Ordinary germans and the holocaust goldhagen, daniel jonah on. Hitler s willing executioners provides conclusive evidence that the extermination of european jewry engaged the energies and enthusiasm of tens of thousands. A critic at large about daniel jonah goldhagens new book hitler s willing executioners, which holds the german population at large responsible for the. Hitlers willing executioners movies the new york times.
The book, which began as a harvard doctoral dissertation, was written largely as an answer to christopher brownings. But two years ago he provided a scholars validation for the belief that the crime of the holocaust was a uniquely german phenomenon. Im not in the slightest surprised that hitler s willing executioners is a controversial book. This book probably couldve lost 2050 pages and gotten the point across in more clear and concise manner. Any theory that blames the german people and friends for the evil done in their name rather than that. Presenting a brief summary of goldhagens thesis to a class full of high school. Ordinary germans and the holocaust, he argued that not only nazis were the perpetrators of the holocaust. Hitlers willing executioners ordinary germans and the holocaust by daniel jonah goldhagen.
The most important book ever published about the holocaust. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading hitler s willing executioners. Hitlers willing executioners provides conclusive evidence that the. Ordinary germans and the holocaust is a 1996 book by american writer daniel goldhagen, in which he argues that the vast majority of ordinary germans were willing executioners in the holocaust because of a unique and virulent eliminationist antisemitism in german political culture which had developed in the preceding centuries.
His doctoral disseration, which is the basis for this book, won the gabriel a. Willing executioners ordinary men united states holocaust. Hitlers willing executioners by daniel jonah goldhagen reading. Almond award for the best dissertation in the field of comparative politics. Finkelstein rarely has a book with scholarly pretensions evoked as much popular interest as daniel jonah goldhagens study, hitlers willing executioners. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Against much of the literature on the holocaust, my book shifts the focus of the investigation of the holocaust from where it has. Now for the downside, hitlers willing executioners was goldhagens doctoral dissertation i believe and frankly it reads like it. It is an almost textbook example of the dangers of creating a thesis, and then selecting and interpreting evidence to fit that thesis. Goldhagen argues that eliminationist antisemitism was the cornerstone of german national identity, was unique to. A nation on trial the goldhagen thesis and historical truth. His conclusions are simply wrong, and not backed up. In a work that is as authoritative as it is explosive, goldhagen forces us to revisit and reconsider our understanding of the holocaust and its perpetrators.
His thesis is that the germans never overcame the antisemitism that was common to. This groundbreaking international bestseller lays to rest many myths about the holocaust. Ordinary germans and the holocaust kindle edition by goldhagen, daniel jonah. In a work that is as authoritative as it is explosive. What thesis did goldhagen set out to prove with this book. He repeats himself in several places clobbering the reader over the head with the central themes and ideas. Schulkin on goldhagen, hitlers willing executioners.
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