Belzec was the prototype death camp and precursor of the killing centers of Sobibor and Treblinka. Secretly commissioned by the highest authority of the Nazi State; it acted outside the law of both civil and military conventions of the time. Under the code "Aktion Reinhardt"; the death camp was organized; staffed and administered by a leadership of middle-ranking police officers and a specially selected civilian cadre who; in the first instance; had been initiated into group murder within the euthanasia program. Their expertise; under bogus SS insignia; was then transferred to the operational duties to the human factory abattoir of Belzec; where; on a conveyor belt system; thousands of Jews; from daily transports; entered the camp and after just two hours; they lay dead in the Belzec pits; their property sorted and the killing grounds tidied to await the next arrival. Over a period of just nine months; when Belzec was operational Galician Jewry was totally decimated: 500;000 lay buried in the 33 mass graves. The author takes the reader step by step into the background of the "Final Solution" and gives eyewitness testimony; as the mass graves were located and recorded. This is a publication of the "Yizkor Books in Print Project" of JewishGen; Inc 376 pages with Illustrations. Hard Cover
#89855 in Books Ghiglieri; Michael P./ Farabee; Charles R. 2007-03-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 5.50 x 1.25l; #File Name: 0970097360608 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A must read if you are planning a visit to the Grand Canyon..so you don't make the same mistakesBy Sandra L. TaylorOne of are all time favorite books. We have bought 3 at this point cause friends borrow them; and they never come back...16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Off the Wall: Death In YosemiteBy Land LubberThis book was written by a retired National Park Ranger who well documented all the knownfatalities that have occurred over the last 150 years within the Yosemite Park boundaries.The text is divided into chapter categories such as:WaterfallsBase JumpingSnowAircraft DownFalls While HikingDrowningLostMurderHomicide.Each chapter gives what amounts to a study on select events within the category and then providesa full summary of the fatalities within that category at the end of the chapter which includesincidents that were not fully described in the case study.The style of writing is not dry at all andincludes hints of sarcasm or humor where appropriate. For example; one woman was killed while illegallyBASE jumping (parachuting) off of a cliff. The event was advertised and the Park Service knew of it inadvance because the event was a "protest" to demonstrate the "safety" of BASE jumping. The author pointsout the irony that the woman DIED as she attempted to protest the "unnecessary" prohibition against asport she felt was "safe." The text even provides eye witness recollections of the final words peopleuttered as they slipped to their deaths (you can guess a few of those words).Details of the deaths can sometimes be grusome; but there is only one photo in the entire book and that is onthe front cover. (A man who starved to death in the 1930's after being trapped by an early winter storm).The book is actually an excellent source of wilderness education. If you are the type of person who learns fromthe mistakes of others; you will benefit by reading the book. Or; if you are simply unaware that people actuallyget LOST in Yosemite Park and are never heard from again; it is an eye opener. And for those among us who thinkthat a National PARK is safe to behave without concern of one's behavior; the book will explain that theterm PARK is nothing more than a bureaucratic title for what can be a dangerous wild area.I had one friend reject the concept of reading the book as "not being a positive activity." Its people likehim who falsely think that going through life is a matter of "being positive" rather than being well informed.Its people like him who get lost and then can't extract themselves from danger despite being a "positive thinker."I recommend the book for adult or young adult reading and give it a 5 Star rating.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book has been a great read and really does call to attention how to ...By ElizabethThis book has been a great read and really does call to attention how to be much safer outdoors; not just at Yosemite. Entertaining read with good detail and nice recap at the end of each section. Really fascinating especially if you've been to Yosemite and hiked many of the trails discussed.
