Kai Uwe Höss
German pastor and public speaker
Kai Uwe Höss (also spelled Hoess and Höß; born 1962) is a German pastor and public speaker. He is known for lectures and interviews addressing the legacy of the Holocaust from a family perspective as the grandson of Rudolf Höß, the commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp. In his public work, Höss focuses on historical responsibility, faith, and confronting the consequences of extremist ideology.
Early life and background
Kai Uwe Höss was born in 1962 in West Germany and grew up in the Stuttgart region. He is the son of Hans-Jürgen Höss and the grandson of Rudolf Höß, a high-ranking SS officer who served as commandant of Auschwitz during World War II.
Höss has stated that his grandfather’s role in the Holocaust was rarely discussed within his family during his childhood and that he became more fully aware of it during his school years.
He pursued theological studies and became a pastor, eventually focusing much of his work on Holocaust education, reconciliation, and public speaking about the lessons of history and the dangers of extremism.
He later adopted the spelling “Hoess” for his surname in some contexts due to the limited use of the German letter “ö” outside German-speaking countries.
Höss has spoken publicly about the emotional impact of being related to the Auschwitz commandant and the responsibility he feels to confront that legacy. In interviews and talks he has addressed his grandfather’s crimes and the importance of remembrance, education, and resistance to antisemitism and other forms of hatred.
Career
Before entering Christian ministry, Höss trained as a chef and later studied hotel and tourism management.
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