Books & Discussion on the Holocaust Showing 851-900 of 1,027

[Elliot]

Jonny wrote: "I'm makinga start on the Holocaust "pre-history" book
'..."

That's a very interesting excerpt you shared, Johhny. In the recent reading I've done on Bohemia/early Czechoslovakia (especially in Czechs & Germans: A Study Of The Struggle In The Historic Provinces Of Bohemia And Moravia I came across quite a few mentions of Pan-Germanism, an ideology which was prevalent in Central Europe especially in the period before WWI, but also present in the interwar period. I found it interesting how in the German regions of Czechoslovakia, the "Sudetenland", (and I'm sure in Germany proper, too) the old Pan-Germanism was often morphed into the new National Socialism of Hitler and his associates. It wasn't something I was really aware of before.

[Dimitri]

Johnny, is it me or does the excerpt have a Daniel Goldhagen flavour ?

[Liz V.]

Comments on PTSD reminded me of an article that I read recently. When I tried to find it, this turned up
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

[Jonny]

Dimitri wrote: "Johnny, is it me or does the excerpt have a Daniel Goldhagen flavour ?"

Ahhh...I'd actually need to read Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust to answer that properly mate... Although if my understanding of Goldhagen's thesis is correct, then yes. However the point of this is that punitive tendencies were part of general colonial policy; Germany, it's suggested (but not yet) moved into systematic genocide in Namibia.

[Susan]

Happy to announce that my book Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections is now available on Smashwords.com https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks and more at a reduced price of $1.99.
An uplifting tale of survival which puts COVID-19 lockdown into proportion. Stay safe and well.

[Charles]

Trains to Treblinka

https://vimeo.com/418644295

Hi Everyone, here is a new book on the Holocaust, "Trains to Treblinka" and a summary below. Glad to be part of this group.

Treblinka, Poland--1942. Daily, thousands of passengers including Bronka and Tchechia arrive at a destination they believe is a resettlement work camp, only to be immediately separated from their families and told to remove their clothing. Within moments, the masses disappear into a long-fenced passageway down the center of the camp called the tube, except for those indiscriminately chosen out of the lines by the SS. While ordered to carefully organize the discarded valuables of the passengers, the young men and women begin to unravel the mysterious truth about Treblinka, yet they are not allowed to ask questions. Only later, when the workers search for their loved ones to no avail do the Nazi’s menacing grins tell them all they need to know—that they must keep working or they will also end up entering the tube.

As the sobering truth about Treblinka sinks deeply into the workers’ hearts, a few of the men and women begin to plan a revolt. Based on a magnificent true story, Trains to Treblinka deftly interweaves the lives of several revolt organizers who pledge everything for the chance to burn down the camp and escape into the woods. When the day comes for the uprising, the young workers are barely able to contain their excitement and they risk betraying their own motives under the watchful eyes of the continually distrusting Nazis.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Sounds like a very interesting book Charles, I hope it goes well on the market as its a subject that although shocking, should be read about by a larger audience.

[Liz V.]

Have marked to read. Best wishes Charles.

[Dj]

I just picked up: The Long Road to Auschwitz: A Tale of Tyranny and Heartbreak



Figured it had been long enough I can pick up another holocaust book again

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I hope its a great read Dj, it sometimes does take a bit of time to read another book on the Holocaust.

[Dj]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I hope its a great read Dj, it sometimes does take a bit of time to read another book on the Holocaust."

Ever since I read about five or so in a row and then saw something talking about how much higher the suicide rate for Holocaust researchers was than that for normal researchers (normal researchers commit suicide equal to the national average) I decided I should be a little more careful about the spacing of such books in my reading.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I hadn't heard that about the suicide rate for Holocaust research!

[Dj]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I hadn't heard that about the suicide rate for Holocaust research!"

Yeah, it was pretty eye-opening when I read it, but it does make a certain amount of sense. It is a horrific subject one can only spend so much time looking into how inhuman the human race can be.

[Paul]

Dj wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I hadn't heard that about the suicide rate for Holocaust research!"

Yeah, it was pretty eye-opening when I read it, but it does make a certain amount of sense. It is a horrif..."

Iris Chang (who wrote "The Rape of Nanking") is probably the most prominent researcher (of human rights atrocities) I am of aware that is such a victim.

The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That's a good point Paul.

[Bev]

This looks like a potentially very interesting book. https://www.yadvashem.org/blog/we-thi...


It doesn't appear to be listed in Goodreads as of yet.

