Summary Of War And Genocide

In the work, War & Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust, Doris Bergen presents a study on the Holocaust that is well-rounded historically, encompassing aspects of society, politics, and military. Furthermore, Bergen uniquely covers many other areas and peoples targeted by the Nazi Regime as well, including the disabled, the Roma, Sinti, and Slavic people, and homosexuals. Although many historians have covered the Holocaust, and World War II and Nazism, Bergen’s work offers clear and distinct coverage that aids the scholar in identifying the political and social settings of the Holocaust and bringing to life the very real people that experienced the Nazi Regime firsthand. In point of fact, Bergen’s own admission is that this was “an
She opens this narrative with an explanation of her intention, that World War II, the Holocaust, and the worldviews circulating through the German and European societies was not an explosion of ideas that suddenly burst on the scene, but rather something that “happened step-by-step,” and that World War II provided the ability for the Holocaust to happen. Though her work she gives a large picture of the Germany and the Holocaust, as the title describes, it is a concise treatment of the information and history that surrounded the event. It would seem much harder, too, to encompass all of the history in such a short book. This conciseness, however, does not detract from the importance of the information, and it does not weaken the accounts of witnesses that she utilizes. Bergen also uses scholarly and respected sources, sources which are numerous and comprehensive, providing credence and authority to her
She provides a brief glimpse into Hitler’s world through a succinct biography and correctly conveys the important facts concerning Hitler’s time in Vienna. This period of life for Hitler would prove extremely important in the formation of his worldview and Bergen gives an excellent summary of what the political atmosphere of Vienna was at the time that Hitler lived there, as well as a great depiction of just how Vienna changed and challenged Hitler. It is true that Social Darwinism, anti-Semitism, and ultra-nationalism were becoming well-developed in Hitler’s Vienna, however, it does seem as if Bergen could have fleshed this information out a little more. Constructively, however, she includes details such as the propaganda and literature that was popular at the time, helping to establish a clearer understanding of Hitler’s