What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unwritten Order: Hitler's Role in the Final Solution
THE DEFINITIVE STUDY OF ADOLF HITLER'S ROLE IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREATEST ACT OF GENOCIDE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
`a compelling account of how Hitler came to take the decision to kill the Jews.'
--RICHARD EVANS, author of In Defense of History.
The Holocaust differs from other genocides in recent history for one main reason: there is no other example in which a minority was annihilated systematically and as completely as possible on the orders of a head of state and through the apparatus of government. The fact that the murder of the European Jews was the result of conscious decisions made at the highest levels of the Third Reich has been under-emphasized in the research on the Holocaust. Through the discovery of new documents, the central role that Hitler played in the persecution and murder of the European Jews can be proved much more conclusively than was possible just a few years ago. Although it would be a mistake to put the murder of the Jews down to Hitler's will alone (especially as numerous studies have brought out the shared responsibility and active involvement of a large number of accomplices), it is time to make clear once again that Hitler was the driving force behind the radicalisation of the National Socialist policy of extermination. To put it simply: without Hitler there would have been no Holocaust. To reconstruct Hitler's central role in the Final Solution represents a particular challenge. Hitler treated the murder of the Jews as a matter of the utmost secrecy and was careful wherever possible not to leave behind any written orders about the murder of Jews. Wherever his instructions on this matter are recorded he has used codified language. He kept away from the implementation of the orders and feigned ignorance, even to his closest friends and colleagues. Under these conditions, the surviving source material can only be described as fragmentary. The aim of the book is to offer documentary proof of Hitler's central role in the murder of the European Jews. In order to achieve this aim, various documents and fragments of documents have been pieced together and the codified language of the dictator deciphered.
Peter Longerich is Professor of German History at Royal Holloway, University of London and Director of the Research Centre for the Holocaust and 20th Century History. He was an expert witness in the celebrated trial between David Irving and Deborah Lipstadt/Penguin Books, his role to demonstrate that the murder of millions of Jews was conducted on Hitler's orders. His other books include:
THE BROWN BATTALIONS: A HISTORY OF THE SA
`Balanced, stimulating and well written... essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the history of the Nazi Party.'
--Richard Besse!, English Historical Review
HITLER'S DEPUTIES
`Excellent.' --Ian Kershaw
THE POLICY OF ANNIHILATION: A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE NAZI PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS
'An important book characterised by deep research and reasoned conclusions that eschew sensationalism and exude common sense... essential.'
--Christopher Browning
`a compelling account of how Hitler came to take the decision to kill the Jews.'
--RICHARD EVANS, author of In Defense of History.
The Holocaust differs from other genocides in recent history for one main reason: there is no other example in which a minority was annihilated systematically and as completely as possible on the orders of a head of state and through the apparatus of government. The fact that the murder of the European Jews was the result of conscious decisions made at the highest levels of the Third Reich has been under-emphasized in the research on the Holocaust. Through the discovery of new documents, the central role that Hitler played in the persecution and murder of the European Jews can be proved much more conclusively than was possible just a few years ago. Although it would be a mistake to put the murder of the Jews down to Hitler's will alone (especially as numerous studies have brought out the shared responsibility and active involvement of a large number of accomplices), it is time to make clear once again that Hitler was the driving force behind the radicalisation of the National Socialist policy of extermination. To put it simply: without Hitler there would have been no Holocaust. To reconstruct Hitler's central role in the Final Solution represents a particular challenge. Hitler treated the murder of the Jews as a matter of the utmost secrecy and was careful wherever possible not to leave behind any written orders about the murder of Jews. Wherever his instructions on this matter are recorded he has used codified language. He kept away from the implementation of the orders and feigned ignorance, even to his closest friends and colleagues. Under these conditions, the surviving source material can only be described as fragmentary. The aim of the book is to offer documentary proof of Hitler's central role in the murder of the European Jews. In order to achieve this aim, various documents and fragments of documents have been pieced together and the codified language of the dictator deciphered.
