Hitler and the Holocaust [Modern Library Chronicles]

By: Robert S. Wistrich

Narrated by: George Guidall

For over 50 years scholars and philosophers alike have attempted to make some sense of the Third Reich and its "Final Solution" campaign. Historian Robert Wistrich takes listeners on a guided tour through the death camps and meticulously details the events that led to this horrific tragedy and the lasting repercussions it had on the world community.©2001 Robert S. Wistrich

Critic reviews

"Wistrich's balanced, nuanced discussion is illuminating." (Publishers Weekly)

Excellent overview

This is an excellent overview of the holocaust. In addition, it contains a summary of some of the new research in the study of the holocaust and offers some critique of some of the newer historiographical methodologies. The one issue that I would raise with the book is that the title is a little misleading. In reality, the book is not all that much about Hitler as it is about the environment that led to the holocaust, including - of course - Hitler. I suspected that the book would be more of a study about how Hitler was involved with the final solution. Indeed, the book is much better because it is not specifically about Hitler and his role in the holocaust.

Exhaustive and Enlightening

I found this volume to be an immensely interesting and fairly complete overview of a world leader that forever changed the world. It definitely revealed what is not commonly taught in school concerning the historical philosophical influences that were affecting European beliefs from the late nineteenth century forward that caused a nation to embrace the Nazi ideology. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to have a greater understanding of the events and beliefs that led up to one of the most diabolical segments of world history. The documentation of prewar antisemitism that pervaded Europe as well as America was enlightening. This book reveals the character traits of the upper echelon of the Nazi party as well as the beliefs of the average German of that era. This book is a must read to anyone that wants to understand how and why such a monstrous event could take place in the "civilized" world of the early twentieth century.

Educational

Hitler & the Holocaust

By Robert S. Wistrich

Very interesting. I learned a good deal that I did not know about the Holocaust. That Hitler bore a hatred for the Jewish people dating back at least to WWI, blaming them for the loss. That several governments which became part of the Axis powers were eagerly complicit with Germany in the attempted extermination of the Jews. That when “rescued” by Russian forces, internee’s lot improved little. WWII was a hellscape where Jews, the infirm and “undesirable” were the subjects of diabolical torture and experimentation.
Definitely worth reading. Especially if you feel like falling prey to Holocaust deniers.

Subperb and profound

This excellent work succintly reviews both the crime and the causes of the Holocaust. As a student of World War II and the Third Reich, I felt that I had a good comprehension of this subject. Wistrich gave me a far deeper understanding in four or five hours than I have attained in hundreds of hours of study with other materials. This is a truly superb work.