Customer Reviews

The Holocaust Chronicle

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What an amazing book! It's about time that a book waspublished about the Holocaust that is as easily accessible andreadible as "The Holocaust Chronicle" is.

As a Jewish high school educator, I know that this book will be a valuable resource in my classroom for years to come.

It is a difficult subject, and therefore this book can be exhausting as you leaf through it's almost 800 pages, but it is a subject that needs to discussed and taught for generations to come.

Buy this book. Give it to your school, put it on your bookshelf at home. You will be glad you did.

This massive volume is undoubtedly the most comprehensive collection of text, illustrations, and pictures that I have ever encountered. Never before have I seen such care and thoroughness applied to a book about the Holocaust. Every single page is packed, and I mean PACKED, with every tidbit of information you could possibly want to know. You could literally spend hours with it in your lap and just scratch the surface of what's inside.

The appeal of this title not only applies to research afficionados but to the general public as well. The style in which it is written flows very easily and does not sound like an encyclopedia entry, which would turn me right off.

This book is an absolute and definitive must for any person who has an interest in the history of the Holocaust. Do yourself a favor. Track down this book and buy it on the spot!

This book is one of the best sources of information on Hitler's bloody act of social engineering I have come across.

However, it does have deficiencies I would like to see corrected in a future edition.

It mentions the crimes of Aufseherin Irma Grese, but gives somebody else's picture.

But even worse, it omitts the activities of Germany's very activist Juduciary in assisting, through Dynamic Interpretation, (what would not be called 'evolving standards'),the nazis with their agenda.

It does not mention the case of Erich Charrel vs Ufa Film studios in which the courts defined Jews as being Legally Dead, (Civil Death) as far as contractual purposes are concerned.

Nor does it mention the Airforce House Conference of 23 -24 April of 1941 in Berlin where the heads of the courts gave Hitler a green light to murder the sick and others deemed as people with Lives unworthy of life. (This actually shocked me). Though it mentions Wannsee Conference.

Nor does it mention the travesties after the war in which the courts of Germany and Austria covered for the murderers. Granting them pensions. And givingthem mere slaps on the wrists for murdering thousands if not tens of thousands of innocent human beings.

I did like the listing of the dead, as far as numbers go. But to make them more effective at comunicating the extent of the attrocity, I wish they had given the number of dead with the number available to be murdered.

Beyond these flaws, this is an excellent book on the subject of the Holocaust.

Three books in one: A detailed 1) history, 2)timeline and 3)personal vignettes that create a rich hologram-like view of the enabling preconditions, actual events and aftermath of the Genocide of the Jews of Europe at the hands of the Nazis.

Back in July of this year, I wrote a review of Ellie Wiesel's "Night," a new edition that had been translated by his own daughter. This small book captured the essence of one man's subjective experience with the subject of this much larger effort, contributed to by dozens of historians and scholars and published by a non-profit organization. This is not a `sit down and read a book today' publication. Each of it's 750 richly illustrated pages are packed with personal stories about individual people, a detailed on-going time-line, detailed with specific events beginning in 1500 BCE (The modern Jewish term for "BC", standing for "Before the Common Era."), and passing through the establishment of the State of Israel and into the late 1990's, and a continuous narrative history of more details than most people have ever imagined were available in the telling of this particularly horrific tale of humanity gone wrong. There is, in fact, so much information, that each page calls for a slow overview, and then at least several readings to capture the totality of what is being presented. It is a book to which ongoing time must be devoted to really appreciate what it gives us: As Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday would have said, "Nothing but the facts."

The Preconditions:
Through hundreds of historical, scholarly, organizational and literary references, this book makes it clear that without certain preconditions having been developing in European (and, indeed, in world-wide) culture for many centuries, Hitler could never of orchestrated what in the Jewish Community is referred to as the Sho'ah. Ascribing Germany's readiness to follow their fascist leader and his cronies into the annihilation of about six-million Jews as well as millions of Catholics, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, physically handicapped and mentally ill people, homosexuals and others to the aftermath of Versailles is shown to be a gross over-simplification. Anti Semitism (not always known by that now well-known name) had existed across the face of much of the globe for many centuries. The realities across the world, indeed including here in our own United States, were active contributors to creating the preconditions that allowed the Holocaust to happen. Impressive in this particular book is that unlike so many others, the authors painstakingly provide documentary evidence and facts that support this and other key concepts. As is the case with the other two parallel tracks of this volume, the actual events of the Holocaust itself and the aftermath, the preconditions are examined and documented through all three of the `tracks' of this book: The narrative history, the timeline and the individual storied and personal vignettes.