We Think of You as an Angel: An Unlikely Jewish Rescuer and Hero by Sarah Kadosh

[Bev]

I recently finished reading and reviewing The Violinist of Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood

This book tells the story of real life violinist Alma Rosé who led the women's orchestra in Auschwitz Berkenau. If I could I would have given it ten stars. As I read it I often felt as if I was right there seeing things through Alma's eyes. I highly recommend it and am thankful that #NetGalley and #Bookouture gave me the opportunity to read an ARC. You can read my full review. here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Excellent review Bev!

[Jonny]

I'm currently working through Richard J. Evans's The Third Reich at War: How the Nazis Led Germany from Conquest to Disaster; he's included this quote, from one of the German 'ruling class' in Poland - a viewpoint I've not come across too often before:

"Passing a Jewish ghetto in Kutno, Melita Maschmann was shocked to see the lethargic poverty of the people penned in behind the high wire fence. Some children were begging, their hands stretched out through the wire.

The wretchedness of the children brought a lump to my throat. But I clenched my teeth. Gradually I learned to switch off my “private feelings” quickly and utterly in such situations. This is terrible, I said to myself, but the driving out of the Jews is one of the unfortunate things we must bargain for if the “Warthegau” is to become a German country.

She saw some German railway officials going to the fence and gawping at the Jews as if they were animals in a zoo. 208 What they saw, though it was the result of German oppression, confirmed their prejudices against ‘Eastern Jews’."

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Pretty disgusting attitude shown by Melita Maschmann, but I suppose that was typical at the time.

[Bev]

I just finished reviewing the novel The Watchmaker of Dachau by Carly Schabowski

You can read my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

This book is not as graphic in it's depictions of the horrors of a concentration camp as some others that I've read choosing to focus more on the interactions between the characters - both prisoners and their captors. I found it to be well written and definitely worth a read.

[Bev]

I've written a review of another novel which will be released in the Spring. The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff This book is set in Krakow Poland but was inspired by the real life experiences of Jews who lived in the sewers of Lvov. This book told the story from both under and above ground perspectives. You can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bev]

Here is another upcoming novel that I've read and reviewed for #NetGalley. The Girl Under the Flag: Monique by Alex Amit

This book tells the fictional story of Monique, a Jewish girl in her late teens who suddenly finds herself on street after the French gendarmes have done a round-up of the Jews including her family. With starvation looming ever near, Monique is willing to do anything to survive and gets pulled in to the local resistance. You can read my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Liz V.]

Ravensbrück guards
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...

Selma van de Perre
My Name Is Selma: The Remarkable Memoir of a Jewish Resistance Fighter and Ravensbrück Survivor

[Theresa]

Thanks for sharing, Liz. I need to track down and watch The Reader movie mentioned in the article.

[Liz V.]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_R...

Bernhard Schlink
The Reader

[Theresa]

Thanks! It appears to be on Netflix, so I will check it out!

[Joseph]

Theresa wrote: "Thanks for sharing, Liz. I need to track down and watch The Reader movie mentioned in the article."

I saw it once. I rather liked it.

[Bev]

Liz V. wrote: "Ravensbrück guards
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...

Selma van de Perre
[book:My Name Is Selma: The Remarkable Memoir of a Jewish Resistance Fighter and Ravensbrück ..."

Thanks Liz - those were interesting articles and I'll have to look for that movie too.

[Bev]

I've just finished reading and reviewing another book for #NetGalley which will be published in March. Not Without My Sister: A compelling and heartbreaking WW2 historical novel by Marion Kummerow

This book was inspired by the author taking a trip to Bergen Belson Concentration Camp in Germany where she viewed a temporary exhibition about children in concentration camps. One picture in particular caught her eye – a picture of a very young girl with a stuffed animal in her arms. You can see that picture here: https://kummerow.info/bergen-belsen-c...

After seeing this photograph , Kummerow was inspired to create the character of four year old Mindel and her 17 year old sister Rachel. Throughout the book, the reader experiences their stories which are told in alternating fashion. The sisters are part of a larger family that live on a farm in in a rural part of Germany. They are the last Jews in the area and their parents, having transferred ownership of the farm to a local Aryan friend are hopeful that they might be able to live out the war unnoticed by the Nazi’s, sadly this was not to be....

You can read my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great review Bev, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about this book with the rest of the group.

[Bev]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Great review Bev, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about this book with the rest of the group."

You're very welcome. 😊

[Liz V.]