Peter Longerich is Professor of German History at Royal Holloway, University of London and Director of the Research Centre for the Holocaust and 20th Century History. He was an expert witness in the celebrated trial between David Irving and Deborah Lipstadt/Penguin Books, his role to demonstrate that the murder of millions of Jews was conducted on Hitler's orders. His other books include:
THE BROWN BATTALIONS: A HISTORY OF THE SA
`Balanced, stimulating and well written... essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the history of the Nazi Party.'
--Richard Besse!, English Historical Review
HITLER'S DEPUTIES
`Excellent.' --Ian Kershaw
THE POLICY OF ANNIHILATION: A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE NAZI PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS
'An important book characterised by deep research and reasoned conclusions that eschew sensationalism and exude common sense... essential.'
--Christopher Browning
224 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Peter Longerich
34 books95 followersPeter Longerich is a German professor of history. He is currently director of the Research Centre for the Holocaust and Twentieth-Century History at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 27, 2017
The topic of the Holocaust is a sensitive one, for rather obvious reasons, however one common thought regarding the Final Solution is the role of Hitler in such. Most would believe that he was the sole cause of the Holocaust and that he alone managed the mass-transport and murder of millions of people, mostly Jews.
My background to such is that I have spent a year studying the Holocaust in depth, with a focus on the rising tension and extremism in the policies towards Jews and other minority groups. From such learning, I gained the belief that the role of other extremists within the Nazi Party were more responsible in the Holocaust than Hitler due to the appearance that he was moderate when compared to people such as Himmler, Heydrich and Eichmann.
This work attempts to create the image that Hitler was the sole cause for the Holocaust despite the lack of written evidence for such, hense the title "The Unwritten Order."
The first-third of the book shows Hitler's radical anti-Semitic beliefs prior to him becoming Chancellor in which he talks of removing Jews from Germany, which more likely presents the earlier policies of the Nazis, that being forced mass-emigration from Germany rather than genocide. This is the only strength of the work itself as it presents some further background on the life of Hitler prior to the Holocaust.
The second-third focus upon the growing extremism within Germany and how Hitler supported this. Not only does it not focus upon the titular topic but it is also a dry and abbreviated History of the growing anti-Semitism which removes important details to focus on Jews which it does not do later on. The focus on the Jews in the chapter on the Nuremburg Laws conveniently fails to mention that these laws removed citizenship from all non-Aryans and that this was based more on excluding outsiders rather rhan including true Germans, instead it only briefly mentions that Jews lost their citizenship rights.
The final third tediously goes through the Final Solution itself, with a heavy emphasis on the numbers involved in emigration and deaths over personal experience and comes off as rather cold and withdrawn. Furthermore, there is a failure to note the role of Hitler throughout this section as there is scarely a mention of him excluding the final chapter. Instead the names of Himmler and Heydrich are predominant in this section, which supports my initial belief rather than contradicts it. As a result Hitler's role in the Holocaust is not clearly presented or displayed to any extent.
Overall, I read this in hope of finding a strong, precise and thoughtful argument which would contradict my own belief on the responsibility of the leading Nazis in the Final Solution. However such was not the case and instead there was a lacklustre, dry and weak case for Hitler's responsibility in the Holocaust.
My background to such is that I have spent a year studying the Holocaust in depth, with a focus on the rising tension and extremism in the policies towards Jews and other minority groups. From such learning, I gained the belief that the role of other extremists within the Nazi Party were more responsible in the Holocaust than Hitler due to the appearance that he was moderate when compared to people such as Himmler, Heydrich and Eichmann.
This work attempts to create the image that Hitler was the sole cause for the Holocaust despite the lack of written evidence for such, hense the title "The Unwritten Order."
The first-third of the book shows Hitler's radical anti-Semitic beliefs prior to him becoming Chancellor in which he talks of removing Jews from Germany, which more likely presents the earlier policies of the Nazis, that being forced mass-emigration from Germany rather than genocide. This is the only strength of the work itself as it presents some further background on the life of Hitler prior to the Holocaust.
