Peter Weiss’s “The Investigation”: A Critical Examination of the Holocaust and Memory
“The Investigation” is, first and foremost, a theatrical text—that is, a script prepared to be staged; a play. This characteristic, however, does not render the work a piece of fiction. In creating his work, the author Peter Weiss meticulously combed through court records, conducted profound research, and based his piece on historical data and witness testimonies. In short, we are faced with a form of documentary; its documentary elements present a structure that compels the audience to think and underscores the gravity of the historical events. This quality makes it original and exceptional, for it imbues the work with the character of an ethical enterprise aimed at revealing the truth of the Holocaust to the world and keeping the attention of the masses fixed upon it. Indeed, “The Investigation” appears to have achieved this invaluable objective by being staged on the same day in both East and West Germany, as well as in Great Britain. The performances succeeded in creating an awareness among audiences, fostering an atmosphere where memories were refreshed and the losses were deeply felt in the hearts of the people.
Germany’s attempt to reckon with its Holocaust past must be understood as a perpetual act, a multifaceted “collective effort” that continues to this day. The heavy burden of this grim and unique phenomenon extends from the last century to the present and beyond, like a colossal structure still casting its shadow over all of humanity. It should therefore be clear to everyone by now that this reckoning is not something that can ever be completed; on the contrary, it demands a constant effort of remembrance. For this traumatic legacy represents not only the tragedy of Germany but also the shared drama of many different societies across the globe. Consequently, this process of reckoning becomes a struggle in which everyone must demonstrate responsibility and participate. To put it in a single sentence: we are faced with a multifaceted reality—impossible to encounter again—that reminds us of, and even imposes itself as, a political, legal, and moral obligation. Each new generation must feel the weight of these historical events and take the necessary steps to ensure they are not forgotten; thus, this painful memory can, over time, transform into a learning process and serve as a lesson for all humanity. It must not be forgotten that history is not merely a bygone era but also plays a vital role in shaping our present; therefore, it is imperative that these discussions continue and that the confrontation with the past is conducted in a healthy manner.
We stated at the beginning of this text that we are dealing with a historical work that draws from concrete events and is based entirely on truths proven by witness/defendant testimonies and documents. Indeed, the aforementioned trial that took place in Frankfurt is one such attempt at a reckoning with the past. Years after the Nuremberg trials, which were significant enough to be recorded in the annals of human history, an important step was taken in Frankfurt to confront the reality of the Holocaust and to hold the perpetrators and criminals to account. However, this initiative was also characterized by the politically charged atmosphere of the Cold War era and the powerful political motivations of the East-West divide that it fueled.
The East German prosecutor’s effort to frame the reality of the Holocaust as an almost inevitable consequence or an inseparable part of fascist ideology should be seen as an indicator of this realpolitik. Indeed, the functioning of the concentration camps rightfully gave rise to the description “the fabrication of death,” creating a reality that transcends human reason and is exceedingly difficult to comprehend. Death, transformed into a fabrication, carried exploitation beyond all limits, systematically and completely consuming millions of people, even physically. The attempt to draw an implicit comparison between this process and the Fordist model of the dominant capitalist mode of production may be related not only to the aforementioned realpolitik but also to the difficulty of ascribing meaning to such events. However, we must not forget that the concentration camp experience was filled with traumas that deeply affected the lives not only of the masses but also of individuals, with effects that linger to this day. The suffering that this era of humanity is remembered for—and must not forget—characterized by the unimaginable torment inflicted upon millions, has formed a stronger foundation for the pursuit of human rights and justice in later times.
Indeed, on page 48 of the work (1996 edition), one can find the following speech, which embodies the political system within the metaphor of the concentration camp:
Only the cunning ones could continue to live.
Those who don't stop being greedy.
Those who get something every day.
Patients
Hopelessess
Kind ones
Bewildered and incompetents
Mourners
those who pity themselves
were being crushed
These words highlight the survival skills of those who managed to stay alive in the concentration camp environment, while also exposing the merciless nature of the system. This poetic depiction, revealing how human weaknesses and frailties were exploited, reflects the dark face of that period to an extent that challenges the very limits of imagination.
