Through a selection of primary and secondary sources; Death by Design examines the uses of technology during the Holocaust and the specific ways in which scientists; architects; medical professionals; businessmen; and engineers participated in the planning and operation of the concentration and extermination camps that were the foundation of the 'final solution'. The book discusses the overriding intellectual; ethical; and philosophical implications of the Nazi's use of science and technology in their killing operations.
#551694 in Books Marie Jalowicz Simon 2016-05-03 2016-05-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 1.00 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 0316382108384 pagesUnderground in Berlin A Young Woman s Extraordinary Tale of Survival in the Heart of Nazi Germany
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. The unvarnished story of three years hiding in plain sight in wartime BerlinBy Maine Colonial Marie Jalowicz was 17 years old and living in Berlin when Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and began World War II. As a Jew; she was soon kicked out of school and made a forced laborer. Then; in September of 1941; the wearing of the yellow star became mandatory for Jews and within weeks the Nazis began rounding up Berlin’s remaining Jews and deporting them to ghettos and camps in the east.For a short time; Marie lived a sort of half life; ignoring her notices to report for deportation and wearing her star intermittently. Finally; though; on June 22; 1942; two Gestapo agents came to arrest her and she fled. From that date until April 22; 1945; when liberation came to the village she was then living in; Marie lived in at least 17 different places.In some apartments where she took refuge; her host knew she was a Jew gone to ground; someone whom Berliners; with their cynical humor; called a “U-Boat.†Sometimes she pretended otherwise––especially when her host was anti-Semitic––and sometimes she pretended that she had enough of a Jewish background to be a little problematic in Nazi Germany; but not enough to be deported.Marie lived with some people who were kind but never let her forget how generous they were being; some who expected sexual favors in return; some who expected labor; some who didn’t think it necessary to help her obtain any food; even though she had no ration book of her own. Imagine living like that for 34 months. Think about what you were doing nearly three years ago and imagine if you’d been in Marie’s situation from then until now; and you never knew the whole time when or how the situation would change. It’s almost impossible to imagine coming out of that with your sanity.Marie rarely spoke of her experiences; but near the end of her life her son gave her a recorder and tapes and she dictated her story. Her son compiled this book from those tapes.The book includes photos of Marie as a young woman; and she looks so sweet and innocent. But that’s not the voice of this memoir. She is blunt; tough and not afraid to criticize her rescuers or herself. There is a tendency to think that people who harbored Jews were high-minded Nazi resisters; but the truth about their motivations were much more complicated; and that is explored on nearly every page of this memoir. And Marie admits that she hated having to be grateful and that she sometimes unfairly judged some of those who helped her.Considering that this memoir is the result of tape-recorded memories; it’s not surprising that it can be a little hard to follow here and there. It’s actually remarkably straightforward when you consider the source material. Even though Marie presents her history unemotionally; it’s hard not to be emotionally affected by the story.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. A remarkable memoire of great insight.By owletMrs. Simon is brutally honest about herself and the hundreds of people she had to both fear and depend upon. This is a part of the Jewish experience during WWII that I was absolutely unaware of; and it adds a great deal of depth to the picture. Her son says that he fact-checked everyone and every event possible; and that her memory seems; even in advanced age; to be quite accurate. She does not spare herself for the prejudgments she made about others; and she does not describe people in black and white; even in the best there were sordid sides; and even in the worst there were admirable traits. I think this book is well worth reading for anyone who is interested in Jewish history; in world war II history; and/or in human psychology.23 of 25 people found the following review helpful. Riveting I could not put the book down.By Erin NeffTheir book made the life of a girl gone to ground 70 years ago; live again. Marie's struggle to find shelter and food kept me reading until I had devoured the book as I so desperately wanted her to be able to devour a full meal. This truly shows the horror of her days hiding in Berlin.
