Scan barcode
A review by simont24
Auschwitz, The Nazis and The 'Final Solution' by Laurence Rees
5.0
A very sad and depressing book but one that, I think, everyone needs to read.
The author himself puts it best in the closing pages: "Soon the last survivor and perpetrator from Auschwitz will have joined those who were murdered at the camp. There will be no one on this earth left alive who has personal experience of the place. And when that happens there is a danger that this history will merge into the distant past and become just one terrible event amongst many...but that should not be allowed to happen. We must judge behaviour by the context of the times. And judged by the context of mid-twentieth century, sophisticated European culture, Auschwitz and the Nazi's 'Final Solution' represent the lowest act in all of history.
The author himself puts it best in the closing pages: "Soon the last survivor and perpetrator from Auschwitz will have joined those who were murdered at the camp. There will be no one on this earth left alive who has personal experience of the place. And when that happens there is a danger that this history will merge into the distant past and become just one terrible event amongst many...but that should not be allowed to happen. We must judge behaviour by the context of the times. And judged by the context of mid-twentieth century, sophisticated European culture, Auschwitz and the Nazi's 'Final Solution' represent the lowest act in all of history.