Through the lens of an unnamed historian, the novel reconstructs the lost narratives of Holocaust victims using fragments of memories, testimonies, diaries, and letters. It aims to illuminate the lives of those who were murdered and forgotten, offering a poignant exploration of their stories and the historical context surrounding their erasure from memory.
First-Person History in Times of Crisis
The book explores critical debates surrounding the Holocaust, emphasizing the interplay between Holocaust and genocide studies. Omer Bartov highlights the significance of local histories and personal testimonies in understanding mass murder. He critiques how legal discourse can both reveal and obscure complicity. Additionally, the author connects first-person narratives to illuminate complex historical events and reflects on his personal experiences to draw parallels between the experiences of Jews during World War II and Palestinians post-establishment of Israel.
The story of the diverse communities of Eastern Europe's borderlands in the centuries prior to World War II
Chapter 1: The gathering storm -- Chapter 2: Enemies at their pleasure -- Chapter 3: Together and apart -- Chapter 4: Soviet power -- Chapter 5: German order --Chapter 6: The daily life of genocide -- Chapter 7: Neighbors
Wartime atrocities are explored through original contributions from notable historians, revealing shocking evidence of violence committed by the United States, Germany, and Japan throughout the twentieth century. Key incidents include the massacre of unarmed Koreans by American troops at No Gun Ri, Nazi atrocities on the Russian front, and Japanese brutality in China during World War II. The book highlights a troubling pattern of denial that often precedes the acknowledgment of these historical truths, emphasizing the need for confronting uncomfortable realities of war.
Based largely upon unpublished sources, Omer Bartov's study looks closely at the background of the German army on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. He describes the physical hardship, the discipline and morale at the front, and analyses the social, educational and political background of the junior officers who formed the backbone of the German army. Only with these factors in mind - together with the knowledge of the extent of National Socialist indoctrination - can we begin to explain the criminal activities of the German army in Russia and the extent of involvement of the army in the execution of Hitler's brutal policies.
The author uses archival material, such as letters, reports, and orders, to support his theory that the German army was just as guilty as the Nazis for the atrocities of World War II