Hitler's Shadow War: The Holocaust and World War II

by Donald M. McKale

In Hitler's Shadow War , World War II scholar Donald M. McKale contends that the persecution and murder of the Jews, Slavs, and other groups was Hitler's primary effort during the war, not the conquest of Europe. According to McKale, Hitler and the Nazi leadership used the military campaigns of the war as a cover for a genocidal program that centered on the Final Solution. Hitler continued to commit extensive manpower and materials to this "shadow war" even when Germany was losing the battles of the war's closing years.

Genres: History, Holocaust, Nonfiction, Military History

592 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2002

Reviews

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author of this book takes the position that the Holocaust was actually the main goal of Hitler and his Nazi regime. The author makes a compelling argument for this theory, and certainly there are things that could be viewed that this was the primary goal and not just something he was able to implement as a result of military and political domination.

This book was required reading for a class. The book was sufficiently researched and provided a pretty accurate and detailed overview of the Holocaust as a whole. It did provide some good information about various battles, military plans, and other information about policies of the time. There were various points that were tedious to read through, and other points where the author appeared to be lost in his thoughts. Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would necessarily recommend or read again.

[Chuck Driskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent overview for someone wanting to read about the Holocaust and how it related so directly to Hitler. McKale's books are all meticulously researched and packed with nuggets that are otherwise so difficult to find.

[Greg Schloesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of World War II continues to enthrall me, and even though that time period was my concentration for my Master's Degree, I realize I will never "know it all"! There is so much more to read and learn.

The author of Hitler's Shadow War - Donald M. McKale - argues here that while there were many reasons Adolph Hitler initiated what became World War II, one of the main reasons was to serve as a cover for his planned extermination of the Jewish people. He makes a credible argument in this tome, which is both fascinating and horrifying to read.

The book is filled with numbers -- transportations, deported, killed, gassed and more. Sometimes the numbers can be a bit overwhelming and confusing. Plus, the author does have a tendency to repeat himself. Still, one cannot help but be staggered by the sheer carnage inflicted under the guidance and force of Hitler's Nazi regime.

Anyone seriously interested in World War II and the holocaust should invest the time to read this work.

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good over view of the Holocaust. The author traces the antecedents of anti-semitism in Germany and Eastern Europe. He chronicles the rise of Hitler who utilized the anti-semitism and combined it with the issues of rampant inflation and the stab in the back myth for losing WW1. These factors combined with all the social unrest gave Hitler the impetus he needed to rise to the top of the German political scene. Once in charge,Hitler solidified his control of the government and began to put his racial policies into effect. He began with boycotts of Jewish Bussiness and then to the social isolation of the Jews. The Nuremberg laws came next, depriving Jews of their citizenship, employment and property. Concentration camps were used from the beginning for all perceived enemies of the state as well as Jews.
The actual mass killings did not begin in earnest until after the outbreak of the war in Sept,1939. The author then traces the development of the mass executions from shooting the victims to eventual use of the gas chambers and crematoriums. The author relates how the Germans received help from many of the people in the countries involved.
The book details life in the camps and the ghettos, how the round up of Jews was done and how the death camps did their killing. It is related how Jews resisted their situation and tried to fight back.
The last section deals with the reactions of the Allies, the Nuremberg trials. There is also a section on the German reactions then and after the war.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. McKale produced an organized and very detailed look into the rise of Hitler and his high ranking subordinates as well as the Holocaust. He wraps up the book with a bit about the importance of history and what we can all learn from this tragedy. I like how he also discussed the underground Jewish resistance and the resistance at the death camps and concentration camps. Much is discussed in this book that many books of this subject neglects. I recommend this book to the general reader up to the college history major. I will be looking for more titles from McKale in the future!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well-written, thorough. At first, the author's assertion was a bit hard for me to believe. I've read lots of Holocaust survivors' memoirs, but I had never heard McKale's assertion before. I kept reading. The evidence the author presents is, in my layman's opinion, irrefutable. The destructiveness of the Holocaust can not be put into words, but this detailed work does a very thorough job of attempting to explain how & why it happened. I'm very glad I read it.

[Jennifer Gelert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good but very long book. The one thing that struck me was the warning that if we do not know our history, we are doomed to repeat it.

I was saddened by the indifference of the Allies and the churches (except for a small minority) did nothing to help save the Jews. Whether it was due to unbelief, fear or what. Years later people are either asking why and how did this happen or it really is no different than other brutal murders.

[Craig Bolton]

Hitler's Shadow War: The Holocaust and World War II by Donald M McKale (2002)

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this eleven years ago and apparently didn't think much of the premise that Hitler only started World War 2 to cover up and expand his genocidal programs.

[Chelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great background for an intro into Germany and the Holocaust. The argument that World War II was a shadow for the racial war Hitler wages is interesting way to look at the Holocaust.