Postcards from Auschwitz - Holocaust Tourism and the Meaning of Remembrance

by Daniel P. Reynolds

The uneasy link between tourism and collective memory at Holocaust museums and memorials

Each year, millions of people visit Holocaust memorials and museums, with the number of tourists steadily on the rise. What lies behind the phenomenon of "Holocaust tourism" and what role do its participants play in shaping how we remember and think about the Holocaust?

In Postcards from Auschwitz, Daniel P. Reynolds argues that tourism to former concentration camps, ghettos, and other places associated with the Nazi genocide of European Jewry has become an increasingly vital component in the evolving collective remembrance of the Holocaust. Responding to the tendency to dismiss tourism as commercial, superficial, or voyeuristic, Reynolds insists that we take a closer look at a phenomenon that has global reach, takes many forms, and serves many interests.

The book focuses on some of the most prominent sites of mass murder in Europe, and then expands outward to more recent memorial museums. Reynolds provides a historically-informed account of the different forces that have shaped Holocaust tourism since 1945, including Cold War politics, the sudden emergence of the "memory boom" beginning in the 1990s, and the awareness that eyewitnesses to the Holocaust are passing away. Based on his on-site explorations, the contributions from researchers in Holocaust studies and tourism studies, and the observations of tourists themselves, this book reveals how tourism is an important part of efforts to understand and remember the Holocaust, an event that continues to challenge ideals about humanity and our capacity to learn from the past.

Genres: Holocaust, Nonfiction, History, World War II, Travel

312 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2018

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading and learning about the holocaust and WWII. This book holds a great deal of helpful information about the history of auschwitz. The author provides a decent amount of discussion regarding the tourism trade surrounding this historical death camp. This discussion brings up very good questions regarding the attitude behind this tourism trade.

While I enjoyed the pictures included in this book I did not enjoy the writing style. I found it very clinical and similar to reading a textbook.

I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books and stories about Auschwitz, WWII, and the Holocaust and while I find what happened to be horrible I find the history behind it to be fascinating so I keep finding myself being drawn back into them. So the title and the description of this book had me hooked as soon as I laid eyes on it. While most books I've read have been fictional stories or stories about Hitler not about Auschwitz strictly this one was more factual. I found it interesting to get the history behind the building itself not just the murders that took place inside. I found parts of this book were a little boring and it seemed almost clinical in its telling. I liked the idea behind it however the way it was told didn't hook me as a reader. If you are interested in the Holocaust then this is one that I think you would enjoy. It was interesting to read about how Germany went to try to get as far away from the tragedy that was the Holocaust as possible but also remembering all of the lives lost in that terrible time.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and sobering exploration of the role of tourism in remembering the Holocaust. Reynolds has a clear, measured writing style which makes the book accessible to casual readers (historical overviews of each place mentioned as well as the Holocaust and its aftermath are helpful), but at the same time he doesn't shy away from noting academic discussions about tourism and memory. His own observations and photos of sites allow those who haven't visited them to relate to the spaces. He also discusses visitor behavior and the emotional responses elicited by Holocaust-related sites, from the naive boredom of teenagers on a field trip, to the grief of victims' relatives, to an elderly survivor's grateful joy of life. I was struck by how many of the points Reynolds raises in this book could relate to a number of tourist sites, museums, or even how we simply choose to commemorate past events.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

After holding on to this book for several weeks I finally had to admit to myself that I was not going to read it in it's entirety. While I trusted and appreciated the information, I eventually figured out that I wasn't absorbing anything because I have never been to a majority of the sites discussed in person. The descriptions of each location were not enough to allow me to connect to the analysis the author made. When I skipped ahead to the discussion of the museum in Washington DC, I instantly enjoyed what I was reading more because I have visited that museum and reflected on the exhibits several times. The information was much more satisfying because I could truly appreciate it more and build upon my Public History background. I will be more than happy to pick this book up again when I have traveled to and seen the other sites for myself.

[Clazzzer C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read and an interesting take on why we, myself included, are so fascinated, for want of a better word, in genocide, mass destruction and the obliteration or near obliteration of races of people through our history. It challenges us to ask ourselves why we pay and travel long distances so we can visit locations where millions we imprisoned, tortured and even killed. What is it that draws us there? Is it a guilty conscience that encourages us to visit, to pray, to pay our respects? Is it because the facts are almost surreal, dream like, nightmarish? Did this really happen? How could people have allowed this to happen? How could just a few orchestrate such atrocities? This book will really open your eyes. It will make you question what you know and what you've previously believed. It is a really good read, unlike anything your read before.

[Videoclimber(AKA)MTsLilSis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the style of the writing in this book. I felt like I was reading a book for my college class. This is way too wordy. Honestly, it was boring.
The only redemptive aspect of this book was that it introduced me to a few places that I had never heard about Chelmno and Belzec. I also had never heard about the Auschwitz Album.
Unfortunately, I have never been to any of these locations. I have met Eva Mozes Kor and been to her museum. I have also read many books about the Holocaust.
So while I do appreciate this book for introducing me to these locations and the album, I just couldn't enjoy this book because I felt so disconnected from the writing.

*Thank you to Daniel P. Reynolds, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

*thank you to Netgalley and NYU Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

2 stars.

Firstly, I really like to read books on the holocaust, but this one just wasn't for me. It wasn't as interesting as I thought. I managed to get through it all and there are points that are interesting, it just wasn't enough of them. The writing style is really good, and I also liked that photos were used. To actually see what the author was talking about. I hope other readers enjoy this more than I did.

[Holly Senecal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless. This book is excellently done. It needs to be a part of the curriculum of every higher education history class in the US if not the entire world. Seriously. Postcards from Auschwitz is a relevant, thought provoking book. We need more history books like this so our future generations can stop the horror of genocide from happening. I read and reviewed this voluntarily and feel privileged to have done so.

[Laura Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at how tourism is shaping the way we remember the holocaust and how although there can be issues with it in terms of making sure people respect the sites and the memories attached to them it is vitally important ensuring we continue to remember and learn from the past.