The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945

by Gerald Reitlinger

The Final Solution , first published in 1953, is an authoritative account of the Nazi's systematic plan to exterminate Jews (and other groups) in the 1930s until the end of World War II in 1945. The book traces the beginnings of the Holocaust and the Nazi pogroms against the Jews-the Nuremburg Laws, the Week of Broken Glass, the ghettos and deportations-to the extermination camps and gas chambers of Auschwitz, and Nazi actions throughout Russia, western Europe and the Balkans. Appendices detail Reitlinger's estimates of the final death toll (although some of Reitlinger's figures are considered overly conservative today) and describe the fate of leading participants in "the final solution." Gerald Reitlinger (1900-1978) was an art historian and author of several books on the Nazi period, and served in the British army during the war. Today, The Final Solution remains one of the most objective and best-documented sources on the Holocaust.

Genres: Holocaust, History, World War II, Nonfiction

636 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

Reviews

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt strange when I was deciding how to rate this book. The reason for this feeling is an anomaly based on human decorum and decency. The mere conception of a final solution for the Jewish problem should be far beyond the scope of human thinking; but it wasn’t. Between the years of 1939 and 1945, the Nazi government embarked on a crusade to rid the world of an entire race; the Jews. First appearing in print in 1953 when the Second World War was still fresh in the memories of the survivors, Gerald Reitlinger dared to pull this story from the shadows of infamy and put it in the forefront for the whole world to see. He goes farther than the mere quoting of staggering statics but brings the nightmare up close and personal. The blood chilling and systematic method that human beings deposed of other human beings is sure to leave a lasting impression on the readers. My rating dilemma stems from the point that I hated the picture that the facts painted while hungering for more; like an ambulance chaser. This may not say much for my character except that I’m human. It is a terrible story that everyone should know and never forget.

[Alyssa Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an incredibly detailed look at the Holocaust on a very basic level. As a WWII history buff, I thought it gave a really in-depth look at different aspects of the Final Solution. It started with the beginnings and how the ideas came about, who orchestrated which areas, and then went country by country explaining the pogroms, the persecution, the roundups and evacuations to concentration camps.

The only reason I gave it a three instead of four stars was because at times it became really long-winded. And for something so detailed, I understand why it needs to be that way, but it was just difficult to get through in parts.

Overall, I liked learning about all aspects of the Holocaust I had never known before.

[Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Innovative for its time, but nowadays completely worthless. Reitlinger falsly speculates that the Marsh 30th 1941 speech on the eve of Barbarossa mentioned the extermination of Jews. We have since uncovered the notes of that speech from Hymen Hoth as well as Franz Halder. Neither version makes any mention of such a thing, an so we can disregard this speculation.

[Kafkasfriend · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first and still best discussions on the topic. Essential reading for an understanding of the period. Most of the research and findings remain undefeated.

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best part of this book is at the very end when it all comes apart for the Nazis. that made the whole thing worth reading.