Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin

Questions About Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin

by Timothy Snyder (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (2)

Does this book's factual material mean that Soviet socialism bears blame (at least partial blame) for German socialism's death toll, due to the conspiracy between Stalin and Hitler?
Jacco First off, German 'national socialism' is very different from 'socialism' in the country, as the author writes: both communists and socialists were th…moreFirst off, German 'national socialism' is very different from 'socialism' in the country, as the author writes: both communists and socialists were the first enemies of the Nazi party, and the first ones to be eradicated.

As for your question: yes, at some point the author says that when the Germans discovered thousands of people in mass graves in occupied Soviet Union (victims of Stalin's paranoia), they used this for propaganda purposes. The atrocities were used in Germany, to instill fear of the Soviet Union and the supposedly Jewish conspiracy behind it. It was one of their justifications for the atrocities committed against Jews and Soviet prisoners of war, among others.

Also, many collaborators in the Bloodlands had to make a rational decision, not an ethical one: which of the two warring parties is going to keep me and my family alive? Since there was almost equal fear of Soviet and German occupiers in the Bloodlands, almost no-one had the opportunity to make a moral stand against injustices. This meant that very few German soldiers/policemen were able to kill a lot of people in occupied territory: they just had a lot of help of local people.(less)
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How graphic is this book?
Alexandru It can get pretty graphic, especially in the parts about the mass famine and starvation which led to cannibalism (for example, some parents ate their …moreIt can get pretty graphic, especially in the parts about the mass famine and starvation which led to cannibalism (for example, some parents ate their own children). It is not for the faint of heart. But it is the sad reality(less)
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