Reviews (2)

HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL...
This is a wonderful book for any collection.Haunting...Thought Provoking...quite beautiful and very, very sad!!!

bad treatment
Hi!Those are pictures that speak.It makes you think.It is very sad... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concentration camps    2. Documentary Photo Collections    3. Documentary photography    4. Europe    5. Germany    6. Jewish Holocaust    7. Military - World War II    8. Photo Essays    9. Photography    10. Pictorial works    11. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Europe    12. Photographs: collections    13. The Holocaust   

Reviews (1)

Earlier "Crossroads Marseilles 1940" is better
The "book description" above states that this book "explores the diaries, memoirs, and letters of the individuals involved.""Explore" may not be the right word.
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Subjects:  1. Escapes    2. Europe - France    3. France    4. France - History    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Holocaust    8. Jewish - General    9. Marseille    10. Military    11. Military - World War II    12. Rescues    13. World War II - Europe    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. History / General   

Reviews (11)

Authenicity by interviews and research of primary sources
Dr. Nathan Stotzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible.

Authenicity by interviews and research of primary sources
Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible and avoid the deplorable illusions of "Hindsight Histiography". See my review on Marchione's "Consensus". Authenicity by interviews and research of primary sources
Dr. Nathan Stotzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible and avoid the deplorable illusions of "Hindsight Histiography". See my review on Marchione's "Consensus". Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Berlin    3. Germany    4. History    5. History: World    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Interfaith marriage    8. Jewish - General    9. Jewish Holocaust    10. Jews    11. Persecutions    12. American English    13. European history: Second World War    14. Second World War, 1939-1945    15. The Holocaust    16. Works by individual poets: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (3)

The Insignificant Extent of Polish-German Collaboration
Raul Hilberg has written a generally balanced and thoughtful account. The only obvious shortcoming of this book is his over-reliance on tendentious sources of information (e. g., Claude Lanzmann's SHOAH, and Shmuel Krakowski).
Don't fault a book for sticking to its scope
I agree that most studies of atrocities in WW2 may focus excessively on the Jewish Holocaust to the detriment of other groups.However, the title of this book specifically designates it as a study of the "JEWISH" catastrophe.Hilberg aptly addresses the topic.Don't fault a book for being precise and sticking to its designated scope.

What about the other victims?
I would not recommend this book. This book, as does history, ignores the other 16-20 million non Jewish victimes of the holocaust. How is it that these other victims are continuously looked over and forgotten? They had families and lives as well!Are they less important then the Jewish visctims? The Holocaust is not exclusive to the Jewish people-what about the millions of Ukraines, cripples, prisoners of war, homosexuals...the list goes on. I am saddened by the fact that these victimes are viewed as lesser or nonexistant. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Holocaust    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1933-1945)    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Jewish - General    8. Military - World War II    9. History / Holocaust   

Reviews (1)

Magnificent
I was born and raised in Germany, many years after the end of World War II and the Nazi period. There is a tremendeous amount of information available about the Third Reich, the war, and the Holocaust; but for me, there was always something lacking: How could all that happen? How was it possible? And what did people really know?
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Germany    2. General    3. Germany - History - Third Reich (1933-1945)    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Jewish Holocaust    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Social History    11. European history: from c 1900 -    12. Germany    13. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    14. Political structures: totalitarianism & dictatorship    15. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (26)

Answers the What Happened, But WHY?
The whole idea of the Holocaust is so abhorrent to many of us that we find it difficult to understand or believe as many otherwise 'normal' people participated either directly or indirectly. In France, in most of the occupied countries, and of course in Germany itself Jews were regularly turned over to the authorities. (Although I must add that in Denmark, Italy and Hungary the Governments at least resisted with more or less success.) So many people find it so unbelievable that they simply have re-written history to pretend that it really didn't happen.
Well written but with the unforgivable bias
This book is well written and starts with an excellent review of the context of Polish history after the World War 2 (Chapter 1). Unfortunately, following chapters go downhill from there, to end up with the incredibly biased conclusion. Shattering, factual crime descriptions (such as the description of the Kielce pogrom) are getting more and more intertwined with the one sided anecdotal evidence, author's opinions, as well as clear omissions of important facts, not to mention some clearly misleading and untruthful statements.
Another Case Study In Polish Savagery!
In pondering this disturbing and provocative tome by Jan T. Gross, one is reminded not only of his previous shocking entry, "Neighbors" (see my review) but also of the increasing evidence of a shockingly resurgent and quite virulent anti- Semitism across Europe as well as throughout the Middle East. With horrific detail, Mr. Gross describes the almost indescribable violence and murder systematically visited against returning Jews to Poland in the aftermath of the Second World War. This current work indicates just how typical the previous study ("Neighbors") he had conducted concerning the events in one particular rural town (Jedwabne) had been. In that account he detailed how the local inhabitantsintentionally clubbed, murdered, and mutilated its local indigenous Jews in 1941 under the urgent ministrations of a cruel Nazi occupation. Since many stood to gain materially from the Jews' demise in the way of money, farms, houses, furniture, and other earthly possessions, they were seemingly encouraged by local German occupying forces to engage in the bludgeoning murders of as many as 1,000 of their Jewish fellow villagers; men, women, and children.
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Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Eastern Europe - General    3. History - General History    4. Holocaust    5. Modern - 20th Century    6. Religion    7. Spirituality - General    8. European History    9. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    10. History / Holocaust    11. Jewish Studies    12. Poland    13. Political Science and International Relations    14. Sociology    15. c 1945 to c 1960   

