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"One of the many impressive things about this book is the author's determination to offer a rational explanation of the motives that drove so many to participate in this final phase of Nazi genocide. It is one of many ways in which Blatman forces us to reconsider our views of the last phase of the war, the changing dynamics of the Nazi regime, the attitude towards it of ordinary Germans, and indeed the nature and causes of genocide itself."
--Times Higher Education, 20 January 2011, Richard J Evans
--Times Higher Education, 20 January 2011, Richard J Evans
Product Description
From January 1945, in the last months of the Third Reich, about 250,000 inmates of concentration camps perished on death marches and in countless incidents of mass slaughter. They were murdered with merciless brutality by their SS guards, by army and police units, and often by gangs of civilians as they passed through German and Austrian towns and villages. Even in the bloody annals of the Nazi regime, this final death blow was unique in character and scope. In this first comprehensive attempt to answer the questions raised by this final murderous rampage, the author draws on the testimonies of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. Hunting through archives throughout the world, Daniel Blatman sets out to explain - to the extent that is possible - the effort invested by mankind's most lethal regime in liquidating the remnants of the enemies of the 'Aryan race' before it abandoned the stage of history. What were the characteristics of this last Nazi genocide? How was it linked to the earlier stages, the slaughter of millions in concentration camps? How did the prevailing chaos help to create the conditions that made the final murderous rampage possible? In its exploration of a topic nearly neglected in the current history of the Shoah, this book offers unusual insight into the workings, and the unraveling, of the Nazi regime. It combines micro-historical accounts of representative massacres with an overall analysis of the collapse of the Third Reich, helping us to understand a seemingly inexplicable chapter in history.
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2 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
"Stained forever"
2 May 2011
Format:Hardcover
If you have a deep interest in the Holocaust, and want to learn more about the death marches, this very readable book details extensively the reasons behind the death marches, set against the murderous backdrop of the Nazi genocide.
I learned a lot reading this book--more about the various layers of the machinery of the Third Reich, the use of enforced labor, and the scrambling that occurred to maintain labor quotas as the Third Reich came under increased attack.
I was prepared for much of this, but what I was not prepared for was the widespread "participation in murder" of thousands of German civilians--who had previously been non-participants in the Nazi death machinery. Even as American and British soldiers were marched in comparitive safety, those who were Jewish, or lumped into the Jewish identity, were massacred.
This terrible coda to the death camps leaves one reminded of the condemnation by the participants at Nuremberg, that is, Germany will be forever stained by its deeds. I am horrified at the findings of Blatman's research. It is beyond comprehension, and by describing the horror and senselessness of the death marches I gained more insight into the sickness of Germany.
On another note, since I am the first reviewer, I would like to add that a few months ago, in my high school, the German teacher resigned. I was able to go through some of his books. I found a 1958 Germany history text with absolutely no mention whatsoever of the Holocaust. In 1958, of course, many of the ad hoc murderers who participated in this event would still have been alive.
Thank you, Daniel Blatman for writing such an excellent, riveting book, brilliantly researched and very readable. At times, I found my chest compressing as I witnessed the terror that ensued...but what was worse, was the planning of the terror. One must avert one's face, and weep.
I learned a lot reading this book--more about the various layers of the machinery of the Third Reich, the use of enforced labor, and the scrambling that occurred to maintain labor quotas as the Third Reich came under increased attack.
I was prepared for much of this, but what I was not prepared for was the widespread "participation in murder" of thousands of German civilians--who had previously been non-participants in the Nazi death machinery. Even as American and British soldiers were marched in comparitive safety, those who were Jewish, or lumped into the Jewish identity, were massacred.
This terrible coda to the death camps leaves one reminded of the condemnation by the participants at Nuremberg, that is, Germany will be forever stained by its deeds. I am horrified at the findings of Blatman's research. It is beyond comprehension, and by describing the horror and senselessness of the death marches I gained more insight into the sickness of Germany.
On another note, since I am the first reviewer, I would like to add that a few months ago, in my high school, the German teacher resigned. I was able to go through some of his books. I found a 1958 Germany history text with absolutely no mention whatsoever of the Holocaust. In 1958, of course, many of the ad hoc murderers who participated in this event would still have been alive.
Thank you, Daniel Blatman for writing such an excellent, riveting book, brilliantly researched and very readable. At times, I found my chest compressing as I witnessed the terror that ensued...but what was worse, was the planning of the terror. One must avert one's face, and weep.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Marching to death
10 Feb 2012
Format:Hardcover
This book is an outstanding account of the murders committed by Nazis to concentration camp inmates during the last two months of World War II. As the Third Reich was collapsing, thousands of concentration camp inmates were purposely marched to death back to Germany, rather than being left in their camps to be liberated by approaching Soviet forces from the East, and American forces from the west. There was no economic reason to bring these prisoners back to Germany to be slave laborers as Allied bombing had totally destroyed German war industry in 1945.
I was not aware of the extent of the large number of prisoners that were murdered by their guards and even German civilians during the final weeks of the war. These victims were left dead on the roads where they were shot because they were too weak to keep up with the march.
Survival of the various death march routes was strickly by chance. The victims were starved of food and water, and had to survive freezing cold weather without adequate clothing. Thanks to the Allied victory on May 8, 1945 the insanity of the Nazi's final solution ended.
The author has an interesting essay at the end of his book about genocide. It has happened many times in the 20th century in many countries, and still happens today, but with fewer victims being murdered.
This book is recommended to students who want to know more about the evils of the Nazi era.
I was not aware of the extent of the large number of prisoners that were murdered by their guards and even German civilians during the final weeks of the war. These victims were left dead on the roads where they were shot because they were too weak to keep up with the march.
Survival of the various death march routes was strickly by chance. The victims were starved of food and water, and had to survive freezing cold weather without adequate clothing. Thanks to the Allied victory on May 8, 1945 the insanity of the Nazi's final solution ended.
The author has an interesting essay at the end of his book about genocide. It has happened many times in the 20th century in many countries, and still happens today, but with fewer victims being murdered.
This book is recommended to students who want to know more about the evils of the Nazi era.
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