The Memory of Justice (1976)

Otto Kranzbühler: Self - Defense Attorney

Quotes 

• Marcel Ophüls : Do you often discuss Nuremberg with your children?

  Himself - Defense Attorney : I used to do it a lot when the children, now all over 30, were about 20; we discussed matters a great deal. And of course, they raised the questions again and again: "Why did you take on such a defense? What did you yourself do in the war? What did you actually know of what went on?" After endless discussion, I finally found a formula that satisfied them. I told them: "Either I knew nothing about the crimes that went on then in which case I was an idiot. Or I knew something and either participated in which case I was a criminal, or I did nothing to stop it in which case I was a coward. So you can choose whether your father was an idiot, a coward, or a criminal." That satisfied them.

  Marcel Ophüls : A moment's thought if you don't mind. Why would you suppose your children could be satisfied with such an answer, assuming that they trust their father?

  Himself - Defense Attorney : Because from what they knew of me, they must have thought that none of these three alternatives was very likely.