The second-third focus upon the growing extremism within Germany and how Hitler supported this. Not only does it not focus upon the titular topic but it is also a dry and abbreviated History of the growing anti-Semitism which removes important details to focus on Jews which it does not do later on. The focus on the Jews in the chapter on the Nuremburg Laws conveniently fails to mention that these laws removed citizenship from all non-Aryans and that this was based more on excluding outsiders rather rhan including true Germans, instead it only briefly mentions that Jews lost their citizenship rights.
The final third tediously goes through the Final Solution itself, with a heavy emphasis on the numbers involved in emigration and deaths over personal experience and comes off as rather cold and withdrawn. Furthermore, there is a failure to note the role of Hitler throughout this section as there is scarely a mention of him excluding the final chapter. Instead the names of Himmler and Heydrich are predominant in this section, which supports my initial belief rather than contradicts it. As a result Hitler's role in the Holocaust is not clearly presented or displayed to any extent.
Overall, I read this in hope of finding a strong, precise and thoughtful argument which would contradict my own belief on the responsibility of the leading Nazis in the Final Solution. However such was not the case and instead there was a lacklustre, dry and weak case for Hitler's responsibility in the Holocaust.
April 1, 2017
This book discusses the degree to which the leadership of Germany (during WWII) was responsible for directing the Holocaust.
The facts and figures presented in this book really brought home the scale (and insanity) of the Holocaust.
My overall rating would be 3.5 as the writing was incredibly dry / academic and facts were presented with no historical reference (details of the time) being provided.
The facts and figures presented in this book really brought home the scale (and insanity) of the Holocaust.
My overall rating would be 3.5 as the writing was incredibly dry / academic and facts were presented with no historical reference (details of the time) being provided.
June 14, 2025
Based on two reports Longerich prepared for Deborah Lipstadt's defence team in the David Irving trial this book is an attempt to centre Hitler at the core of the Final Solution, even if there is no single written order from him.
Hitler apologists - a thing that absolutely should not exist - often like to say that it wasn't Hitler who wanted to murder all the Jews and that people like Himmler and Heydrich went further than he intended.
Longerich takes a time line approach with each chapter showing how we went from Hitler's own personal poisonous antisemitism to the final Murder Solution. It does seem that the Murder Solution wasn't the explicit intent - at least at the beginning. Hitler seemed to want to deal with Europe's Jews after victory, but wanted them out of Germany. His language - referring to them often as bacillus or poison - obviously indicates a hatred towards Jews that was never going to end well if he got power. But he saw them more as hostages against an American entry into the war. Once America did enter the war this became less important.
Yes, there was a push from others to more murderous solutions from other people but it seems obvious that his intentions towards Europe's Jews were to eliminate them - either directly through murder or indirectly through labour or exile to Madagascar or similar.
Longerich uses Hitler's own words and primary sources to complete a case against Hitler that seems to be water tight to me. Well worth a read.
Hitler apologists - a thing that absolutely should not exist - often like to say that it wasn't Hitler who wanted to murder all the Jews and that people like Himmler and Heydrich went further than he intended.
Longerich takes a time line approach with each chapter showing how we went from Hitler's own personal poisonous antisemitism to the final Murder Solution. It does seem that the Murder Solution wasn't the explicit intent - at least at the beginning. Hitler seemed to want to deal with Europe's Jews after victory, but wanted them out of Germany. His language - referring to them often as bacillus or poison - obviously indicates a hatred towards Jews that was never going to end well if he got power. But he saw them more as hostages against an American entry into the war. Once America did enter the war this became less important.
Yes, there was a push from others to more murderous solutions from other people but it seems obvious that his intentions towards Europe's Jews were to eliminate them - either directly through murder or indirectly through labour or exile to Madagascar or similar.
Longerich uses Hitler's own words and primary sources to complete a case against Hitler that seems to be water tight to me. Well worth a read.
April 13, 2020
Irrefutable evidence of Hitler’s role in the Final Solution through documentary evidence, Nazis ideology, the course of anti-Semitic legislation and the War, Ian Kershaw’s concept of ‘working towards the Fuhrer’ – the monster obsessed with ‘International Jewry’ plotted the Final Solution from Mein Kampf until his own end.
