Book cover of The Years of Extermination, 1939 – 1945

Book description

A magisterial history of the Jews in Nazi Germany and the regime's policies towards them in the years prior to World War II and the Holocaust. Written by arguably the world's leading scholar on the subject.

Himself a survivor, Friedlander has been a leading figure in Holocaust studies for decades…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Years of Extermination, 1939 – 1945 as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

With a narrative of just over 650 pages, this is the book for the reader out there who wants it all: the names, the dates, the facts, the figures, the individual experience, and the analysis, all wrapped up in an engrossing, readable narrative. Friedländer’s impeccable scholarship speaks to the historian in me, but, more importantly, it speaks to the humanity in me. When I sat down to read this second volume, I wasn’t struck by how thick it was. I was struck by the magnitude of tragedy that the book represented. For the reader who has read widely on…

From Richard's list on the Holocaust and how humanity failed.

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A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

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