"A truly path-breaking book, one of the few that will have a lasting impact on historical research of the period. It shows both the primacy of Hitler as the motivating force in the mass murder, and the way in which his initiatives were accepted and internalized by the SS, on the basis of ideology."--Yehuda Bauer "Holocaust and Genocide Studies"
"Breitman's book is decisively important... [It] should serve for years to come as required reading for all who wish to make sense of the Holocaust."--Daniel Jonah Goldhagen "The New Republic"
"Breitman's research [is] meticulous. Especially valuable are his novel insights into the full and frequent communication between Himmler and Hitler, who, it is known, seldom signed an order."--Yehuda Bauer "New York Times Book Review"
"This decisively important book should serve for years to come as required reading for all who wish to make sense of the Holocaust."-- "The Nation"
A truly path-breaking book, one of the few that will have a lasting impact on historical research of the period. It shows both the primacy of Hitler as the motivating force in the mass murder, and the way in which his initiatives were accepted and internalized by the SS, on the basis of ideology. Yehuda Bauer, Holocaust and Genocide Studies"
Breitman s book is decisively important... [It] should serve for years to come as required reading for all who wish to make sense of the Holocaust. Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, The New Republic"
Breitman s research [is] meticulous. Especially valuable are his novel insights into the full and frequent communication between Himmler and Hitler, who, it is known, seldom signed an order. New York Times Book Review"
This decisively important book should serve for years to come as required reading for all who wish to make sense of the Holocaust. The Nation"
The Nation"
6 x 9 trim. LC 92-53857
From the Back Cover
Drawing upon previously untapped primary sources - including Himmler's own appointment books and office logs - the author conclusively counters efforts to portray the Holocaust as unpremeditated, the result of bureaucratic improvisation under wartime constraints. Breitman thoroughly examines Heinrich Himmler's character and life and explores the racial ideology and planning that led to genocide. He finds Himmler and Hitler to be complementary figures: Hitler envisioned the Nazi policy toward the Jews, and Himmler, the master organizer who controlled the SS and security forces, turned it into horrific reality.
About the Author
RICHARD BREITMAN is the author or co-author of nine books and many articles in German history, U. S. history, and the Holocaust. Breitman teaches at American University and is editor of the journal Holocaust and Genocide Studies. He served as director of historical research for the Nazi War Criminal Records and Imperial Japanese Records Interagency Working Group, which helped to bring about declassification of more than eight million pages of U.S. government records under a 1998 law.