The Event Itself:
The Holocaust itself - the trail leading up to the actualization of what was referred to, privately amongst the Nazi leadership, as the "Final Solution?" - and their ultimate efforts to completely eliminate Jewry from the face of the parts of the world they controlled are carefully documented as well. This is the part of the story best known to modern audiences, but is given here a context far more comprehensive than what has been attempted before - and it is all written in non-technical terms that make the massive information it contains available to most people who 1) can read, 2) are interested in the subject, and 3) are willing to spend the appreciable time it takes to go through and absorb the rather massive amount of information contained in these pages. The events of planful, deliberate genocide are not and can not be fully separated from the preconditions described both earlier in the book and periodically referred to as the timeline progresses.
No one is held harmless. From the Nazis themselves, to the many nations of the Earth, including our own, that denied sanctuary via more open immigration policies in the late 1930's when it became undeniably clear what the goals and activities of Hitler's regime was.

The Aftermath:
This section of the book concerns itself with what happened as a result of the genocide, both in the short run and continuing into modern times. The establishment of the State of Israel, the multiple issues associated with that; the Germany of the post-war era, both as a modern economic force as well as the bearer of so much of the responsibility for one of mankind's darkest hours, the relationships of the Catholic Church and of the American government to the past, present and future of humanity: None of these escape the attention of the authors and compilers of this impressive, comprehensive and engaging book.

Suffice it to say that this review only scratches the surface of the material covered and the depths to which it is articulated in this volume. I make no apologies for being relatively brief. If you have the interest and the time, this is one of those handful of published works that just might change your life. It is simply not possible to have so much revealed, in so many forms at so many levels, and not be somehow reshaped by the experience.

The most reader-friendly and clearest description of one of humanities greatest calamities I have ever read. I think you will agree.

I have read extensively on the holocaust, visited many of the ghettoes of Europe and this year visited Auschwitz/Birkenau.
Amazingly it was this book that gave me the feeling that I finally understood something of the enormity of the pain and suffering and the amazing heroism of many of Europe's Jews in withstanding the assault initiated by the Nazis and extended by many others...it made me simultaneoulsy proud to be a human and also ashamed.

There are a few flaws.. but they are overwhelmed by the incredible array of facts and human stories that populate its pages...It is what a book should be.

This is a vivid and monumental work, and should be lauded on the basis of its many merits. One of them is that this enormously complex subject is often explained in one number: Six million. It is a mind boggling number that a person cannot readily comprehend, and therefore any personal value attached to this tragedy is often not felt. The Holocaust Chronicle has taken a step to correct this, using an absolute wealth of photographs (many you have probably never seen before) to try and present to the reader the progression of Nazi malice against European Jews. It simply does a wonderful job of making this information not only readable but easy to digest. Every page contains multiple photos, and a timeline runs along the bottom of every page relating some form of persecution that happened on that month and year. Every other page has a yellow box with the personal story of someone who either suffered at the hands of the Nazis, someone who helped the Jews in their plight or someone who committed horriffic crimes against humanity. This book is written in easy-to-read style, and I think the intent is to convey this terrible chapter of humanity in a way that will not only be easily understood but also something the reader finds interesting and knowledgeable. This history is perfectly balanced, and the research is outstanding. An excellent reference in the back allows you to look up the exact dates that many anti-Jewish laws were enacted or abuses were committed, making this an excellent choice for anyone wanting to educate young adults on this sad chapter of humanity. One other thing: There is always a Holocaust denier in every group, and this subject always bring one out of every crowd. Please commpletely disregard the reviewer comments that are titled "Inaccurate and Shameful", as nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a work of historical integrity that should be in every High School library.

