My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust (Critical Issues in World and International History)
In examining one of the defining events of the 20th century, Doris Bergen situates the Holocaust in its historical, political, social, cultural, and military contexts. Unlike many other treatments of the Holocaust, this revised, second edition discusses not only the persecution of the Jews, but also other segments of society victimized by the Nazis: Gypsies, homosexuals, P...more
Paperback, Second Edition, 279 pages
Published
January 28th 2009
by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
(first published November 25th 2002)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
292)
This is the best synopsis of the Holocaust I have ever read. It is very concise, yet challenges some common historical inaccuracies such as the over-stated significance of the Treaty of Versailles in causing the Germans to become so hateful. These different perspectives are well researched, documented, and supported. I think this is a book that anyone who loves history would enjoy. Nevertheless, if you aren't a history buff you may find it a bit dry. I however, really enjoyed it and learned ...more
Doris Bergen’s War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust presents a straightforward account of the Holocaust. Rather than starting from a particular chronological point, Bergen begins with a short history of several thematic elements that she believes influenced German society and the beliefs of Adolf Hitler, leading to the rise of Nazism. These include antisemitism, racism, eugenics, imperialism, and the cheapening of human life in World War I. Significantly absent are notions of eco...more
"War and Genocide" is an interesting book about what drove the Nazis to do something as irrational as the Holecaust. Bergen sums it up as "race and space" and thereby explains why the Nazis devoted so many men and military resources to something that was anything but necessary to the war effort. If you're looking for a book that explains how something as terrible as the Holecaust happened, or how the Nazis rose to power in such a highly developed and educated nation, look e...more
Extremely well written and insightful. Starts with a look at the "tinders" that made the Holocaust possible, then an overview of Hitler's life from childhood to eventual Führer. There is a close examination of the victims and collaborators of Nazism and the chaotic interplay involved. Highly recommend.
Nicole
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who want to know more without knowing it all
If you want to learn more about the Holocaust but don't have the time or energy to really delve in, this is the perfect surface read. It's amazingly concise and yet comprehensive, not to mention well written.
Bergen makes the experiences of the Holocaust as personal as possible given the time and space constraints of her book. She seeks to answer the whys and hows behind the whats. Her facts are black and white but the emotional response and judgment she brings (and encourages in t...more
Bergen makes the experiences of the Holocaust as personal as possible given the time and space constraints of her book. She seeks to answer the whys and hows behind the whats. Her facts are black and white but the emotional response and judgment she brings (and encourages in t...more
As far as a Holocaust textbook goes, it wasn't bad. The first few chapters gave a lot of boring background details, but as you moved into the actual war, it got better. There were enough personal anecdotes to keep it interesting, and plenty of disgusting details about the horrors to make you feel sick.
Doris Bergen presents a concise (as the title would suggest) overview of the Holocaust that is straight forward without "dumbing" it down. She explains the politics and prejudices at work between the individuals and groups of people. It is also very readable.
I'm reading this for my Women in the Holocaust class. It's fascinating, and provides a really detailed overview of what exactly went on in Nazi Germany. It begins around WWI to offer more information regarding the Treaty of Versailles and also Hitler's upbringing (more accurate than his political propoganda- Mein Kamf). Anyway, not done with it yet, but good so far!
Great book! Makes a lot of information very accessible. It gave the historic basis for my 300 level college Holocaust class.
Amazing introduction to the Holocaust. Concise, well-written, and informative without being boring. Highly recommended.
it was very informational.
I read this because I had to. All in all it was a good introduction to the Holocaust. The writer definitely has an agenda. Blame it on Nazi ideology; also raise the question of why did so many people acquiesce; include information about targeted groups that were not Jewish, such as JWs, Roma, and homosexuals. Fine, but unfortunately the concise nature of the book doesn't allow her to defend her positions very well. Therefore, I wonder whether the kind of concise history she is trying to create i...more
Good history book
I just finish reading this short, little textbook for my Holocaust class, and I was very impressed. It is a very well-written history of the Holocaust that puts everything together in a historical perspective that debunks some of the myths surrounding Hitler and concepts about pre-war Germany.
A book "everyone" should read..It did not answer my question of "how humanity allowed the Holocaust to happen" but it informed me at great lengths.
This book details the beginnings of the Holocaust through the demise of Hitler and Germany. It is a great book for anyone who is interested in the Holocaust.
A very good, short history of the Holocaust.
Penjelasan yang ga' jelas.........
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
