAUFMANN: Is it furthermore true that Eichmann stated to you that in Auschwitz a total sum of more than 2 million Jews had been destroyed? HÖSS: Yes. DR. KAUFMANN: Did you yourself ever feel pity with the victims, thinking of your own family and children? HÖSS: Yes. DR. KAUFMANN: How was it possible for you to carry out these actions in spite of this? HÖSS: In view of all these doubts which I had, the only one and decisive argument was the strict order and the reason given for it by the Reichsführer Himmler. How did Rudolf Höss defend his actions to the court? He believed he was doing what was right for Germany. He stated that the number of people killed by Germans was exaggerated. He testified that he did not personally kill anyone. He said he was just following orders.