jayfr's review against another edition
5.0
“What is needed is a study that captures the complexity of the camps without fragmenting, and sets them into their wider political and cultural context without becoming reductive. But how to write such a history of the KL?”
― Nikolaus Wachsmann, KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps
The author has succeeded with this hauntingly accurate and beautifully researched history. Covering the start of them when the inmates were political enemies of the swift rising Nazi party to the horror found as they were liberated by the allies at the end of World War II.
Nikolaus Wachsmann holds no punches as he details every part of the camps, mostly dispassionately, as he reveals the true history of them.
I'm going to admit this was difficult to read, I lost count of the amount of times I put it down swearing that I couldn't continue before picking it back up. This is a book that should be compulsory for every student of history to read. We cannot allow anything like this to happen again.
― Nikolaus Wachsmann, KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps
The author has succeeded with this hauntingly accurate and beautifully researched history. Covering the start of them when the inmates were political enemies of the swift rising Nazi party to the horror found as they were liberated by the allies at the end of World War II.
Nikolaus Wachsmann holds no punches as he details every part of the camps, mostly dispassionately, as he reveals the true history of them.
I'm going to admit this was difficult to read, I lost count of the amount of times I put it down swearing that I couldn't continue before picking it back up. This is a book that should be compulsory for every student of history to read. We cannot allow anything like this to happen again.
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
Searingly accurate and deeply researched, this book taught me a lot. I've studied the Nazi terror regime for years, but I learned a huge amount I had not known from this book. The author looks thoughtfully and deeply at the question of why this happened, too, and does not flinch from some very difficult moral questions, which are discussed with insight, balance, and humanity, but no pulled punches. Everyone who thinks it is important to make sure this never happens again, or who wants to honor the victims, should read this book.
hannahrhian's review against another edition
Have had to buy in print form. The kindle version isn’t a good or user friendly reading experience if reading on a phone (might be better on an actual kindle or tablet). Will pick up again when the book arrives.
shachargannot's review against another edition
5.0
Unsurprisingly, this was an incredibly difficult book to read. I felt utterly helpless so often – especially during the middle third of the work for whatever reason. I was so excited to inch towards the end of the war until Wachsmann mentioned how the end of the war saw some of the highest death rates. It also doesn’t help that I now need to start on the next book that takes me back to the beginning of the war. As one professor in my department said, it’s like a never-ending Groundhog Day… in World War II.
Beginning with Dachau in 1945 and working backwards was an absolutely brilliant beginning to KL: A History of Nazi Concentration Camps. We see Dachau as we know it from allied photographs and survivor memoirs, and are taken back in history to see that this was not always the end goal. That, in accordance with Wachsmann’s argument, there was not a straight line from the establishment of the KL system to the mass extermination that we now know as the Holocaust.
Wachsmann’s use of individual stories was incredibly welcome, and I do not think you can – or at least should – tell the history of a genocide without direct testimony of its victims. The fact that there are so many stories we will never know is heart-wrenching (feels like a severe understatement just to write that word). The reliance on those that survived to tell the stories of those that perished is unfathomable, but also the only arsenal we have as historians.
Throughout the work, I had incredible whiplash. Oftentimes, Wachsmann would describe some act of incredible, violent sadism, only to write, “but such acts were an exception in the early days of the KL.” Or, later on, he would describe some act of kindness, and then say “this was the exception.” I understand the importance of shedding light on the different experiences that people had, even if they did not conform to the norm, but as a reader, these were incredibly disorienting.
There is certainly a lot more to say about KL, and a lot has indeed been said about it. I’ll wade slowly into these waters, because they are murky, dark and incredibly disturbing. Sometimes, I wonder why I chose postwar justice as my field of interest. After delving into the atrocities committed in the camp here, I am left wondering if I would ever be satisfied with what happens in a sanitized courtroom miles and sometimes decades later after the SS men and other Nazi leaders have had a chance to drink their schnapps and gaze dreamily at nature, thankful for their contribution to the almost total annihilation of a people.
Beginning with Dachau in 1945 and working backwards was an absolutely brilliant beginning to KL: A History of Nazi Concentration Camps. We see Dachau as we know it from allied photographs and survivor memoirs, and are taken back in history to see that this was not always the end goal. That, in accordance with Wachsmann’s argument, there was not a straight line from the establishment of the KL system to the mass extermination that we now know as the Holocaust.
Wachsmann’s use of individual stories was incredibly welcome, and I do not think you can – or at least should – tell the history of a genocide without direct testimony of its victims. The fact that there are so many stories we will never know is heart-wrenching (feels like a severe understatement just to write that word). The reliance on those that survived to tell the stories of those that perished is unfathomable, but also the only arsenal we have as historians.
Throughout the work, I had incredible whiplash. Oftentimes, Wachsmann would describe some act of incredible, violent sadism, only to write, “but such acts were an exception in the early days of the KL.” Or, later on, he would describe some act of kindness, and then say “this was the exception.” I understand the importance of shedding light on the different experiences that people had, even if they did not conform to the norm, but as a reader, these were incredibly disorienting.
