Holocaust Art, Music, and Writings from the Holocaust

by Susan Willoughby

This series looks at all aspects of the Holocaust, from the early racial doctrines of the Nazis and step-by-step dehumanization of the Jews, to the implementation of the Final Solution and the aftermath of the Holocaust. The series - considerable emphasis on first-hand accounts and other primary source material. - An excellent resource for students researching this area of study.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, part of a series called The Holocaust, is a wonderful addition to other books relating to this evil period in our history. We learn about other people (besides Anne Frank) who suffered during this difficult time. There are people such as: Isaac Katznelson who wrong a poem called "The Song of the Slaughtered Jewish People" before dying in Auschwitz -- this poem has since been put to music. Artist, Felix Nussbaum painted a picture called the "Jewish Refugee" before he and his family were arrested and sent to Auschwitz where they died in August 1944. The mood of Felix Nussbaum's painting (which can be seen in this book) is reflected in the words of a poem called "Refugee Blues" by W.H. Auden. Auden, an English poet was living in Berlin when Hitler came to power, but left Europe for America in 1939. There are other rich and wonderful stories that we can learn from in this book.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The Holocaust was the planned and systematic murder of well over six million people carried out on the orders of Adolf Hitler by the Nazis.”(Willoughby 4)The awe-inspiring non-fiction book “Art, Music, and Writings from the Holocaust” by Susan Willoughby demonstrates the time era of the holocaust and what kinds of art, music, and writings were created. The breath-taking author Susan Willoughby analyzes how many people were killed during the Holocaust and what kinds of music, art and writings were created at that time. The Holocaust is when the Nazis attempted to annihilate all Jewish people to their power. First, when Hitler had become a dictator he had created concentration camps where Jews, even kids, were sent off and were tortured and murdered. Kids were being expelled from schools and separated from their parents off to the camps and were murdered. Hitler was trying to annihilate all Jews and he was mass executing them. This era of time was called the time of the Holocaust. In addition, the Nazis restricted and banned writers, musicians, and artists whose work was being treated corrupt. This was part of his achievement to propaganda, Hitler only approved certain types of music. Nonetheless, more than 2,500 writers left Germany to have freedom to write. Second, Hitler even banned actors and were left unemployed. Instead, Hitler used the theaters to lionize Germany. Later, Hitler stepped over the line and burnt 4,000 modern famous paintings. Evidently, Hitler was not a fan of modern art. Then, Hitler employed German painters that painted pictures that made Germany look positive. Subsequently, the diary of Anne Frank showed other people what it was like for Jews under the control of Nazis. Anne Frank was a Jewish in hiding to escape from the Nazis and wrote a diary while she was hiding. Thus, in 1934 the life of a Jew was risky and deadly. As one can see, the Holocaust was blood-curling for Jews and the evidence of music, art, and writings prove it.

Thereafter after I had concluded the book “Art, Music, and Writings from the Holocaust”, I have numerous questions to inquire. What was the person's achievement? What were the achievements? First, Adolph Hitler’s achievements was the Holocaust. He seized all Jews and sent them to concentration camps to kill them. In addition, he wanted to achieve major propaganda that lionized Germany. What beliefs influenced the person? How did their belief change the world? How did this event/culture/civilization change the world? Second, Adolph Hitler believed that all Aryans was the superior of all races and he blamed Jews for the problems that Germany has. Hitler knew that the people of Germany would believe him, because most people in Germany were Antisemitism. This was when the Holocaust was commenced. This changed the world by taking fear of the Nazis and what they are doing to Jews and what Jews had to do to hide from the Nazis. What were the causes and effects of the conflict? Third,the causes of this was the Holocaust that was initiated by Adolph Hitler. The effects of the Holocaust was thousands of Jews dead and many in hiding. After, the world now is still affected by this incident and have prayed for those Jews who have died during the Holocaust. In conclusion, the time of the Holocaust was murderous and hard for Jews.

Overall, throughout my book share I would recommend this book only to a certain genre of people who are in 8th grade for numerous explanations. First, I would only suggest 8th graders, because the information the book “Art, Music, and Writings from the Holocaust” is much cluttered and would take critical thinking skills to identify the idea. In addition, to make sense out of the book it would have to include prior knowledge to advance the understanding of the audience. Furthermore, many advanced terminology is incorporated into the book. On the other hand, this book may be a challenge to students below suggested grade level and will be interested in the facts included. Finally, this book is fascinating to invest time in and would work averagely with a project. Thus, I would recommend this book to 8th graders to intrigue them into the amazing historical facts inserted into the book “Art, Music, and Writings from the Holocaust”. As one can see, this book would give an idea to the 8th graders about the past and may as well mesmerize them into attaining new information.

[Alycia Perez]

The book " Music Art Writing from the Holocaust " by Susan Willoughby is transferring the reader all the hard moments during the Holocaust . do you have a coast is a period of time pass when Hitler wanted to destroy , kill or send in a concentration camp the jews from 1904 until 1944 .In the total of Hitler's war : he killed about six million Jews in 40 years . Jewish people were always risking their lives and tried to hide as much as they could to keep their lives safe . The surviving people who were sent to a concentration camp were obligated to change their religion and not practice theirs by following Hitler's rule . Sometimes people couldn't get food because they were scared to be caught and be directly killed by someone from Hitler's army . A lot of diaries were written during this hard period for the Jews : Anne Frank's diary which is now translated into many languages because everyone should know this story : it is a life lesson . To be recognized as a Jewish person , they were obligated to wear a yellow sticker with the star of David . Jews can only remember the hardness of this period and the number of deaths . “ From 1942 on , the Nazis carried out their “ Final Solution “ -the complete extermination of the Jews and other undesirables . “ ( Willoughby 32 )


In the story, several details are important because it is a symbol of this war created by Hitler . The setting is important because people were in concentration camps , in Germany and from 1904 to 1944 . The theme is the life lesson which indicates that life can be harder and that life is very precious because an incident similar can happen in every day . “ Jewish children were humiliated in their schools .Their friendships with non-Jewish children were destroyed . “(Willoughby 14 ) The conflict between the Jews and Hitler is the big idea of this war and how can Hitler hate a population without even understanding their goals or their culture .



As one can see , this book should be read by the whole world because it is the best life lesson people can get . A person which is very sensitive may cry while reading the book . Another book which is based on the same story and war are the Diary of Anne Frank . Today in Amsterdam , her diary which was founded is exposed in a museum . After 6 million deaths of Jewish people in the present, there are a lot of memorials covering the world because it was an international war .

Comment :

- Rania
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