Reviews (2)

Preserving Memory of the Holocaust & Wholecaust. Buy it !
The book "Preserving Memory: The Struggle to Create America's Holocaust Museum" by Edward T. Linenthal is a stellar book and very informative.
An Interesting Read
A Highly informative and yet very readable account of the building of the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and the politics behind it.This is one of those books that by the end you have learned alot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1981-1989    2. Exhibitions    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust memorials    9. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    10. Political aspects    11. Politics and government    12. United States    13. United States Holocaust Memori    14. History / United States / General    15. Museums & Museology    16. The Holocaust    17. USA   

Editorial Review

A compelling book on an ugly subject, Read more

Reviews (19)

Heart of Darkness
The hatred that manifested itself in so many petty acts was the most shocking aspect of this book.I had read enough about the Holocaust not to be shocked, or so I thought.Picture yourself crossing an eight lane busy highway just to tell someone standing on the other side he was a jerk.Of course you wouldn't; no rational person would.Nazis and their fellow travelers did, though. No act of cruelty was beneath them. Their hatred trumped everything.
It's theTruth
I never really knew the whole thing about the holocaust until I read this book.I recommend it to everyone.It' hard to read, except a little at a time.I love the Jewish people. I am a born again, spirit filled christian and i thought I had been through some bad persecution, but compared to what the Jewish people have gone through I haven't really been persecuted at all.Satan hates them because they God's chosen ones and he knows that God is not finished with them yet.They do win in the end.I highly recommend it.

An "Exhausting" Study
I read this book after finishing Martin Gilbert's excellent recent book "Churchill & America", but have been largely disappointed.I find it to be a plodding and overly detailed account of the Holocaust that tells the same facts over and over again through the experiences of different people.While this is probably a theme of the Holocaust--horrible things done to many innocent people over and over again--I am not sure that verisimilitude helps keep the reader engaged.
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Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. History: World    3. Holocaust    4. Holocaust, Jewish (1933-1945)    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    6. Military - World War II    7. History / Holocaust    8. The Holocaust    9. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (1)

The end of violence.
This book of Mr. Staub is just impressive. It explains how, depending on the education you give the children of your country, they will become 'blind' patriots or 'constructive' patriots. It explains how you can propagate goodness in society and how you can detect and stop evilness. If there is a treaty in this world that gives the clues to stop terrorism, nazism, and any act of undesired violence, but also how to heal wounds between different groups who were enemies in the past and from there build a new caring, loving, friendly society, it is this book of Mr. Staub. Just impressive : Probably few men like Mr. Staub in this world have done so much for peace to appear and propagate between human beings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    2. Good & Evil    3. Good and evil    4. Personality    5. Philosophy    6. Psychological aspects    7. Psychology    8. Social Psychology    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Personality    10. Social, group or collective psychology    11. Sociology, Social Studies    12. The Holocaust   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Fiction - Historical    4. General    5. Germany    6. Historical - General    7. Jews    8. Literary    9. Europe    10. History / Holocaust    11. Modern fiction   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: World    3. Holocaust    4. Personal Memoirs    5. European history: Second World War    6. Jewish studies    7. Poland    8. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (2)

big list
The bulk of this book is an endless list of women's names possibly emplyed as Aufseherins by the SS in the Concentration camps. Added to that is a nice essay about these women and some pictures.
Mainly a Roster
While there are 2 or 3 very brief essays in this book, the vast majority of pages consist of a roster of women who helped run the Nazi concentration camps.I gave this item only 2 stars in part because the title should more accurately reflect this.If you want extensive narrative you'll need to look elsewhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II   

Reviews (2)

Excellent for the classroom
I am a 6th grade teacher of a multicultural awareness course in NJ. I came across this book last year and it was excellent.The pictures give the whole story in a very simple and powerful manner. The Children We Remember
This is a wonderfully touching book that introduces elementary age children to the holocost.The pictures are poignant and draw the children in.The text is simple and thought provoking.Children begin to realizethat war affects everyone even the children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. History - Holocaust    4. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    5. Jewish children in the Holocaust    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. People & Places - Europe    9. Pictorial works    10. Religion - Judaism    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Holocaust   

Reviews (26)

American History From the Victims' Perspective
This book is a must read for anyone seriously interested in the true historical origins of the United States. Ward Churchill wastes no time dispelling the myth that the German Nazis were the originators of the systematic extermination of a cultural group. Likewise, he demonstrates that the Jewish people were not the first nor the last to be the victims of a Holocaust. Through his meticulous research of historical records, Churchill gives us the facts surrounding the theft of this nation from its native peoples. Afterwards, you may never look at Columbus and the discovery of the "New World" with the same rose-colored glasses.

A Little Matter of Genocide review
Professor Churchill has done a magnificant job writing this very comprehensive,extremely well-researched book.This book makes peopleaware that the Jews are not the only victims of Genocide.This book examines the history of Genocides dating back to 1492 to the present day .This book is very important because it educates people about the many occurances of Genocide.Mankind needs to know the past so that mankind can strive to make certain that the tragedies of history will not be repeated.

States of Denial
"A Little Matter" is worth reading simply for its discussion of the term "genocide". But there's so much more. If I get started I'm going to blather on at extreme length, so I won't.
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Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Genocide    3. Government relations    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Indians of North America    9. Indians, Treatment of    10. Native American    11. Native Americans    12. North America    13. North American    14. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Native Americans    15. American history    16. Cultural studies    17. Europe    18. European history: Second World War    19. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    20. Social Science / Native American Studies    21. The Holocaust    22. USA   

Reviews (11)

Very interesting
This book is a very interesting read, featuring first hand accounts of the Holocaust.The fact that the book is entirely primary source materials makes it all the more interesting.These are the words of the men who did the deeds and their reaction to it.The book uses letters, diaries, interviews, reports, and all kinds of other materials for sources.It is an interesting read, but the only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is although it is a great source, some of the chapters are rather dry, but overall the book is well worth the read.

German precision and exactness to the ultimate extreme
"The Good Old Days" is a haunting and disturbing glimpse into the Holocaust.This book chronicles a number of events associated with the Nazi attempts to exterminate the entire Jewish people from the globe. Certainly any story of the Holocaust is disturbing to a rational person but "The Good Old Days" presents these events through the words/tales of people who were there - soldiers, killers, non-Jewish citizenry.Most of the events described are related through several people (making the reading a bit tedious) and in all cases the stories, while slightly different in detail - and almost always apologetic when told after the passage of time - would make my stomach wrench at how indifferently the waste of human life was taken.This is especially true in cases where stories are supported by diaries written at the time of the events.It is a oft used generalization that the Germans are a people of exactness and precision.This has never been more true than in assiocation with the Holocaust.The SS and its minions went about their gruesome business with the efficiency stereotypically expected of the Germans - they kept exacting notes, approached it impassively as to not become emotionally attached to the situation (or they were removed from the situation - generally voluntarily, or so it is claimed), and strove to generate more efficient, quick and "humane" ways to dispose of those felt inferior.The passages in this book are presented without any candy coating and thus this text is not for the faint of heart.Yet in doing so the reader is truly left with a feeling of collective human guilt that any culture could perpetrate such acts and in such a detacted fashion.To say that no one in Germany cared about what was happening is unfair, yet it is fair from this text and others on the subject that many were active participants and while some revelled in the experience - which is disturbing enough - most acted as murderers out of duty to service, comrades, Fatherland, and/or their Fuhrer - and this is a TRULY DISTURBING thought.How far mankind is capable of sinking. An absolute necessity in Nazi war crime literature
The title suggests this book is comprised of reminiscing reflections from sadistic, self-satisfied Nazi war criminals. In fact, most of the observations in written and spoken testimonies, diaries and documents, suggest the �Perpetrators and Bystanders� were appalled. Frequently, however, they were only bothered by the manner of the beatings and executions. Those whose material contributed to this book had to see starved women beg for their lives-- soon to be corpses pulled from gas chambers by hooks on sticks inserted into their mouths to make for easy dragging-- Nazi mass executions of Jews by bullet in which many near dead tumbled into communal graves begged to be shot again, or even crowbar execution beatings by SS-supervised Ukrainians, and so on, before returning to enjoy their privileged lives away from real military action.Read more

Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. History: World    3. Holocaust    4. Holocaust, Jewish (1933-1945)    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    6. Jewish Holocaust    7. Personal narratives, German    8. Sources    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. Biography: general    11. Eastern Europe    12. European history: Second World War    13. History / General    14. Second World War, 1939-1945    15. The Holocaust   

Reviews (25)

Good addition to my library
I was captured in the story. Did'nt want to put the book down. Misha wasn't necessarily "raised" by wolves, she encountered the wolves on her lonely journey, and what way to make friend than foe with the wolves- Being out in the woods on her own made her senses heighten, which helped her to adapt (the best she could as a child) to her surroundings and nature.Furthermore, brang her to a higher understanding level with the animals. She was lonely, and she felt peace from her many struggles when she was with the wolves. Misha had many encounters humans and animals. When you read this book hopefully you will underdstand why the wolves play a significant part to her life.

