The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry 1933-1945

by Nora Levin

A documented history of German genocide of European Jews and of the various forms of Jewish resistance

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Holocaust, World War II

768 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book begins with an overview of the history of anti-semitism especially in Germany. The author then gives a synopsis of the rise of Hitler and the genesis of his hatred for the Jews. Then follows the rise to power of the Nazis and their moves to eliminate Jewish life in Germany. With the attack on Poland the extermination of the Jews begins and intensifies with the invasion of Russia in 1941. The author relates how the killing system evolved and the main characters who ran the Holocaust. She relates how so many Jews could not believe what was actually happening.
The author details the reaction of the Allies as word begin to leak out about the atrocities. Of special interest is the fact that the British blocked attempts at rescue of the Jews and the bombing of the concentration camps. Another section details the reaction of the various Christian churches, particularly the Catholic Church and Pope Pius XII.
The author then has a chapter on the various countries involved and the fate of Jews there. It is of interest that in a few of the countries the local population aided the extermination

[Jonathan Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour de force. With incredible detail, and staying away mostly from the details of the gas chambers, Ms. Levin documents how an entire continent descended to the depths in order finally to destroy Judaism on its soil. Ms. Levin makes a convincing case that the destruction of Judaism was far more important to Nazi Germany than winning the war, and chillingly describes the bureaucratic details of how it was accomplished. The most revelatory part of the book is the second part, which goes country by country through the fate of the Jews, and argues that the Nazis for the most part used local hatred of Jews as much as anything else to accomplish their goals, thus bringing to an end centuries of persecution in their final solution, with willing participants all across Europe. I thought I was learned about the Holocaust until I read this. A shocking summation.

[N. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to me to be a well-documented and thoroughly researched history of the holocaust. It tells a story that defies belief. It is like entering a cave so dark you cannot see where or whether it ends or what kind of footing you will have. I had to stop after a while--the story told was just too painful to read and too horrible to imagine.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a valuable and worthwhile read after nearly 60 years. If you are interested in history of the Holocaust, and particularly how often attempts/plans to render help or rescue were intentionally prevented by the Allies, whether from their inept bureaucracy or their own anti-Semitism, this is a book worth reading.