Longerich provides a fast pace, (albeit with some slight repetition that mirrors Hitler’s Jewish fixation) read to prove that the whole Nazis leadership hierarchy was guilty of the extermination of Jewish men, women, children and all other groups caught up in the Nazis’ devastation of continental Europe and Asia.
Longerich provides a fast pace, (albeit with some slight repetition that mirrors Hitler’s Jewish fixation) read to prove that the whole Nazis leadership hierarchy was guilty of the extermination of Jewish men, women, children and all other groups caught up in the Nazis’ devastation of continental Europe and Asia.
October 31, 2017
A brief but exhaustive account of Hitler's involvement in shaping the final solution for the Jews in Europe, backed by extensive examination of his various speeches, pronouncements and engagement in shaping the Jewish policy.
January 19, 2018
This book was more like an academic paper than a book - it was interesting and I learnt a lot from it but it was too heavy handed at times and was a difficult read
It was interesting and I would recommend people to read this for a more in depth read about the decision to persecute the Jews.
It was interesting and I would recommend people to read this for a more in depth read about the decision to persecute the Jews.
July 20, 2025
Longerich stresses not only Hitler’s driving of anti-Jewish policy, and his undoubtable role in the radicalisation of it, but also his power to stop certain policies. While the full responsibility cannot be attributed entirely to Hitler, his role was unquestionably the most significant.
March 16, 2018
It is a very interesting book, where Peter Longerich really discovers Hitler's responsibility for the Holocaust.
September 3, 2024
I did not like the writing style of the book. Normally I really enjoy learning new things about history, but this book just wasn't for me. I DNF it at page 100.
March 4, 2017
Κατα τον συγγραφέα, το συγκεκριμένο βιβλιο γράφτηκε ταυτόχρονα με την κλήση του ως μάρτυρας κατηγορίας εναντίον του D.Irving στην γνωστή υπόθεση προ 20ετιας.
Αναλαμβάνει να αποδείξει ότι ακόμα και αν δεν υπάρχουν έγγραφες εντολές του Χιτλερ, η συμβολή του στην "τελική λύση" ήταν καθοριστική. Και το αποδεικνύει λοιπόν με πλήθος παραπομπών και αποδείξεων βασισμένων σε έγγραφα, ημερολόγια και ομιλίες των άμεσων συνεργατών του Χιτλερ.
Μα αλήθεια, υπάρχει ακόμα κάποιος που ειλικρινά πιστεύει ότι δεν ήξερε, δεν άκουσε και δεν έμαθε ποτέ ο Χιτλερ σχετικά με την εξόντωση του εβραϊκού πληθυσμού;
Όπως και να έχει, ειναι ένα απο τα βιβλία που παρουσιάζουν ενδιαφέρον και μάλιστα μπορεί κάποιος να το συνδυάσει με το βιβλιο του D.Irving "πίσω απο τα σίδερα" που αναφέρει τις δικές του απόψεις σχετικά με το θέμα.
Αναλαμβάνει να αποδείξει ότι ακόμα και αν δεν υπάρχουν έγγραφες εντολές του Χιτλερ, η συμβολή του στην "τελική λύση" ήταν καθοριστική. Και το αποδεικνύει λοιπόν με πλήθος παραπομπών και αποδείξεων βασισμένων σε έγγραφα, ημερολόγια και ομιλίες των άμεσων συνεργατών του Χιτλερ.
Μα αλήθεια, υπάρχει ακόμα κάποιος που ειλικρινά πιστεύει ότι δεν ήξερε, δεν άκουσε και δεν έμαθε ποτέ ο Χιτλερ σχετικά με την εξόντωση του εβραϊκού πληθυσμού;
Όπως και να έχει, ειναι ένα απο τα βιβλία που παρουσιάζουν ενδιαφέρον και μάλιστα μπορεί κάποιος να το συνδυάσει με το βιβλιο του D.Irving "πίσω απο τα σίδερα" που αναφέρει τις δικές του απόψεις σχετικά με το θέμα.
August 25, 2018
well researched but a very dry read
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews