Germany Books

Unlike many books about the Holocaust this one is truly different in its ending. Suffuring a fate like the Jewish in WWII is not imaginable and this books takes you to a girl and the trials she faced trying to survive and stay connected with her family. This books is an inspiring story of a young girl who tries to survive the terrible fate of her people while trying to stay with her family and the repercussions of this horrible time will never be healed. Although Inge does not get to finish the book herself, her nephew does a great job finishing where she left off. If you like emotional stories that suck you in and you don't want to put the book down, you will love this book!

I won't go into a synopsis since the readers before me have very detailed ones.
I checked this one out from the local library. I could not put it down. I was able to finish in 2 days. I found myself following her on her journey. The book is very well written and really involves the reader in what life may have been like for her. I am purchasing this one to keep on my shelf. Definitely worth reading and rereading.

Most books on the Holocaust reflect the horrible trials of those murdered or sent to Concentration Camps. This is a story of a young girl sent by her family to Belgium from Germany before the war. She is tossed into the whirlwind of war and her separation from her family is greatly traumatic for her. She faces her difficult teen years as a refugee in Southern France. The North of France is occupied by the Nazis, who ultimately control the French Government, both north and south. Each year she grows closer to her 18th birthday, she is painfully aware of the French laws will allow her to be turned over to the Nazis and deported. She is not alone in her travail. This story tells of the genuine goodness of those who helped shelter her and get her and many of her friends to Switzerland. There is love, loss and decency. A really different prospective. Should be read by all.

Much has been written about the millions who were murdered during the Nazis' Holocaust bestiality yet we know less about the effect on thousands of child survivors who suffered separation from family, deprivation and often multiple escapes during World War II. In "Inge" author Gumpert vividly portrays the anxieties and trauma of an innocent young girl under the duress of separation, escape and living on the margin. Inge discovers herself and turns from introvert to courageous escape artist, outwitting adult persecutioners. We also learn about selfless and heroic rescuers. It is fascinating to discover her interactions with peers and even the advent of teenage love during her turbulent youth.

The book vividly presents the gripping dangers and escapades of Inge's teenage years. Even more important, the author reveals Inge's lifelong and unsuccessful struggle to cope with the memories. One feels the author has perhaps finally provided the peace and redemption which escaped Inge during her lifetime.

As a fellow teenage refugee with Inge in 1940-41 (her first love was my best friend Walter), I knew the facts, but I am deeply moved by the compelling story told by this book.

This book takes you into the life of Inge Joseph who lived threw the Holocaust, but ultimitly could not get past it.

Inge Joseph was born in Darmstadt, Germany in 1925. She had an older sister and loving parents. When she was young Hitler took power and her life changed. In 1936 her father got arrested and shortly afterwards her sister then 16 went to live in America eventually living in Chicago.

Inge and her mother remained in Darmstadt with the help of her father's wealthy cousin. During this time however Inge left Darmstadt and went to live with her cousin in Belgium. After only living with him a short time he and his wife sent her to live in a hostil run by Mr. and Mrs. Frank (no relation to Anne.) After living there a while, the Nazis invaded Belgium and the Franks sent the girls to France with a group of boys from another hostil in the town they lived in.

The 100 kids went to France and stayed in a barn for a while, until the Swiss Red Cross got involved helping them with food, and finding them a castle to live in.

Life was not easy in the barn or castle, but Inge and some of her friends found love. During the time in the castle the oldest of the children were arrested and sent to a concentration camp, but managed to go back to Chateau le Haille (the castle). Several months later the person in charge decided that the oldest ones needed to escape.

After a failed escape leading to the deaths of Inge's friend and boyfriend Inge made it to Switzerland and finally to the United States to reunite with her father and sister.

Inge tried to get over her experiences, married a Austrian Jew and adopted a daughter named Julie, and also became a nurse. Unfortunitly she was not able to and became addicted to medication that caused her to die in 1983.

A very interesting story, one can't forget

This is the most beautiful childrens' book! It is a true story, I have been very fortunate to meet this pilot, Gail Halvorsen. This is a wonderful way for children to read about an important piece of history that had a lasting impact on not only a city but the millions of people saved by a great act of kindness. This particular event should not be lost, but kept alive. I highly recommend this book to children of all ages! Beautifully illustrated!

We had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Col. Halverson and Mercedes during one of his visits to Berlin this year. We invited the beloved Chocolate Pilot to speak to a small group of American Scouts and organized a book reading beforehand. Word got out and over 350 people showed up to hear this story! The audience was mesmerized. Everyone, both parents and children alike, were touched by the story of human kindness. Margot Theis Raven does a wonderful job recounting the true story of Mercedes, a seven year old German girl, who dreams of receiving a little happiness, in the form of candy, in postwar Berlin and of a kind American pilot who makes her dream come true. This beautifully illustrated book honors both Col. Halverson and Mercedes. My children absolutely love this book. And so do I! It's a true family keepsake.
Vanessa Hansen, BSA Troop 46 'Freedom Outpost'

We loved this book. We read it last year while studying about Germany. We loved it so much we bought it ourselves. Beautiful true story about how even in the hardships of war, blessing happen. The kids and I even cried a little as we read this one. Just a great read with great illustrations as well.

Some years ago, I "dragged" my wife and son to meet the Candy Bomber when he came through town. He gave a really nice speech in which he told the story of Mercedes. Amazingly, I had finally found a pilot who hit a sweet note with them. A year or two later, they even went to meet him again, and my son caught candy he dropped at the airport. Well, when the book came out, my wife latched onto it in an instant. She was so taken with the book and the retelling of the story of Mercedes, that she has incorporated it into her class room. Super nice man and touching story. The author did a splendid job that does both justice. You'll enjoy this one!

A lovely story of a little-known episode in post-World War II Europe, the Berlin Airlift, and the American pilot who knew that for children, chocolates and sweets were almost more important than the basic supplies the Airlift was providing the citizens of West Berlin, so he sent those along with the rest of his cargo, and in doing so, gave them hope.

Margot Theis Raven movingly depicts an important time in history and the gallantry and heart of the man who `rained down sweets' on a city that needed it. A wonderful read with fascinating historical information that kids and adults will enjoy.

Bravo, Ms. Raven!

I had the pleasure of being a student of Terry Parssinen around the time this wonderful story was released. Needless to say, I couldn't be any more prouder as to what he has uncovered. It is a refreshing book to read in regards to his opinion as to what might have happened; And I'm not just saying that because I was once his student. Excellent read!

To see how close WWII could have been stopped at least in the European Theatre, this book keeps you on the edge, even though you know the outcome. Excellent.

An interesting book about a fascinating "what if" of history. Parssinen makes a convincing case that the plotters of 1938 were closer to success then is generally credited. His case also illuminates the tragedy of appeasement for Great Britain, Germany and the rest of the world.

I learned a lot I did not know about Hans Oster, who comes off as an extremely admirable person and plotter.

Few history books raise to the high bar of objectivity that we're expecting from sciences in general. And objectivity in this context has mainly to do with the broader political context of the times in question rather than just a selective exposition of facts. Too many times, focusing on a certain historical issue without the proper context leads to erroneous interpretations.

Interpretation is not only an academic concern, especially when applied to political sciences. The meaning assigned to facts, the interpretation given has practical consequences, and the book "The Oster Conspiracy of 1938 : The Unknown Story of the Military Plot to Kill Hitler and Avert World War II" points out to little thus far known details about those times, about the framework, internal and international in which Hitler operated, about the blown chances to recognize the opportunity (when it presented itself) to deal with the hitlerite threat in a much less fatal fashion.

The account in this book is fundamentally different than in a typical "what if" book. "What if" books border on fiction. Their premise or starting point is fictitious. This book's premise is not fictitious at all. It's researched facts. The only "what if" part of it is the argumentative interpretation of the British politicians both a priori and a posteriori of the chances of a coup d'etat in Germany, had they agreed to send an unmistakable signal that they do not accept to be bullied and made a joke of in front of the whole world at gunpoint.

A good, objective and reflective read. At times it feels just like a novel and not a researched history text.

It's shocking to me that the events in this book aren't chronicled in every high school and college World History class. The fact that, as Hitler resolutely thrust Germany toward war in September 1938, nearly all his troop commanders had decided to revolt against a war they were certain would mean the destruction of Germany, casts a long and dark shadow on modern-day attempts to deal diplomatically with fanatical national leaders.

Ironically, Hitler's generals had realized what the leaders of the Western democracies had not: that Germany stood to be quickly and decisively defeated in a war against England, France, and Czechoslovakia. On the very morning that Chamberlain, in a pitiful "if Daddy says no, ask Mommy" display of desperation, was grovelling with Mussolini for a peace conference to negotiate German occupation of western Czechoslovakia, armed men were positioned to storm the Reich Chancellery and kill Hitler at the first announcement of war.

More than just a surprising lesson in history, this work speaks volumes to today's leaders of free and peaceful nations in dealing with hostile regimes in the Middle East or Chinese aggression toward Taiwan. Peace kept by capitulation and appeasement is a peace that cannot last, and serves only to sustain and embolden expansionist, warmongering tyrants.

Heard this story as a child from my grandparents who were on German background. This story is just like they told it. Beautiful illustrations complete the story that swirled in my head so many years ago!!

Ok.I HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK.I hope that you don`t hurt my reviews for this,but in a way,I HAVE read this book.I am in this play,so I have read this script.And since the play is going to be on Saturday,(5th) and Sunday(6th) and also for the next weekend,I have to read this script over and over and over again.I think that this book is a very good book.In the play I am Miss Applebee but I think that this book is very good it must be.

When I was about seven-years-old a family member gave me a recording, (78s) of the Pied Piper of Hamelin narrated by Ingrid Bergman. As I listened, I could see the characters in my head and never tired of the story.

A month ago I bought the book for my eight-year-old granddaughter who lives about eight hundred miles away from me, because I was afraid with the passing of one more generation, the story might be forgotten.

It is a lovely book, written by Robert Browning more than a century ago. The drawings are perfect, given the dated language used in this book. And the story has a simple message, about honoring our promises.

Sadly, my granddaughter glanced at the book and was clearly not interested. I wanted to read it with her, intending to make clear the English used by Browning.

So, a tale almost twelve hundred years old bit the dust, at least in our family it did.

But if you are a lover of this fable, it is worth your time to try it out on the children in your family. They will be the richer for it.

This book would be a wonderful treasure for the pictures alone. Kate Greenaway, noted children's illustrator, has created a magical world of beautiful children, innocent faces, and romantic, nostalgic costumes. The colors on these pages are breathtaking, and the details (although Greenaway is always faulted for not drawing hands and feet well) are superb. This story is not for very young children, as it contains some troublesome themes. For the older child, perhaps 7+, the story might provoke some interesting post-read family discussions about honesty, trust, and the actual state of the children at the end of the tale. This is even a beautiful book to give to adults, as the messages about human nature can be appreciated on a deeper level.

"Rats!
They fought the dogs, and killed the cats,
And bit the babies in the cradles,
And ate the cheeses out of the vats,
And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles,
Split open the kegs of salted sprats,
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,
And even spoiled the women's chats,
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats."

Robert Browning (1812-1889) first published his poem "The Pied Piper of Hamelin, A Child's Story" in 1842, based on an old German legend which may or may not have had some basis in historical fact. Browning was a serious poet; even in a poem filled with playful rhymes written specifically for children, he did not "dumb down" his language, but expected his readers to do a little work in understanding some of his "big words."

Kate Greenaway (1846-1901) was one of the most famous and popular illustrators of children's literature in the latter part of the 19th Century. She had grown up loving Browning's poem, and shortly before his death she requested and received his permission to republish it accompanied by her own illustrations. This edition was initially published in 1888 under the imprint of George Routledge & Sons, which was at that same time in the process of splitting between Routledge and Frederick Warne. Starting in 1889 all subsequent editions carried the Warne imprint. The book continued to be popular, and Frederick Warne has issued reprints from time to time, well into the late 20th Century. This Warne edition is not in print at present, but used copies with various reprint dates are available from Amazon Marketplace sellers.

However, two different reprint editions are currently available, each with the complete original text and illustrations, and each presented with loving care from an eminently respectable publisher, in well-made but modestly priced editions. The Dover reprint (ISBN 0486296199) is full-size, in a sturdy paperback; the Alfred A Knopf/Borzoi/Everyman's Library reprint (ISBN 0679428127) is part of their Children's Classics series, in a very sturdily constructed hardcover with sewn sections that will not crack with use, but the page size is somewhat smaller. Both are beautiful books, and either is an excellent value.

As noted in the Editorial Reviews above, there have been other editions of "The Pied Piper," with different illustrations, and at least one seems to have been issued with the poem itself "retold" to make the language simpler; neither of those reviews is discussing this original version. Some readers may prefer one or another of these different versions. But anyone wanting to stick with Browning's original full text and Greenaway's original charming, muted and subtle illustrations should choose between the Dover or the Everyman's, or visit Amazon's Marketplace sellers to look for a copy of the Frederick Warne.

Excellent book, it gives a good account of one of the British irregular army units in action in Italy and Germany during the later states of WWII.

Peniakoff tells a interesting tale of WWII, but I was struck by his continually contradictory behaviour.

In one sentence he'll say that the purpose of a mission was reconnaissance only, and his unit was not to engage the enemy unless escape was not possible and they were attacked. In the next paragraph, he'll tell how they attacked a convoy of enemy vehicles simply because they felt the need for some action before heading back to base.

He complains about the Italian gentry exploiting the peasantry and the next minute, he's eating a seven course meal with them.
That's just a couple of examples; the book is loaded with similar incidents.

Still, it's a good read, and shows how intelligence is gathered during wartime (sometimes you just get on the phone and call ahead!).

There are books on your shelf you should never loan out if you ever hope to see them again. This is one of those books. The WW2 British unit known as Popski's Private Army (PPA) operated in North Africa and Italy. Written by its founder, Vladimir Peniakoff (Popski), the book covers the units contributuion to the war effort. Using machinegun armed Jeeps like the later fictional TV Rat Patrol, this small united operated behind the German and Italian lines. The PPA did not beat Nazi Germany by itself, but its contribution far exceeded its small size. If the grand sweep of armies leaves you hungering for the individual courage found in small units, then this is the book for you. I also recommend "Fighting with Popski's Private Army" by fellow PPA member Park Yunnie.

This book is hard to find but well worth the effort. Peniakoff led a facinating life and this book is a must for anybody interested in World War II special operations.

On the 6th of May 1945 men in wheeled vehicles crossed the mosaic floor of the Piazza San Marco in Venice for the very first time in history. They drove around the square seven times in the small, heavily armoured vehicles in which they'd fought their way across North Africa, Italy, and were to travel on to Austria. At the head of this curious band was a man who sported a hook for a hand, and a nom de guerre which was similarly incongruous for a 48 year old Major in the British army. Vladimir Peniakoff, or "Popski" as he became known, was the enigmatic Belgian born son of White Russian emigres, who had until recent years "pursued the ordinary activities of industry" as a discontented sugar refiner in Egypt. Having tutored himself, alone in the Sand Sea but for the navigational instruments of antiquity, he emerged from the wilderness to train the men who accompanied him through the years of turmoil to this long dreamt of moment of victory. "Private Army" is one of the finest military memoirs I have read, and ranks alongside Fitzroy McLean's "Eastern Approaches" and TE Lawrence's "The Mint". This is the authoritative work on Popski's Private Army, but is much more than a Regimental history. This is a superb piece of literature which you will not quickly forget. Read also "With Popski's Private Army" by Ben Owen, a superb companion book to the above.