Remembrance Day
https://apnews.com/article/race-and-e...

[Bev]

Liz V. wrote: "Remembrance Day
https://apnews.com/article/race-and-e..."

Thanks for sharing Liz. Here is another interesting articlehttps://montrealgazette.com/opinion/c....

[Bev]

Liz V. wrote: "Remembrance Day
https://apnews.com/article/race-and-e..."

Thanks for sharing Liz. Here is another interesting articlehttps://montrealgazette.com/opinion/c....

[Liz V.]

Thank you Bev.

[Elyse]

Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland Forgive me if this has been mentioned before, but this is one of my favorites.
I have also been researching a lot about Latvia during the Holocaust and this The Holocaust in Latvia, 1941-1944 : The Missing Center is one excellent volume that is unfortunately out of print now. I have made a scan of my edition however. Let me know if there's a place I could upload it to benefit other historians out here.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I have Ordinary Men on loan from my local library Elyse. I planned to start it next (audio book), once I've finished my current listen, so your recommendation is appreciated and timely.

[Elyse]

Geevee wrote: "I have Ordinary Men on loan from my local library Elyse. I planned to start it next (audio book), once I've finished my current listen, so your recommendation is appreciated and timely."
That's great! I actually recommend pairing it with Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust. They are very different and provide different povs, but their arguments are best measured against each other. Plus reading the intros where the authors are politely and occasionally impolitely chastising each other is interesting and a little funny.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Elyse, I have that title too.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Two great recommendations there Elyse and Geevee. I recently purchased a copy of this book on the subject as well:

Hitler's Police Battalions: Enforcing Racial War in the East by Edward B. Westermann

[Elyse]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Two great recommendations there Elyse and Geevee. I recently purchased a copy of this book on the subject as well:

[b..."

I read that one ages ago when doing research for one of my books and I recall it being very good. There was one more book I read for thag research fest that I recall was very good in covering the subject, I believe it was [book:The Einsatzgruppen Reports: Selections from the Dispatches of the Nazi Death Squads' Campaign Against the Jews July 1941-January 1943|2749623] but I may be wrong. I need to look at my library again.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I've just finished Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher R. Browning.

I thought it a useful addition to the study of the Holocaust, notably from the position of those who carried out the killings and deportations.

My review should people wish to read my thoughts in more detail:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Excellent review Geevee, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the group.

[Jonny]

Excellent review GeeVee, I have both Browning and Goldhagen's books still to read, although I'm currently guided by Peter Longerich's comment (quoted in Evans The Third Reich at War)
"neither ‘ordinary men’ nor ‘ordinary Germans’."

[zed]

Mikes comment in Geevee's review about wanting/not wanting to read this type of book is certainly pertinent. I was worn out reading about the Holocaust and with that am presently reading very slowly Crimes Against Humanity

It is slow read because it is draining as apposed to anything else.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks gents. It remains a necessary but unsettling and abhorrent subject. My standard on this subject, and there are many excellent studies, so that standard is very high is David Cesarani's The Final Solution. I'll keep an eye out for Crimes Against Humanity too.

[Pamela]

Geevee wrote: "I've just finished Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland [bookcover:Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland..."

HI Geevee, I read this some years ago and give it 5 stars, finding it rich in valuable research and imparted with a sense of objective urgency (if that makes sense). I didn't have access to the Goldhagen audio but I agree that their differing perspectives shouldn't get in the readers' way. Also thank you for the recommendation of Cesarani's book.

[Bev]

I've recently finished reviewing another book for #NetGalley which is soon to be published and although it is a novel, the focus is indeed very much on the happenings of the Holocaust and I feel it is well researched and told.

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood


This novel was inspired by the lives of two real individuals – Mala Zimetbaum and Edek Galiński. I have visited Auschwitz, but I don’t remember hearing about these two as part of the tour that I took. I’m sorry about that and very thankful to Midwood for drawing their story to my attention. They are known as a young Jewish woman who because of her skills had a job that gave her more freedom than most within the camp and a Polish man who before the war had been embarking on naval service but also was skilled in carpentry and other hands-on skills. While at Auschwitz they met, fell in love, and eventually managed to escape together from Auschwitz. Sadly, the prologue makes it clear that their freedom did not last long.

Their story is a fascinating one and has been very well-researched by the author. When I had finished reading it, I was able to go online and find out more information about this couple and even see pictures of them. For those who are interested you can read more at the following link.
https://artsandculture.google.com/exh...


You can read my full review of the book here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Liz V.]

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/...