The Testament

While the story itself is fiction, it was inspired by events that occurred at the end of Word War II in Rechnitz, Austria. On the night of 24-25 March 1945, some 200 Hungarian Jews were murdered near Rechnitz, by a group of local notables who had gathered for a party at the castle of the Countess of Batthyany, born Margit Thyssen-Bornemisza. The party and the killing were organized by Hans Joachim Oldenberg, her lover. At some point during the evening guns were handed out. The 200 Jewish laborers, residents of the manor, were hunted down and killed. Afterwards the guests returned to the castle to continue the party. After the war the massacre was covered up. Residents boycotted an official investigation; one witness was murdered, and other witnesses died under suspicious circumstances.