You will be hard put to find any writer who can jack up your heart rate the way Adam Hall manages to in these relatively few pages. His story is a marvel of relentless pacing. With sentences that read something like Hemingway under the influence of bad speed - a steady drumbeat of monosyllables, phrase after short phrase linked by "and," an economy of language - and a first-person voice that Hall maintains pitch-perfectly from start to finish, this book is one of the best-written thrillers ever. It doesn't resort to bloated descriptions of technical gadgets or exotic locales; nor is its protagonist a super-hero. (He is smarter than the average bear, and physically tougher, too, but believably so.) It does use the Nazi-comeback formula - imagine how many millions of paperbacks in how many hundreds of airports the ancient swastika image has helped to sell all these years! - but I imagine that in the early 1960s, it was actually one of the first books to explore this now-overused plotline.
Hall's description of Quiller's foe-induced, near-psychotic drug experience is particularly gripping - I've looked repeatedly, and I still don't understand how he made this description so convincing that it would likely persuade any reader to just say no.
I look forward to reading more in the Quiller series.

Brainy and impassive Quiller in the strasses of suspicious Berlin. Must get close to the nest but not too close. Don't let Oktober and his werewolves know the location of your own base.

I liked "The Odessa File," "Marathon Man," and "Boys from Brazil," but this beats them all. Quiller is a ruthless loner in the mold of the protagonist in "Eye of the Needle." Unusually, in a book written before the age of political correctness, he refuses to carry a gun. His story is basically that of a man who finds himself in a dark tunnel, unarmed, knowing there are predators but not knowing who or where they are. The book has plenty of action but is basically an extended intellectual puzzle in which you must not only figure out the moves but who the actors are and whether they can be trusted. Since Quiller seems constitutionally inclined to trust no one, this unending procession of double- and triple-crosses suits him well, but even he is surprised by revelations about one of his friends.

The book is dated, of course, and someone like Quiller could not win today by exactly the same methods as those in the book because of the development of technology, but the portrait of a man alone, who accepts his essential aloneness and is prepared to live or die by his wits is well drawn and a story to keep and hold the attention of the reader. It is very dark, and if Daniel Craig were not already playing Bond, I would suggest him for Quiller.

Speaking of that, if you enjoy the book, do not make the mistake of watching the movie, whose producers seem to have misunderstood the book completely. George Segal was cast to play Quiller in the movie as a smirking, simpering pretty boy who resorted to flip comebacks and petulant retorts to make his way; his character had nothing to do with this book.

Read the book instead and savor the story. It sets up a universe that is very bleak and stays with you a long time after you finish it.

Whether of not you've seen and enjoyed the movie version of "The Quiller Memorandum," you are in for a rare treat. The novel is different, but in many ways even better than the film. Adam Hall's Quiller is a cold-eyed realist (colder, more introverted and more introspective than that played by George Segal) working for an unnamed and unacknowledged British agency in Cold War-era Berlin. Ordered to infiltrate and expose a ring of old and neo-Nazis, Quiller attempts methodically to probe the depths of a secret organization that is bent on resuscitating the Third Reich. This work is dangerous, and is made more so by the uncertain allegiances of some of the characters. Although the novel takes place twenty years after the end of World War II, it was still unclear where certain characters, even those in high government positions, stood.

The detailed descriptions of Quiller's reasoning and analyses demonstrate the workings of the mind of a master spy. What makes Quiller so compelling is that while he is brilliant, he is flawed. Quiller makes mistakes, sometimes tragic ones, sometimes avoidable ones. I disagree with the view that the characters lack depth and are one-dimensional. Inga, for example, is as complicated a character as one is likely to see, for biographical and psychological reasons that are well-explained. Rothstein is not quite what he appears to be on the surface, either.

But the true joy of this novel is its detailed descriptions of the "how" of spycraft -- how messages are transmitted; how they are received; how the emergency backup works; how one loses a tail; how one endures interrogation under pressure. The psychological reasons why certain characters behave as they do are also intriguing. Yes, the references to the "id" and the "ego" are a bit dated, but the kindergarten-level Freud-speak does not detract from the real mind games that the characters are playing here. Overall, "The Quiller Memorandum" is an outstanding spy novel that is one of the best of its genre.

As a reader, I've always been fond of thriller, police and crime stories. They are often - undeservedly - considered a lesser genre, none the less they present an extraordinary opportunity to test logic skills, appraise different possibilities and sometimes also exercise in virtual history.

The Quiller Memorandum is no exception.
It has even a pedigree, as winner of the Edgar Allan Poe for Best Novel in 1966.

Basically it is the story of a secret agent employed by the British intelligence in the '50s to track down former Nazi criminals hiding under respectable new identities, who comes to confront a dangerous German neo-Nazi secret association, the Phoenix, trying to regain power.

