The Holocaust: Understanding and Remembering (Issues in Focus)

Strahinich, Helen

ISBN 10: 0894907255 ISBN 13: 9780894907258

Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc, 1752

Synopsis

Discusses the circumstances leading up to and the brutal realities of the murder of millions of Jews and others by the Nazis

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Reviews

Grade 6 Up?This fine volume contains straightforward prose that defines terms within context and leads readers chronologically from Hitler's rise to power, through the devastation of the Holocaust, to its aftermath. The text consistently examines hard-to-answer questions such as: Why did so many Jewish people remain in Germany? Why didn't the German people do anything to save their Jewish citizens? What were the roots of anti-Semitism? The clean layout helps make difficult ideas and information comprehensible, and includes clear maps, appropriate black-and-white photographs, and crisp charts. The book is extensively footnoted and clearly indexed. Particularly instructive is the section on how the Jews of different countries such as Italy and the Netherlands fared. In addition, this book discusses other groups of people whom the Nazis persecuted: the Gypsies, the Polish elite, homosexuals, etc. Information about famous "righteous gentiles" such as Oskar Schindler and less-familiar individuals is also presented. Appropriate for school assignments or for general interest.?Lisa Von Drasek, Brooklyn Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 6^-10. Written in a direct, simple style, this volume in the Issues in Focus series is an informed introduction to the Nazi genocide. Strahinich does an excellent job of outlining the history and the crucial issues, including the roots of anti-Semitism, the rise of Hitler, the roundups, the ghettos, the death camps, and the Nuremberg trials. There is a detailed chapter on the non-Jewish victims and an inspiring account of the rescuers. Everything is fully documented in chapter notes at the back, and there are many well-captioned archival photos throughout. The only unsatisfactory chapter is the final one on "Lessons," where, though there's general talk of contemporary hate crimes and prejudice, just about all the examples relate only to the Jews. Still, combined with the Facing History and Ourselves curriculum, this would make a good classroom introduction to the Holocaust, a subject that is now a required part of the social studies curriculum in many states. A brief bibliography of adult and YA titles, a glossary, and a list of Holocaust museums in North America are appended. Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc
• Publication date: 1752
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0894907255
• ISBN 13: 9780894907258
• Binding: Library Binding