An Amazing Gift
This author is a captivating writer.Having met Misha once, not one person can deny the truth behind this story.She is an amazing person and this book can only show a glimpse of what she has been put through.

Unique and Inspiring!
What a fabulous story. I stayed up half the night to finish the book. This would be an excellent book for pre-teens and up --except for one half page where Misha witnesses a rape in the woods. It is far less graphic than a lot of evening TV. I would still recommend it for "required reading" lists- just giving a heads's up for parents/teachers. I read this book over a year ago and am leaving a review now because the book left such an impression on me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Belgium    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Historical - Holocaust    6. History    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust survivors    9. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    10. Jewish children in the Holocaust    11. Personal narratives   

Reviews (14)

well supported theories
One of the first things I realized as a history major undergrad was that a lot of history, even recent history, was open to interpretation. And even when it really wasn't open to interpretation, a lot of historians would interpret it anyway. Sometimes this works, sometimes it clouds the issues. This is a bit of both, but well worth the effort to wase through this doorstop of a book because of the unique perspectives it gives not just on the SS, but on all of Hitler's Germany. The most controversial thesis, but one I thinks he supports well, was that the third Reich was not a well-oiled machine and the SS was not all powerful. Rather it was a collection of modern day feudal beauracracies, and Hitler built his power playing them off one another. Eventually the SS probably did emerge as one of the top two or three players, but by then it wasn't going to do Hitler or his top aides much good, since by then their time on earth was short.
Its not an historical book
If you just read the lines a Devil Regiment responsible for killing millions. This is not an history book, is written in with words and qualifications that the writer has not a clue about. A good historian cant classify something without putting a single proof on the book. Its the same someone publishes a book about the US Air Force and puts, the devil US army killed millions with the Atom Bomb or how the RAF bombed german cities. Thats not history. If someone wants to put his personal ideas on a book then he should put the same comments for both the winner and losers of a war.Its doesnt mention a single good point of the SS and its full of errors. This isnt the best guide for the SS since it left tons of info outside the book.

A Complete History
This is a staggering work. A monumental historical effort that ranks as the singular history of Hitler's SS by which any other would have to measured. It is nearly 600 pages and very dense. Perhaps at points you will get lost in the names, places or detail but the major figures and pivotal moments in the development of this terror machine are quite clear. The book is absolutely thorough, fastidiously researched and annotated.
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Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. Europe - Germany    3. Germany    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Military - World War II    9. National socialism    10. Nationalsozialistische Deutsch    11. Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei.    12. Politics and government    13. Schutzstaffel    14. European history: from c 1900 -    15. History / Military / World War II    16. Special & elite forces   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (9)

A 'must' for any serious Jewish history collection - and many a general interest holding, as well
The updated, expanded edition of The Last Album: Eyes From The Ashes Of Auschwitz- Birkenau is out, and no less hard-hitting than the original. These black and white photos were not supposed to reach the world: the Nazi order to destroy all personal photos brought to each concentration camp was meant to destroy memories as much as evidence. Despite this mandate, author Weiss uncovered an archive of over 2,400 photos brought to Auschwitz by Jewish deportees across Europe - photos hidden and saved, at great risk to their owners. These photos accompany a traveling exhibition which is making its way around the world, presenting over 400 of these photos and how the deportees arrived at Auschwitz - and how Weiss came to discover them and to research their roots. A 'must' for any serious Jewish history collection - and many a general interest holding, as well.
Memorial Day
I read this book by chance, yesterday, Memorial Day 2003. Should be required reading
After reading this book, I feel this should be in every house in every country.You hear so much about the people and the numbers killed thatsometimes it doesn't seem real but this book makes it very real.The pictures are so powerful and at the same time so ordinary - they could be pictures of anyone's parents or grandparents.The most haunting pictures are those of the children - you have to wonder how many survived.The stories of the survivors bring it all home - "There's the aunt of the little girl I used to babysit", etc. I found it amazing that these pictures did survive 40, 50 years before being discovered again.Anyone who denies the Holocaust happened should read this book and then try to still say it never happened.Thank you Ann Weiss for bringing these pictures and the stores behind them out of the darkness. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Europe, Eastern    3. General    4. Holocaust    5. Holocaust survivors    6. Jewish - General    7. Jews    8. Photoessays & Documentaries    9. Photography    10. Pictorial works    11. Portraits    12. Religion    13. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    14. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Europe    15. Photographs: portraits    16. Poland    17. Second World War, 1939-1945    18. The Holocaust   

Editorial Review