Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. xii, 191 pages; 24 cm

Summary

1. "Why were the Germans of all people the perpetrators of the Holocaust? This examination of in-group identity issues and the essence and unique development of Germans' national identity has direct relevance for those who seek an answer to this question. The answer lies in a 'triangle' of the fateful encounter of Germans and their problematic historical development, Nazi race theory, and the success of German Jewry." "The author focuses on weaknesses in German identity which led to the attraction of a blood-based race theory as a national ethos - a narrative of German racial superiority which was invalidated by the very presence and prominence of Jews in German culture and society. Eliminating this 'affront' was an existential issue for Germans that impelled a Judenrein Europe - whether by expulsion or extermination. Such a linkage has been overlooked because scholars have concentrated on the Holocaust as a Jewish experience, with anti-Semitism being deemed primarily responsible. But as this new interpretation of the historical circumstances forcefully indicates, it was the German national experience that was the prime mover in the Holocaust enterprise."--Jacket.

Series statement

1. Heritage, society and national identity in the European Union

Uniform title

1. Heritage, society and national identity in the European Union

Subject

1. 1939-1945
2. National characteristics, German > History
3. Nationalism > Germany > History
4. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) > Causes
5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) > Study and teaching
6. Antisemitism > Germany > History
7. Race > Philosophy > History
8. National socialism > Philosophy
9. Jews, German > History
10. Allemands > Histoire
11. Nationalisme > Allemagne > Histoire
12. Holocauste, 1939-1945 > Causes
13. Holocauste, 1939-1945 > Étude et enseignement
14. Antisémitisme > Allemagne > Histoire
15. Race > Philosophie > Histoire
16. Nazisme > Philosophie
17. Juifs allemands > Histoire
18. Nationalisme
19. National-socialisme
20. Antisémitisme
21. Judaïsme
22. Relations raciales
23. Identité nationale
24. Antisemitism
25. Jews, German
26. National characteristics, German
27. Nationalism
28. Race > Philosophy
29. Study skills
30. War > Causes
31. Nationalbewusstsein
32. Rassentheorie
33. Judenvernichtung
34. Judenvernichtung
35. Antisemitismus > Rassismus > Deutschland > Geschichte
36. Rassismus > Antisemitismus > Deutschland > Geschichte
37. Antisemitism > Germany > History
38. National socialism > Philosophy
39. Allemagne
40. Allemagne RF
41. Germany
42. Deutschland

Genre/Form

1. History

Contents

1. pt. 1. The state of Holocaust studies -- An overview of Holocaust studies and its causes : is there a fundamental scholarly bias? -- The roots : anti-Semitism or German theory of race? -- pt. 2. Fateful triangle : German nationality, race theory, Jews -- The first apex : the problematic nature of the German national identity -- The second apex : race theory reexamined -- The third apex : German Jews -- The fateful triangle : some insights for the future -- pt. 3. German identity in the post-Holocaust era -- German self-image vis-à-vis the Holocaust -- Post-war German structure, attitudes, and identity -- Concluding chapter: Germans, the Holocaust, and German nationality : where do we go from here?

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references (pages 181-187) and index.

Processing action (note)

1. committed to retain