The way Duchen describes the abuse and rape of women makes it sound like humans exist like a pack of animals. Although I can agree that the violence used against the women was brutal, the way Duchen argues it almost takes away the human choice from those who punished the women. The violence against the women was a choice and not an instinct. Nowhere in the narrative does Duchen compare humans and animals, however this is the interpretation I got from reading this chapter.
As Claire Duchen was a feminist historian (which I support by the way) it is no surprise that the narration and argument may come across as strong minded. The symbolism of sexual violence against women is a convincing argument.
Deák’s chapter talks about the crimes committed by the Nazis during WWII and how the culprits across Europe were punished. Such as local executions and the Nürnberg trials. Deák also mentions the punishment inflicted upon women who had interacted with Nazis, and how French women had their hair shaved.
Deák argues the difference between the Nürnberg trials and the local, sometimes public, executions of Nazi supporters etc. The Nürnberg trials were held by the Americans and mostly focused on Nazis that had direct contribution to the Nazi schemes or contribution to the Holocaust. Additionally, the Nürnberg trials was a way to show power over Germany’s defeat, broadcasted to most corners of the world, and quite grand.
Meanwhile the local executions were bloody, brutal and even barbaric. Such as the stoning of the body of Mussolini and his wife. There was no patience or sympathy towards the Nazis when the public saw red.
Both sources use the photographs taken by Robert Capa, and interprets them in similar, yet also different ways. Duchen seems convinced that the harassment afflicted upon the women who had their heads shaven was violence against women, because they were vulnerable women, and not entirely because they had relations with Nazis.
Deák has a more explanatory way of approaching the events and focuses more on the punishment as a local disciplining situation rather than a crime against females.
Nonetheless, both are equally convincing in their narratives.