Having read numberous books on the subject matter I feel that this book is by far the best. It is well written, and charts the holocaust from beginning to end. With graphic photos that depict the awful truth of the darkest chapter in our history it brings home the reality and gravity of how the situation began, increased and finally ended.

A simple review will not do justice to the monumental work that is contained within the pages of this book. It is rendered as tastefully as it possibly could be considering that it's purpose is to enlighten us about the greatest human tradgedy that the world has ever known.

The fact that it is presented in a "pleasing-to-the-eye" coffee table style book form seems to desensitize the reader a bit from the sheer horror that was surely felt by those involved. (Although I don't presume to have a better idea myself on how it might be done.) However, this actually makes the book more accessible to younger readers as well who need to be informed of the truth of what happened. But while I feel that the book is not presented with all of the gore that I have seen in others, if one really looks deeply into the photos, and sees the expressions on the people's faces, and relates to them as real human beings and not as just characters in a book, you will surely be moved, and you will come face to face with the reality of the holocaust.

As a child who lived in the Chicago housing projects prior to moving to Germany I became lost for words as I turned the pages of one of the most moving books I've ever experienced. Places I've seen as a playful child running across the country side now become surreal in my mind as I think about the innocent lives that were slaughtered on that same ground. And now that I've observed the photographs of my Jewish brothers and sisters in this book "The Holocaust Chronicle" some things will never be the same for me. I also believe that you will view life differently after you've read this book.

For one this book describes the ghetto's of Europe during the Holocaust using pictures and words that one would never imagine. It has so much depth and meaning even in the words that it is quite amazing. For instance the word "ghetto" (which in the United States has become a word referencing the slums where poor Americans live) will no longer have the same meaning for me as it use to. Some call the Housing Projects that I came from in Chicago a ghetto...but this is a poor, poor use of the word now that I've observed the ghettos of Europe during the Holocaust. Read the book and you'll see exactly what I mean.

The Holocaust Chronicle is an excellent resource for virtually anything you would like to know about this event in history. This book should instantly become a part of all libraries in every community, private and personal.

Having lived in Germany for nearly 5 years as a lad I've alway's considered myself quite a history buff especially concerning military affairs since my father spent his whole life serving the U.S. Army. But I must say this amazing book proves that I am very ignorant of what went on from 1933-1946. The humiliation, the physical and mental anguish, even the use of art and symbols were all reconstructed to try to destroy the Jew but thank God they were delivered from the hands of their enemies. Although this book does not turn its face away from death but sometimes deals with it head on it still contains with in it the hope of deliverance, the determination of faith and the triumph of those who suffer persecution.

I have now done much diligence to understand this part of history so that I can connect with other human beings on this planet in a way that is respectful. I must say Louis Weber the publisher and all the contributing Authors and Consultants who poured their hearts and souls into the development of "The Holocaust Chronicle" deserve much credit.

Although there is much suffering between these pages the details within this book give us great understanding. It helps us all to realize, respect and appreciate why we should be committed to never allow this to happen again regardless of our religious beliefs, cultural, racial or ethnic background. As you turn the pages you will be exposed to the criminals but at the same time you will find yourself rejoicing when heroic men and women went beyond what their government would not give them the authority to do. Please hurry up and get this book, read it today and share your ideas with others as I dedicate this review to my Jewish mother Anita Gold.

Your Servant,

Deremiah, *CPE

This book is massive! It is far larger than any of my college texts. Yet, every one of the nearly 800 pages is poignant and necessary. This easy-to-read chronicle of one of the most incomprehensible tragedies in all of history is extremely well-written in prose that is eloquent and yet still quite succinct. Nearly each page contains photographs that display different perspectives on the Holocaust, each one helping to comprise the complete picture of the atrocities which took place. On many pages there are more photographs than words, and each one truly tells its own story. In reading this chronicle and studying the photographs you will experience a range of emotions you never would have believed you were capable of experiencing. It is true that we can never feel how the concentration camp prisoners felt; we can never know the starvation, the death, the oppression that they and others affected by the Holocaust knew all too well--but the Holocaust chronicle brings us perhaps one step closer than we've ever been to understanding this world of unthinkable brutality and suffering.