Abstract
Hans Max Hirschfeld. The Right Person in the Right Position...?Fennema’s biography of H.M. Hirschfeld represents an interesting contribution to the debate on ethics and historiography. After all, Hirschfeld’s central position in the Dutch economy during the German occupation raises some fundamental ethical questions. Should economic and material values prevail at all times or should other values – moral, humanist or Christian – carry just as much weight, if not more? As opposed to the situation in the 1930s and the post-war years, during the German occupation the technocrat Hirschfeld was not democratically accountable for his policy. The author of this article explains that Hirschfeld’s biographer mistakenly assumes that it is not necessary to include a discussion of the ethical aspects of Hirschfeld’s continuation in public office during wartime. This review is part of the discussion forum 'Dr. Max Hirschfeld. Man van het grote geld' (Meindert Fennema en Johan Rhijnsburger).
Highlights
Nog geen drie jaar na de publicatie van de ‘halve’ biografie van H.M
Na de voor hem gunstig uitgevallen zuivering in 1946 werd Hirschfeld opnieuw de Haagse toponderhandelaar in de Nederlandse economische belangenbehartiging in het internationale veld
Dat hield in ieder geval veel meer in dan de subtitel van Fennema’s biografie suggereert: ‘Man van het grote geld’
Summary
Nog geen drie jaar na de publicatie van de ‘halve’ biografie van H.M. Hirschfeld door Arie van der Zwan[1], verscheen onlangs Hirschfelds levensbeschrijving van de hand van de Amsterdamse politicoloog Meindert Fennema.[2]. Inmiddels kan het geen punt van discussie meer zijn dat Hirschfelds aanblijven en optreden in bezettingstijd een kwestie was van economische collaboratie, al dan niet strafbaar.
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