A renowned historian and Resistance fighter ― later executed by the Nazis ― analyzes at first hand why France fell in 1940. Marc Bloch wrote Strange Defeat during the three months following the fall of France; after he returned home from military service. In the midst of his anguish; he nevertheless "brought to his study of the crisis all the critical faculty and all the penetrating analysis of a first-rate historian" (Christian Science Monitor). Bloch takes a close look at the military failures he witnessed; examining why France was unable to respond to attack quickly and effectively. He gives a personal account of the battle of France; followed by a biting analysis of the generation between the wars. His harsh conclusion is that the immediate cause of the disaster was the utter incompetence of the High Command; but his analysis ranges broadly; appraising all the factors; social as well as military; which since 1870 had undermined French national solidarity. "Much has been; and will be; written in explanation of the defeat of France in 1940; but it seems unlikely that the truth of the matter will ever be more accurately and more vividly presented than in this statement of evidence." ― P. J. Philip; New York Times Book Review "The most wisdom-packed commentary on the problem set [before] all intelligent and patriotic Frenchmen by the events of 1940." ― D. W. Brogan; Spectator
#323950 in Books Miron Dolot 1987-06-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.40 x .70 x 5.00l; .51 #File Name: 0393304167248 pagesExecution by Hunger The Hidden Holocaust
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. An Incredibly Personal Account of the HolodomorBy Senor ViernesI became aware of the Holodomor in Ukraine for the first time some years ago after watching Glenn Beck's documentary; The Revolutionary Holocaust. As an American and a product of the public education system; I have always been very well informed about the Holocaust and the many crimes of Nazi German; in contrast; the brutality of the Soviets has never been emphasized as much.This book has been on my wish list for some time. Finally I took the plunge and bought it a few days ago. I read the whole thing today. From the first word; Execution by Hunger is incredibly gripping; personal; and haunting.At the beginning; the author is just another Ukrainian peasant-boy. He briefly gives an account of what seems to have been a somewhat difficult but overall wonderful life as a child born in a farming village in Ukraine. Things quickly go downhill; however; as the communists impose increasingly counter-productive and draconian laws. Exorbitant taxation and dismal political decisions make life difficult for many people; but nothing could foreshadow the devastation to come.I won't comment very much on the horrific and traumatizing nature of the author's recollections of his experiences in the Holodomor. Needless to say; I found them very poignant; to say the absolute least.What I am left with after having finished this book is the sheer scandal that not only is there no happy ending for the millions of innocent dead--from starvation; from being sent to Siberia or other concentration camps--there is no justice. Few people outside of Ukraine are aware of the Holodomor; and although the USSR has fortunately found itself in the scrap heap of history; its bloodsoaked legacy is not as thoroughly condemned as it ought to be.Now that I have a much greater understanding of the terrors of the Holodomor; I feel that my conscience is clear; as I know know what exactly happened in that terrifying time. I sincerely thank the author for taking a painful voyage through his memories to share what happened in the Ukraine with the rest of us; and I can only hope that the people of the world will not allow such things to happen again.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Valuable History LessonBy Michael E. MartinThis is a recollection of the Ukrainian famine of the early 1930's. Detailed and clearly written from the perspective of a young boy; it provides a disturbing view of a peaceful village and its people destroyed by the policies of the Communist government. Without examining the motivations and character of the government officials and their policies; the author offers a number of valuable lessons that can be applied to our current economic and political process. We see how bad policy creates problems that are not acknowledged and only lead to even more destructive policy. Increasing attacks on a class of people who are supposedly enemies of the greater good simply serve to expand the power of government. Unfair taxes destroy any possible incentive to be productive; Harsh penalties for crimes of opinion and self-preservation destroy families and ultimately the social fabric that holds a community together.For those wishing to know more about the Stalin era and get a better understanding of the conflicts that eventually fueled World War II; this is an excellent introduction. It isn't a book about politics or economic theory; it is simply a description of how those politics and misguided economic processes impact people in an unimaginably horrific way.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. A lesson in survivalBy MultireaderImagine living where possessing; buying; and hunting food; or even scavenging garbage; is illegal; and the fact that you are not sufficiently starved means you are "stealing from the state." Imagine daily visits by the authorities to tear your house apart looking for food to confiscate; and being imprisoned or worse if any is found. Imagine having everything you've grown to get through the winter confiscated by government officials; then burned. This harrowing first-person account written by a survivor of the Ukraine Terror Famine of 1929-1933 is difficult to read and even more difficult to comprehend. But it is something that must not be forgotten. It is an object lesson in what happens when ideology becomes more important than reality.
