An important; revealing story; exceptionally well told.―Jonathan Yardley; Washington Post Employing the rich testimony of almost three hundred survivors of the slave-labor camps of Starachowice; Poland; Christopher R. Browning draws the experiences of the Jewish prisoners; the Nazi authorities; and the neighboring Poles together into a chilling history of a little-known dimension of the Holocaust. Brutal and deadly in their living and work conditions; these camps represented the only chance of survival for local Jews after the ghetto liquidations of 1942. There they produced munitions for the German war effort while scrambling to survive murderous and corrupt camp regimes and desperately trying to protect children; spouses; parents; and neighbors. When the labor camps closed in the summer of 1944; the surviving Starachowice Jews still had to confront Auschwitz and then the reprisals of anti-Semitic Polish neighbors. Combining harrowing detail and insightful analysis; Browning's history is indispensable scholarship and an unforgettable story of survival. 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations
#164757 in Books Helmut Walser Smith 2003-11-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x .80 x 5.50l; .50 #File Name: 0393325059272 pagesThe Butcher s Tale Murder and Anti Semitism in a German Town
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Mostly about anti-semitismBy sscProvides an in-depth review of anti-semitism in the late 1800s - early 1900s; along with a good review of anti-semitism throughout Europe over the last thousand years or so; along with how anti-semitism has changed and likely causes of those changes. Much of this book does not deal directly with the specific murder; but the atmosphere of that area in that era which impeded the investigation.7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. A Case Study of Anti-Semetism in a German Town before WWIBy Review-O-MaticHelmut Walser Smith's The Butcher's Tale analyzes a town's (Konitz Germany)involvement in anti-Semetic activity in 1900. At the turn of the century Germany is experiencing great progress in the arts; sciences; and they are considered the most literate in the world. Although the education system is the envy of other modern nations during the period; the government unfortunately continues to see the nation's minorities as a problem. Although the Jewish minority has been fully emancipated since Napoleon's invasion; anti-Semitism is still prevalent in Germany. Anti-Semitic sentiments have made their lives difficult; nevertheless; the Jewish community has been able to assimilate themselves into German society and have a voice in larger cities such as Berlin.However in Konitz on March 13; 1900 body parts of a murder young man are found strewn throughout town. Immediately the Jewish community is suspected and anti-Semetic events take place. Walser Smith in The Butcher's Tale investigates the murder of the young man and how it tore the community of Konitz apart. Furthermore; Walser Smith illustrates to his readers the history of anti-Semetism; the place of anti-Semetism in Germany during 1900; and how anti-Semetic sentiments would evolve in Germany's future (particularly under the Third Reich). The book is written extremely well which makes it an easy read (it sucks you into the historical plot much like a novel). In addition; for anyone looking to gain knowledge of how anti-Semetism evolved in Germany or the roots of anti-Semetism this is an excellent opportunity.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good storyBy JBThis was a really good story that had a good perspective on anti-semitism. It was a very engaging story and was something better to read than your average text book on the same topic.
