A History of the Holocaust

by Friedman, Saul S.

• ISBN13: 9780853034278
• ISBN10: 0853034273
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-01
• Publisher: Vallentine Mitchell

Summary

The Holocaust was unique within the context of the Second World War because Jews were disproportionately represented among the civilian casualties in that conflict. Over 50 million people died as a result of the application of total war, with 12% being Jews. Half of the victims in Nazi concentration camps were Jews, yet, at the time, Jews constituted less than 1/4 of 1% of the world's population. The Holocaust was unique within the context of Jewish history. While Jews endured persecution throughout history, Roman procurators, Saracen holy warriors, and inquisitors usually held out the prospect of survival to those who would convert. Not so with the Nazis. It mattered little whether the Jewish prisoner was an atheist, an Orthodox rabbi, a mother, or a small child. All Jews had to die. This reprint provides detailed account of what happened across Europe during the Holocaust, with balanced coverage of each country. It is intended as a textbook, not a philosophical interpretation of the Holocaust. Written in a highly accessible style, it is addressed to students and will inspire them to read more about the subject and to question the problems of the world.

Author Biography

Saul S. Friedman is Director of Holocaust and Judaic Studies at Youngstown State University.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vii
List of Maps	ix
Preface	x
Maps	xiii
The Jews: A History of Persecution	1	(13)
Rehearsal for Destruction: The Jews of Tsarist Russia	14	(12)
The Witches' Brew of Fascism	26	(11)
The Metapolitics of Nazism	37	(12)
Hitler and the End of Weimar	49	(13)
Gleichschaltung: The Nazi Consolidation of Power	62	(15)
The Year of Decision: 1938	77	(13)
World, War II Begins: The Polish Ghettos	90	(15)
Blitzkrieg in the West: Holland	105	(13)
Belgium and Luxembourg	118	(13)
Vichy France	131	(12)
Fear of Fascism: America before Pearl Harbor	143	(11)
Germany: Purge of the Contragenics	154	(12)
The Last Jews of Germany	166	(11)
The Invasion of Russia: Einsatzgruppen	177	(14)
Wannsee: The Saga of Czech Jewry	191	(15)
Aktion Reinhard	206	(15)
Jewish Armed Resistance	221	(13)
Yugoslavia: The Dysfunctional State	234	(12)
Romania: The Hamans of Moldavia	246	(12)
Greece: Destruction of a Sephardic Civilization	258	(12)
Co-Belligerents: Bulgaria and Finland	270	(13)
Italy: The Reluctant Ally	283	(12)
The Humanitarians: The Vatican and the Red Cross	295	(11)
The European Neutrals	306	(12)
Righteous Gentiles: Denmark and Norway	318	(12)
The Middle East	330	(13)
Great Britain and the United States	343	(13)
The Last Chapter: Hungary	356	(13)
Extermination: Auschwitz	369	(14)
Punishing the Guilty	383	(14)
Final Thoughts	397	(6)
Notes	403	(65)
Index	468