As briefly touched upon above, the political regime established in East Germany following its Holocaust reckoning incorporates a critique of fascism on a ground intertwined with the traces of an uncertain past. At the same time, by drawing a line back to the Weimar period and the failed German revolution, it asserts a claim to historical continuity and coherence, thereby attempting to construct an integrated reading of history. Within this framework, the reflections of past traumas in the collective memory are not confined to the discussion of concrete evidence in the courtroom; they also seep into the daily lives of individuals and social dynamics, finding life in the persona of the prosecutor. For the Federal Republic of Germany, however, the situation appears far more complex and grave. Positioned within the capitalist world in the Cold War confrontation, West Germany had a bureaucracy largely burdened with a Nazi past. Moreover, it needed the bureaucratic experience of individuals who had been involved with the party in some way, seeking to “utilize” them as a functional human resource in the new era. This situation provides a striking example of how the shadows of the past permeate the bureaucratic apparatus, the founding dynamics of power, and even the forms of the state in the present day. Indeed, the defendants who are given a voice in the work—their being addressed by numbers is a bitter reference to the past of the concentration camps—are seen to deny almost all the crimes attributed to them (1996: 70). Furthermore, many of them make statements implying they remain loyal to their military oaths and the secrecy that was a part of them (129). The clear portrayal of these individuals’ attitudes in court is a poignant reference, demonstrating that the reckoning with the crime of the Holocaust is an unending task and, in fact, retains its importance today. Although Germany tried to create an entirely different country from the ruins of the war, the Nazi past—with its bureaucratic remnants, its ways of thinking, its memories—was still alive. In the process of confronting this past, society is forced to manage a difficult dilemma; it faces the necessity of striking a balance between denying and accepting the past, while also needing to establish legitimacy in the pursuit of social justice. Indeed, this is precisely the ethical-political historical ground upon which the Red Army Faction (RAF), which would “shake” Germany in the 1970s, would operate. This “burden of realpolitik” seems to have been reflected in the course of the trial and the relative “leniency” of the punishments, demonstrating just how complex and multidimensional the process of confronting the past and reconstructing collective memory truly is.
The fact that the Turkish translation of the work was done by the late Ülkü Tamer, considered among Turkey’s greatest poets, should be counted as a singular stroke of luck for the reader. It would not be wrong to say that such translations are of immense importance, especially in terms of preserving literary heritage and passing it on to new generations. We contend that this fortunate translation will also breathe new life into the work’s contemporary relevance and that reading it can be considered a literary experience in its own right. Ülkü Tamer’s unique style and profound emotional world, by reflecting the spirit of the translation, both preserve the essence of the work and offer the reader a distinct experience. In this respect, the translation in question signifies not merely a change of language but also the construction of a cultural bridge between peoples.
Whatever the outcome, it cannot be said that this documentary work, which proceeds from historical facts, has lost much of its value today (despite its flaws, such as carrying the realities and motivations of the era in which it was written). This work still serves as an important resource that aims to make the reader and the viewer think and question by presenting the painful experiences and social dynamics of the past. In fact, with the rise of the far-right, I believe it is not at all wrong to assert that this is a text of memory that must be read, watched, and staged again and again to remember and to remind others that the Nazi Party was not the creation of just a handful of ambitious elites or certain capitalist circles, but in reality involved the active participation of millions who gave it their full support, and that therefore, overcoming the trauma it inflicted on both German society and the entire world is no easy task. In this context, understanding the essence of these events and grasping the historical context of this tragedy is not only an academic necessity but also a great responsibility that everyone must fulfill for the sake of humanity. By doing so, it becomes possible to contribute to the consciousness of new generations, so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
Title: The Investigation
Author: Peter Weiss
Translation: Ülkü Tamer
Genre Theatre Play
Yar Publications, Third Edition (1996)
Criticism: Onur Aydemir
April 2025, Ankara
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