Many of the situations described bring to mind "The Odessa File" by Forsythe and "Fatherland" by Robert Harris, and I guess that this novel has been an important inspiration - if not source - to both of them.
None the less both "Fatherland" and "The Odessa File" are far more consistent and superior.

I believe the book is a bit out of date to the modern reader and shows the marks of time: under some aspects it is a typical product of the late '60s, with its faltering hopes and gloomy expectations.

The hero is James-Bondlike but not so successful and formidable, and neither so optimistic: unlike Bond he doesn't seem able to be able to control the outside world, while is an expert in self-control, that is psychoanalysis (there are some dull remarks about Es and Ego), mnemotechnics and psychology.
There's pervasive pessimism in the usefulness of reason and logics and a suicide-like attitude in many of his actions (the mythological image used is the Greek tauromachia, the man who fight the bull with his bare hands) that is kind of self-destructive mysticism.
His adversaries appear to be all-pervasive: they are ghostlike and always in advantage, but they too finish to act irrationally.

Unlike classic thrillers, this is mostly the description of a nightmare. The scene is reduced at minimum (we know it happens in Berlin), the individuals are reduced to primeval pulsions (pure masochism in Inga, sadism in Oktober, multiple personalities in Zossen, revenge in Rothstein and so on), time can contract or expand according to the needs and logic may be faultless but of no use to forecast what will happen.

With these cautions, the novel is still readable and can offer a few hours of interesting time off

I hope my impressions may have been of help to you.
You are truly welcome if you can suggest other readings or just share ideas and comments!
Thanks for reading.

For an autobiography, constrained to stick to what actually happened or was lived, the second world war is as dramatic a context as you can get. I have little previous exposure to books about personal experiences of the second world war, but I think what sets this book apart is the slowness & indirectness of experiencing the war & the inevitable & visceral destruction it brings.

Brandenburg tells a very involved & nuanced story without ever bordering on the dramatic. She shows remarkable poise & a wonderful eye for detail without losing herself in any kind of literary embellishments. She tells the story of growing up with a lovely peasant family in East Prussia, its hard life demanding discipline, the Germans trading freedom for security post first world war, Hitler's deep penetration into the social & psychological realms of Germany, the initial victories, the never-ending war with Russia, the eventual retreats, & the German defeat.

In between all this are woven tales of growing up, marriages, jealousies, betrayals, cowardice, fear & suspense. And inevitably, there is death. Yes, there is hope at the end, & yes, there is rejuvenation. But those remain very lame consolations for what is lost, for what is learned, & for what is lived.

Perhaps, if Brandenburg had experienced the war as an adult, there might have been more complex experiences & analysis; however, this book remains ultimately about what is lost.

S!

I recently finished the book Ruined by the Reich. Its a compelling story of a firsthand account of a families anguish. When Christel speaks of her harrowing ordeals you can visualize everything that she is going through. A detailed outlook of the effects of war on all individuals involved.I would love to see this book made into a movie. Dan Laing is an excellent writer and Christel Weiss is a wonderful story teller.

I JUST FINISHED READING, RUINED BY THE REICH. THIS WAS
A FASCINATING STORY, AND YET VERY SAD. I DON'T THINK
MOST OF US EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE GERMAN PEOPLE SUFFERING.
THAT POOR GIRL. THE WRITING WAS SO DISTINCT, I FELT IT
WHEN CHRISTEL WAS COLD AND I FELT STARVED WHEN SHE DIDN'T
GET ENOUGH TO EAT. POOR CHRISTEL IS IN OUR PRAYERS.

I HOPE THESE TWO WHO HAVE COLLABORATED SO WELL, ARE
WORKING ON A SCREEN PLAY.

THIS WAS SO VERY WELL TOLD. POOR CRYSTEL IS IN OUR PRAYERS.

The beauty of this story is in the details. What was eaten for breakfast; her first doll; the logistics of evacuating - of loading your possessions and food onto a wagon hitched to a horse in the days before refrigeration and styrofoam coolers. Yes, this story is a tragedy, be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled but intermingled are the happy events such as finding an abandoned cow, hiding it and tasting milk again.The characters are real and the reader cannot help himself from empathizing with the whole village.

After reading Ruined by the Reich it brought to light that everyone suffers during and after war. Unfortunately, to this point, the view of Germans has always been that the whole population were Nazis. From this book we realize that such is not the case and that Germans also encountered horrible and unspeakable acts of terror in their own country. It's important to understand that there are two sides to every story and thanks to the vivid recount by Dan Laing and the strength of Christel Weiss Brandeburg we are presented with the entire picture.

A good book to read!

I have read a few books on this subject so I can't remember any specific thing from this which I know belongs to this book but I remember it was a good book

Probably the most valuable contribution of this book is the list of non-German nationalities represented in the SS, along with the approximate numbers of each nationality thus represented. Irrespective of whether or not all these units were directly involved in anti-Jewish "aktions", they all contributed to the Holocaust by furthering the German war effort and prolonging German rule over Europe. With all of the bad rap Poles get for being almost as anti-Semitic as the Nazi Germans, you would expect that there would be more Poles in the SS than any other non-German nationality. Surprise! There was not a single Polish SS unit in existence! (Though there may have been a few Polish individuals in other SS units, and then mostly Poles of German extraction (Volksdeutsche) as well as those of mixed Polish-German ancestry). Nor is it true that the Germans did not seek Polish collaborators: Early in the war Germans tried to get Polish volunteers as auxilliary staff for the concentration camps, and got not a single applicant. So the Germans could forget about recruiting ethnic Poles for the SS. Although there certainly were "little league" anti-Semites among the Poles, the "big league" anti-Semites were the other European nationalities who supplied volunteers for the SS. It is high time that Holocaust films and popular-level Holocaust educational materials get off the Poles' case and tell it like it ACTUALLY was.

