The fate of Polish Jews under the German occupation has been well documented; but not as much is known about the wartime ordeal of non-Jewish Poles. Phillip Rutherford investigates Nazi policies of "ethnic cleansing" to reveal the striking anti-Polish nature of the crusade to Germanize newly occupied territory and to show that these actions were a dress rehearsal for the Holocaust.Rutherford explores the origin and implementation of Nazi resettlement schemes in occupied western Poland; where Germany sought to reclaim territory for its expanding population by booting out the "ethnically inferior" Poles who had lived there for generations. Focusing on the Wartheland region; he examines four major deportation operations carried out between December 1939 and March 1941; including the day-to-day logistics and actions overseen by the powerful German Central Emigration Office. Drawing on both German archival and Polish-language sources; Rutherford considers a subject often marginalized by historians; but one that underscores the crucial relationship between the Nazis' early anti-Polish actions and their later annihilation of the Jews. He shows in detail when; where; and how the Nazis' operations evolved into a highly efficient "science" of human roundups; expropriated property; and human cargo shipments en masse. Ultimately; the need for forced labor drove the Nazis to deport fewer Poles than they had planned. In light of the unresolved tensions between racial ideology and economic necessity; Rutherford makes a convincing argument that Nazi deportation policy vis-Ã -vis the Poles underwent a steady deradicalization. He concludes that; while the concept of cumulative radicalization seems to lead inevitably to the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question;" it falls short of explaining all Nazi racial policies.Nevertheless; what the Nazis learned about the logistics of deportation at the expense of the non-Jewish population of western Poland was eventually put to horrific use in the mass murder of European Jewry. Without it; it's unlikely that the Holocaust would have proceeded as swiftly as it did. From that perspective; Prelude to the Final Solution provides a chilling portrait of the Nazis' training for genocide.
#2216110 in Books 1998-04-30Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.58 x 1.25 x 6.51l; 1.80 #File Name: 0700608869374 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Superb study in Character and LeadershipBy CustomerLewis Sorley is a US Army and Vietnam War Veteran who has added greatly to our understanding of one of the finest General Officers of the Vietnam era; former Chief of Staff of the Army; Harold K. Johnson. A West Point graduate; General Johnson served in the old "brown shoe army" reminiscent of "From Here to Eternity". He learned how to lead and to manage and direct in an efficient manner. As the operations officer of the Philippines Scouts; he saw Japan run forward and conquer the islands to include the fall of Bataan and his participation in the infamous Bataan Death March. Fortunate to survive; Johnson endures the Japanese "Hell Ships" of POWS being sent to Japan; Korea and Manchuria. Despite an offer to be given a "rest assignment" after release from captivity; Johnson rededicates himself to his profession and his family. His performance as a BN and Regimental Commander in Korea; set him on a path to earning the DSC and General Officer rank. He is given the plum assignment of Commandant of the CGSC in FTLW KS. This exposes him to the JCS and OSD and eventual election as a young Chief of Staff of the Army. Johnson does not like the way AMB. Maxwell Taylor; SECDEF McNamara and Gen. Westmoreland are running the Vietnam War. Ever the professional; he meets every challenge but works to get his Vice CSA; Creighton Abrams into MAC-V. LBJ also has a way of circumventing his JCS advice and Johnson a deeply moral and religious Man; contemplated resigning as CSA. Omar Bradley talks him out of it. A wonderful addition as a biography and a lesson in leadership and character.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Respected Career Officer Pointed Out Vietnam Strategy FlawsBy JP MacA forgotten man in the history of the Vietnam War; General Harold K. Johnson served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff during the run-up to the war and fought against the ill-conceived policies behind it.A highly-decorated officer who had survived three brutal years as a Japanese prisoner; and served as a highly-decorated field commander in Korea; General Johnson saw the error in attempting to fight a war of attrition in Vietnam using draftees. He warned LBJ and Secretary of Defense McNamara that a failure to call up the reserves would result in cannibalizing the American Army in three years. As General Johnson predicted; men and equipment were stripped from Europe and other commands to feed the Vietnam beast. The American Army was transformed into a hollow shell.Told in a linear fashion; Lewis Sorley's narrative follows Johnson's life from rural North Dakota to West Point; through two wars and a grueling peace; to four-star rank. A worthwhile read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Biography of a major figure in LBJ's Prosecution of the Vietnam War.By John M. CooperI got this biography after Westmoreland's. Sorely does a very thorough job. I never knew he had been a POW; and the coverage of this searing experience is excellent. The discussion of Gen. Johnson's many tactical; operational; and strategic difference with Westmoreland really fills in some gaps for me in my research.
