Everyone's friend
El amigo de todos
The story
A photograph, a toy locomotive, and a newspaper clipping are the starting point for this story, born from a child's fascination with the true identity of Auke Bert Pattist. This child, now an adult, struggles with old newspapers, legal evidence, and suspicions that blur the reconstruction of the Nazi who enchanted his childhood. Through witnesses, unpublished documents, and locations, we delve into the figure of a Waffen SS lieutenant who came to Spain and integrated easily. Little by little, we discover a peculiar, polyglot character with a gift for people, well-known in certain circles, who, unlike his fugitive compatriots, never went into hiding despite having endured several extradition attempts. Few knew, or didn't want to know, about Pattist's dark past, when he was known as "The Executioner of Drenthe" for acts he never repented of.