In his book The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War George Stein posits that contrary to the popular belief, the SS was not a homogeneous band of killers that did nothing but persecute the Jews during Hitler's reign and had no real military value. Instead, he suggests that the Waffen SS was a dynamic organization which, in the face of war, evolved into the most highly developed and most efficient militarized army of the Nationalist Socialist movement, playing a role for which it was never intended. According to Stein, it was the SS, not the Nazi party that proved to be the dynamic core of the "movement".
The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War is a very well written book in which Stein sheds light on the often times mysterious and notorious Schutzstaffel. Stein takes us back to its inception and progresses forward through history, showing how the organization's structure and mandate gradually evolved during the Third Reich. Stein reveals the factors which set the Waffen SS apart from the Army, detailing its successes and failures in battle, and the role it played in the military exploits of the Third Reich.
Stein's thesis is broken up into three distinct points which are supported in different sections of the book and then tied together in his conclusion. The first contention of his thesis is that the Waffen SS was a dynamic and ever evolving organization. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the SS grew from 25,000 to 150,000 men. According to Stein this six-fold increase marked the beginning of an expansion that would result in the establishment of the SS as the "fourth branch of the Wehrmacht". Furthermore, Stein maintains that the SS cannot be painted as a uniform institution of terror. Stein acknowledges that the SS was responsible for a large number of the war-crimes committed by the Third Reich but argues that "only a minority of men that passed through the ranks of the Waffen SS were involved in any of the known atrocities" (281). Stein also states that contrary to popular belief, the SS was also quite dynamic in its personnel composition. By 1945, of the 38 SS divisions, none were composed solely of native Germans and 19 divisions consisted primarily of foreign nationals.
The second part of Stein's thesis is that the Waffen SS played a role in WWII for which it was not originally intended. Stein states that the SS was originally designed to be Hitler's elite guard and militarized police force, not the elite combat arm of the Wehrmacht that it evolved into. Stein goes on to say that Hitler only wanted the Waffen SS to be an example for the Army, only fighting on the front now and then to retain the respect of the people. Yet the Waffen SS were relied on more and more as the war progressed, becoming an integral and indispensable part of Hitler's offensive operations. "The Third Reich would have collapsed much sooner had it not been for the elite SS divisions" (293). During the last two years of the war, the Waffen SS fought on all four fronts.
The third and final part of Stein's thesis holds that it was the SS, not the Nazi party that proved to be the dynamic core of the movement. Stein maintains that the SS was tied more to Hitler (All SS personnel swore an oath to Hitler himself) and the movement than to the state or the party like the Army. "It would be more accurate to describe the Waffen SS as the dictator's private army or Praetorian Guard rather than as a party army." (26)
In summary, I think there was a general lack of evidence for his postulation that it was the SS, not the Nazi party that proved to be the dynamic core of the movement, but Stein more than makes up for it in his detailed analysis of the Waffen SS and its changing role in WW2 from an elite guard unit to the highly effecting combat arm of the Wehrmacht.

This volume by George Stein was originally published in 1966. Most of the publication facts are based on the SS and Wehrmacht histories written during the war and supplemented by information from both Hitler's and Himmler's personal records and recordings. At some points you may find that the documentation is a little overwhelming, but most of it is in bottom page notes.

The original formation of the SS (Schutzstaffel-Protection Squad) were the black uniformed elite personal body guard for Adolf Hitler set-up by Heinrich Himmler. It was envisioned as an elite corps that would be the 'police' of the Nazi Party, replacing the less than repudable SD (Brown Shirts). After becoming Chancellor in 1933 the The Waffen-SS (Armed-SS) branch was expanded and divided into three subgroups: the Leibstandarte, Hitler's personal bodyguard; the Totenkopfverbande (Death's Head Battalions), which administered the concentration camps; and the Verfugungstruppen (Disposition Troops).

By the end of the war the Waffen SS had grown to 39 divisions (always under the command of the Wehrmacht). But in reality, only six of the formations were ever a true fighting force mostly made up of German residents of the Reich. Another two or three made up of Volksdeutsch and Western Volunteers in World War II were also considered 'first line' troops. The other formations were made up of Eastern European 'Volunteers' many of whom were ex-POWs or conscripted Volksdeutsch. Some of these formations never fought or came any way near Division strength (15,000) and were as small as battallions (200). What the extra 26 divisions did was spread out needed German officers and equipment.

Beginning with the invasions of the Low Countries and France, the Waffen SS participated in all the major battles of WWII including Stalingrad, Kursk, Normandy and the final battle in Berlin. Hitler used them as his 'Fire Brigade' when he needed immediate help in Italy after the fall of Mussolini, in Normandy after D-Day and as the spearhead of the troops in the 'Battle of the Bulge'. These were the troops that became the fearsome SS-Panzer and Panzergrenadiers that fought with 'abandon' and to the death in so many rearguard battles.

