Murder Without Hatred: Estonians and the Holocaust

Religion, Theology and the Holocaust

by Anton Weiss-Wendt

In this detailed study of Estonians’ role in the Holocaust, Anton Weiss-Wendt casts light on a largely unexplored subject. A country known for its benevolent treatment of ethnic minorities, Estonia had a small number of indigenous Jews, and anti-Semitism existed on a relatively limited scale. However, many ethnic Estonians, acting as auxiliary security forces under the guidance of the German security police, participated in the murder of thousands of Estonian, Czech, and German Jews. Weiss-Wendt investigates these acts of genocide by posing the simple question: What prompted the Estonians to cooperate with the Nazis? He argues that the actions were voluntary but that the reasons varied. Narrating the history of Estonia’s involvement, Weiss-Wendt presents lucid explanations regarding the relationships between nation-building, mass violence, and the brutal effects of authoritarian oppression on occupied states.

The first book-length exploration of this aspect of the Holocaust, Murder Without Hatred: Estonians and the Holocaust enriches our knowledge of ethnic violence and reinvigorates the current debates over the roots and operation of the Holocaust.

Genres: World War II, Holocaust

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

No jew progroms have ever taken place in Estonia.Even Jews admitted this.There were fewer than 1000 Jews left in Estonia in the autumn of 1941, according to Jewish professor Dov Levin,(921 according to the German security police chief Martin Sandberger's report) Three thousand had been evacuated to Russia.
Only 474 Jews were killed before Estonia was declared 'clear of Jews'.According to Israeli information, 200 Jews were killed in Tartu; most were guilty of violent crimes.
Some Jews who were innocent of crimes committed during the Soviet regime survived the German occupation.
Under the Sign of the Scorpion, Juri Lina, pp 394,395

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great work of non-fiction showing how the Estonians became involved in the Holocaust. I would recommend this book to all my friends.