There is certainly a lot more to say about KL, and a lot has indeed been said about it. I’ll wade slowly into these waters, because they are murky, dark and incredibly disturbing. Sometimes, I wonder why I chose postwar justice as my field of interest. After delving into the atrocities committed in the camp here, I am left wondering if I would ever be satisfied with what happens in a sanitized courtroom miles and sometimes decades later after the SS men and other Nazi leaders have had a chance to drink their schnapps and gaze dreamily at nature, thankful for their contribution to the almost total annihilation of a people.
fourtriplezed's review against another edition
5.0
While reading this harrowing but ultimately fascinating history of the KL system a newly elected senator made a speech to the Australian Senate saying “….the final solution to the immigration problem of course is a popular vote” As was pointed out to him at the time the use of the phrase by Nazi Germany had certain connotations that do not bear thinking about. The newly elected senator was unrepentant and defended the phrases use. At the time I was saddened to think that in this day and age a senator from a minor political faction had had to resort to the outrageous to get attention.
With that incident in mind, and reaching the end of this book, I am now of the opinion that the entire KL system and all the consequences of its existence must be part of the education curriculum in Australia. It is a historical event that must be told and understood.
With that in mind this may not be the book to be part of that curriculum and that is not criticism. The reality is that this amazing work of scholarship is for the individual that is aware of the Holocaust and the treatment of those that the Nazis deemed as enemies of their moribund ideology. The depth of research is superb. The mix of analysis, statistics and first-hand accounts make a compelling, though very tough read. I admit to having a rest several times from when I first began this in early May to finishing now in late September. The subchapter "Killing the Weak" was profoundly mind numbing and I repeat what I have said before to others, man's inhumanity to his fellow man never ceases to amaze. As I get older I am still none the wiser.
Author Wachsman has written his history in chronological order. I found his footnotes excellent and was constantly scurrying to research the new information covered in this book. There is a very good abbreviations section to assist with the various acronyms. The sources section covers archival, electronic and printed sources and if at this point in time I wished to read further on the subject it would be the ideal resource to refer to.
To quote goodreads friend Sharn ‘I cannot recommend this book highly enough, though it is of course with a heavy heart. Monumental.’ With that I also recommend Sharn’s superb review that has articulated this brilliant tome far better than I could ever conceive.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1295690066?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
With that incident in mind, and reaching the end of this book, I am now of the opinion that the entire KL system and all the consequences of its existence must be part of the education curriculum in Australia. It is a historical event that must be told and understood.
With that in mind this may not be the book to be part of that curriculum and that is not criticism. The reality is that this amazing work of scholarship is for the individual that is aware of the Holocaust and the treatment of those that the Nazis deemed as enemies of their moribund ideology. The depth of research is superb. The mix of analysis, statistics and first-hand accounts make a compelling, though very tough read. I admit to having a rest several times from when I first began this in early May to finishing now in late September. The subchapter "Killing the Weak" was profoundly mind numbing and I repeat what I have said before to others, man's inhumanity to his fellow man never ceases to amaze. As I get older I am still none the wiser.
Author Wachsman has written his history in chronological order. I found his footnotes excellent and was constantly scurrying to research the new information covered in this book. There is a very good abbreviations section to assist with the various acronyms. The sources section covers archival, electronic and printed sources and if at this point in time I wished to read further on the subject it would be the ideal resource to refer to.
To quote goodreads friend Sharn ‘I cannot recommend this book highly enough, though it is of course with a heavy heart. Monumental.’ With that I also recommend Sharn’s superb review that has articulated this brilliant tome far better than I could ever conceive.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1295690066?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
bkish's review against another edition
5.0
This book is brilliant and devastating like a knife that cuts through to the core which is rotten yet the knife is superb. It is Especially relevant now with the GOP candidate Mr. Trump and his followers. Its the same rage and hatreds and punishments. Also relevant is the view of manhood masculinity that is prime through Third Reich and with Mr Trump and his attitudes. If I can finish this book I will applaud myself cause its raw raw raw...
I did read KL a History of the Nazi Concentration Camps and I wrote to the author researcher Professor in UK and he answered me. This was a ten year successful effort.
It is a painful read.
I did read KL a History of the Nazi Concentration Camps and I wrote to the author researcher Professor in UK and he answered me. This was a ten year successful effort.
It is a painful read.
nikaz98's review against another edition
5.0
It is difficult to give such a book a rating. This books leaves you with a thorough understanding of the working and development of the Concentration Camps. It shows that the Camps cannot be portrayed in a homogenous way and that even one camp had different identities over the course of time. It was a difficult read but it has left me with a deeper understanding of the camps, the victims and perpetrators
molli526's review against another edition
5.0
Very well written with so much information. Excellent book.
shawnwhy's review against another edition
5.0
WOW, didnt think that it was possible, but I think this is more depressing than Applebaum's Gulag book. its very rich detail, and revisits Wiezel and Levi quite a bit, for me, this kind of demystifies the SS from this elite mysterious hyper-educated secret society that usually is portrayed in the movies, to just people rised above their quality , brutish, crass and self serving. The capo system of the self governing of the prisoners described by Eli Weizel, is expanded upon to a great extent, and its quite interesting to read about the drama and hardships in this particular microcosm. usually the camp memoirs of pows ends with the a scenario, in which the survivors go a daring escape and see horse mounted silhouettes in the distance, they immediately thought it was the guards there to bring them back, and the thoughts fill them with dread. as the horse men come closer, they see their uniform and they are the officers of the red army, there to liberate them.. this, like Eli weizel, does not even end on that higher note, but it turns out alot of the survivors end up in the Gulags and die under the soviet reign.....