But the Waffen-SS was also seen as the 'peacetime' armed state police. They would be a combination of Carabenari, Prison Camp Guards, Secret Service and FBI. Many of the early Concentration Camp guards, later became members of the 4th-SS Polizeidivision of the Waffen-SS and it wasn't unusual for wounded or disabled Waffen-SS to be transfered to the Concentration Camp Guard troops. As to the massacres at Paladis, Oradur and Malmedy; according to the 'apologists', well 'boys will be boys' and sometimes get 'out of hand'.

Though a lot of work has been done since 1966, this is a great reference work from which to begin.

"Waffen SS-Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939-1945" by George H. Stein is a fabulous work of historical literature. Many an author, popular and academic, has tackled the topic of the SS and Waffen SS but very few have done so in an objective fashion like Stein. Far too many presentations of the Waffen SS have been from apologist and revisionist authors who fail to recognize and/or admit the complicity of portions of the Waffen SS in the atrocities committed in the name of the NSDAP and Adolf Hitler. At the other end of the spectrum are those authors, again large in number, who simply paint ALL that served in the Waffen SS with broad strokes of guilt. Stein captures a story that falls between the extremes and thus is more realistic and truthful, and thus more historically accurate with clear lack of hysterics.

"Waffen SS" begins with a historical perspective on the establishment of the SS [initially the Allgemeine (General)-SS] and formation of the earliest incarnations of the armed SS - initially from the units such as the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" (Hitler's Chancellery Guard) and the SS-Totenkopfverbande (Death's Head Units, early concentration camp guards), to organization of the Waffen SS as war approached. This presentation provides considerable information that allows the reader to connect (or disconnect as appropriate) various components of Himmler's greater SS. This is critical to the process of a reader drawing objective conclusions about guilt of the Waffen SS in non-combatant war crimes.

Stein then spends considerable time discussing the military exploits of the Waffen SS, both early and oft strained integration into the Wehrmacht during the initial phases of the war up to the defeat of France and the AEF, as well as their later fierce and destructive battles fought east across the Soviet Union and their return west in defense. Stein's prose does not fail to convey a picture of a fanatical and determined fighting force. Clearly the Waffen SS (especially the early incarnations that were still volunteer and elite) was an accomplished "army". Stein also discusses how the elite Waffen SS was in later years of the war converted through conscription (mostly) into a hodge-podge of a force that often was worth very little and sometimes more trouble than it was worth.

In the third major section of "Waffen SS" the author presents a clear and concise (without simply rehashing particular atrocities covered in depth elsewhere) description of crimes that can be connected to the Waffen SS, whether directly or indirectly. While crimes can clearly be attributed to battle formations, both combatant- and non-combatant-related, it is also clear from Stein's presentation that a majority of Waffen SS units were not likely involved in such events. This is not to say that Stein presents an apologist view, quite to the contrary - he presents an honest assessment of guilt - the Waffen SS was guilty but it is unfair to claim all units were simply butchers. Yet equally unfair would be a claim that the Waffen SS was simply an army free of guilt. When it comes to connections between the Waffen SS and the holocaust the story is one mostly of semantics. As Stein points out it is beyond doubt that the SS represented the system by which Hitler attempted (and nearly succeeded) to murder all of the European jews and other "Untermensch" (subhumans). It is also clear that many of the units involved were, at least on paper, part of the Waffen SS. Moreover, much of the concentration camp staff turn over was between the camps and the front lines. Yet it is not at all clear that fighting units of the Waffen SS were directly involved in these acts. Thus it becomes an issue of semantics because it depends upon how one defines "Waffen SS". Again this is not to say that Stein presents an apologist view or one of strict and total condemnation. In fact Stein presents a picture in which the facts are presented and the reader is free to define the culprits for themselves.

In the final section Stein gives a very concise and extremely well written summary. This section itself is worth the price of the book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Stein is liberal in his use of sources and yet it also becomes clear that Gerald Reitlinger's "SS: Alibi of a Nation" is one he favors and must feel captures much of the story of the SS (although not in the concise manner in which Stein sets out to do - as he states right up front). This is a five star effort worth a read!!!

Anyone looking for a single volume history of the Holocaust should start with this one. It is not an easy read, but it is informative and works well as a reference book. The table of contents sets up the material well, though it is by no means encyclopedic. The writing is straight forward, allowing the facts to speak so that readers make value judgments for themselves. The starkness of the tone serves as a reminder of how the Third Reich went about its final solution to the Jewish question, business as usual. Those of us who read it as an assigned text for an Issues in the Study of the Holocaust class found it somewhat dry at times, but our own outrage at how an "advanced society" could do such things made up for any tediousness of the book.

My 20 year old copy holds a place of honor on my shelf of frequently used history books.

At a family gathering, a relative of mine asked the question "why didn't the Jews fight back in a more organized way during WWII?" Not having an immediate answer, I went in search of one, which this book supplied. The background of the philosophical underpinnings, as well as the reasons for the way the Jewish community reacted, enhanced my knowledge of the Holocaust immensely, and have led to many other readings. Very accessible.

