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Burgenland: Village Secrets and the First Tremors of the Holocaust
When Hitler marched into Austria in March 1938, he was given a rapturous reception. Millions lined the streets and filled the squares of Vienna. Tobias Portschy, a self-appointed regional Nazi chief, considered what to give a man who already had almost everything he wanted and devised a somewhat particular gift from the Austrian people – the elimination of Jewish life in the Burgenland, picturesque farming country about 70km south-east of Vienna. The Holocaust had begun.Burgenland is an astonishing survey of Jewish history in Central Europe, an account of the opening salvo of what turned into the systematic industrial scale genocide of European Jewry, and a stern examination of the world’s wholly inadequate reaction. It is also a deeply personal memoir and family history. Impeccably researched and hugely ambitious in scope, it narrates the full arc of the Jewish experience in Central Europe over 300 years, told through the story of one family who remained steadfast in their identity throughout.David Joseph has dissected an uncomfortable history, and the results demand a substantial re-assessment of the orthodox narrative around the Holocaust and the role played by Austria.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 23, 2023
As Europe pushed towards war, a wave of anti-Semitism swept across Austria, Germany and Hungary with the rise of the Nazi party which led to the actions of the Holocaust.
David Joseph reflects upon the vast history of his own family, reconstructing their lives through deeply personal testimony that adds to the historical context of the events prior to the Second World War.
This is a moving, immensely powerful book with a delicate balance between lyrical narrative and exhaustive forensic-style research. The reader trails the catastrophic destruction of many people's lives as communities are subjugated and collapse due to the consequences of incoming war.
A reflective tome on Austrian history packed with personal horror and touching tributes, Burgenland is a book that is necessary to be included on any bookshelf for those interested in the Second World War.
Thank you, as always, to the wonderful people at @amberleypublishing for sending me this copy.
David Joseph reflects upon the vast history of his own family, reconstructing their lives through deeply personal testimony that adds to the historical context of the events prior to the Second World War.
This is a moving, immensely powerful book with a delicate balance between lyrical narrative and exhaustive forensic-style research. The reader trails the catastrophic destruction of many people's lives as communities are subjugated and collapse due to the consequences of incoming war.
A reflective tome on Austrian history packed with personal horror and touching tributes, Burgenland is a book that is necessary to be included on any bookshelf for those interested in the Second World War.
Thank you, as always, to the wonderful people at @amberleypublishing for sending me this copy.
July 26, 2023
In this deeply personal and remarkably well researched book, David Joseph uncovers his family’s long unspoken history and explores the fate of the Jews of Bergenland, a small and rural community in Austria.
At times difficult to read, this important account offers a window into one family’s struggle to survive and stay together during the most awful period of European history. It also reveals the unvarnished truth of the efforts of others to intervene, the obstacles they encountered, and the consequences of decisions made or not made.
This is a powerful book, made all the more potent in its telling.
At times difficult to read, this important account offers a window into one family’s struggle to survive and stay together during the most awful period of European history. It also reveals the unvarnished truth of the efforts of others to intervene, the obstacles they encountered, and the consequences of decisions made or not made.
This is a powerful book, made all the more potent in its telling.
May 23, 2023
An astonishing account of the tragic collapse of society and destruction of lives in the Holocaust, told through deeply personal, relatable characters, interwoven with a masterful exposition of the wider historical context.
This is a period of history of which the scale is almost impossible to comprehend. Hearing the story through a single village and family reveals the horror, the hope, and the lessons that must be learnt.
This is a period of history of which the scale is almost impossible to comprehend. Hearing the story through a single village and family reveals the horror, the hope, and the lessons that must be learnt.
June 5, 2023
This is a brilliant exploration of the history surrounding the author's family who grew up in central Europe, particularly in the Burgenland, and then had their lives blown apart by the rise of the Nazis. David Joseph integrates the family story and the wider history very effectively and has lots of interesting things to say about some of the major themes of modern Jewish history. Highly recommended.
July 13, 2023
Just a wonderful book! Moving, powerful, shocking, nail-biting, stunningly researched, sometimes hauntingly poetic, sometimes brutally forensic. David Joseph writes with real skill and sensitivity, telling a story not just of one very memorable family photograph, but ultimately of the most terrible of human tragedies and crimes. This book should be on everybody's shelf. An astonishing achievement.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews