Tom’s Reviews > The Third Reich at War > Status Update

It's a bit baffling how the 'Holocaust by bullets' isn't really emphasized in basic history classes on WW2. At least from what I remember, I only really understood the distinction when doing my own reading.

Potential PhD topic: Historical relations between Balts, Russians, and Jews, specifically differences between the relationships during Tsarist Russia (pogroms), Nazi occupation, and the USSR + current memory and attitudes.

Evans treatment of the Soviet Union proves that he's a historian worth his craft as he neither tries to demonize the USSR (especially horrid to try and do given the central topic) nor glaze it as some valiant 'anti-fascist' heroic force. His antidotes on Stalin, and the treatment between Soviet and Germans POWs are just central to his credibility.

Was Stalin's head filled with literal bricks? Guy defects from Germany to tell him that the Germans are invading tomorrow morning. Stalin: "Whoops you're spreading misinformation. Say bye-bye to your life-life!" ^-^

I know all about Germany pre and during WW2 like the back of my hand, but now I realize: I don't know anything about France, barely anything about Britain and Russia, and while I know a decent amount about the USA - it's not nearly to the extent of Germany.

I should fix that.

The positives of Christian morality are striking, and the truth is that those who actually believe in the tenants of Christian philosophy can commit many evils but there is a clear limit. A line that can only be broken by someone who does not believe in either rationality or morality.

I need to start reading again. Been taking a huge break due to the heat but where I am now, it's nice: windy and cloudy. Perfect weather to finish Evans' Third Reich trilogy.

It's not "mind blowing" to just have the obvious obviously laid out. The Nazis were subhuman, and far more evil than anything the Soviets even wished of doing.

It really isn't a debate.
(I'm not a Holocaust exceptionalist, but I'm def. on the defensive when it comes to comparing the Nazis and the USSR because the vast majority of people who make these comparisons are HC deniers.)