Although an ocean of material has been written about the Holocaust, this book stands alone. The author has chosen the best way to present the material; by simple factual recitation. No amount of pejoratives would suffice, and even one would cheapen the book. Salut!!!!!!!!

Davidowicz examines the underpinnings of pan-European anti-Semitism, its "legitimization" by the Third Reich, its consequences on the victims, and the awful results masterfully. Especially excellent are the sections on why so little resistance was offered until the end, when resistance was a gesture, not a viable tactic.

You will never forget the first mayor of the Warsaw ghetto, Adam Czerniakow. This book is unforgettable, and earns the highest rating possible.

This work is still considered by many to be one of the best books written about the 'Holocaust.' It goes into great detail explaining the roots of the Nazi, and specifically Hitler's determination to destroy the Jewish people. It shows how the program to destroy the Jews went hand-in- hand with the Third Reich''s overall effort to conquer Europe.
It also goes into great detail describing the destructions and terrible suffering the Jews went through in various communities in Europe.
It in short describes the roots and execution of what is arguably the greatest crime in human history, the deliberate Nazi effort to destroy an entire people, wherever they were on earth.

Hitler. The very name seems to invoke black and white images of a charasmatic madman pushing his country to global domination. But the story goes much deeper than that. His intense hatred of the Jews pushed him to implement his "Final Solution". To exploit and then kill every Jew in Europe before they, in his twisted mind, did the same to every one else.
Thankfully, his "appointed" task was never completed. But not before nearly six million Jews and countless others who either resisted or simply didn't conform to his Ideas of the perfect human were destroyed.
This is the story of those Jews who died and those survived the largest mass murder in recorded history. These are the things they didn't show or talk about in Public School. This book shows the strength and weakness of a people on the edge of anihalation. It doesn't show the Jews as a strong race overcoming their problems, or as a weak race sniveling and grovelling, waiting to die. It shows them as any other group of humans reacting to their circumstances in a wide variety of ways.
This is probably the longest time I have ever spent reading a book. After reading a page or two (especially in the second half of the book), I would generally have to put it down for a few days to read some lighter material. Overall I think it took me about nine to ten months to read. But I would definatly put it in the best books I have read.
So, if you are looking to understand what was happening to the Jews during WW2, or if you are just looking to fill in some of the gaps from history class, then I would heartily recomend this brilliant work.

This is a superbly written and spellbounding book that offers tremendously unique insight into daily life during the short duration of Hitler's "Thousand Year Reich." I and my father, for whom this book was initially purchased, read the book non-stop cover to cover in two nights' of reading. A must read for any student of 20th Century European history and, in particular, WW II Nazi Germany.

This collection of short reminiscences by adult Germans who were children in Nazi Germany at the end of World War II is not quite as captivating as the author's own memoir "German Boy" but it is a fascinating nonetheless. If anything, given its format, this book would be even more accessible for a pre-teen reader than "German Boy."

For me personally, the biggest revelation in these stories is the repeated memory of children of running for cover from strafing fighter planes ("Tiefflieger"). Many of the children in this book mention this experience. Anyone who has seen the PBS documentary "A Fighter Pilot's Story" will find these descriptions of the air war over Europe from the point of view of children walking home from Kindergarten particularly chilling.

I enjoyed reading this book because I am interested in the social aspects of WWII not tactical battle discussions. This book does a good job a telling what happened in post war Germany through a child's eyes... even though the interviewees are now senior citizens.

The extreme hardships and moral dilemmas that faced women and children in an occupied country come to life. The book does an excellent job of illustrating how often women and children become the victims of war. Starvation, begging and rape, become daily events in the lives of once comfortable middle and working class children.

The difference between the kindness of the Americans soldiers and the often cruelty of the Russian forces is a major point. A shortcoming of the book is that no mention (in the narrative) is made of how most Russian soldiers probably came from villages that had been destroyed by Nazi forces (not that this justified their cruelty, but helps to explain it.) Several other books I have read explained how Russian soldiers entering Prussia were shocked at the apparent prosperity of Germany and wondered how they could be so greedy to take over less prosperous Russian land.

The book is well written and worth a read.

The War of Our Childhood is a perfect compliment, perhaps unintended, to German Boy. The trials and tribulations of a boy, which are seen in greater detail in German Boy, appear in lesser detail and intensity throughout the profiles of other children. Yet, in their collective memories a common thread is revealed, a golden thread if you will, of all the positive qualities necessary to succeed. It is most significant that amid the horror and setbacks, and in spite of it, the children behave with prime elements of mental health. There is a common display of flexibility under stress, recognition of individual assets and limitations, and a commendable quality of productive activity. The War of Our Childhood is a showcase of the human spirit at its best. It is beyond admiration that such human spirit appears in children during circumstances that may be unbearable to so many adults.

I purchased this book for my wife who survived the war as a child in Berlin. She said the book was so true and is was difficult to relive the repressed memories of the childhood she was robbed of by the horrors of war. She said the book was a factual and riveting description of events, and she wants our childern to read it. My wife never wanted the children to know what she experienced, but she now feel they probably should know these things.