Language:
English
Year of publication:
1990
Titel der Quelle:
History and Memory; Studies in Representation of the Past
Angaben zur Quelle:
2,1 (1990) 84-110
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Historiography
;
National socialism Historiography
;
Jews History 1933-1945
;
Jewish councils History 20th century
Abstract:
Examines historiographical approaches to Nazism and the Holocaust, contending that the usual methodological approaches are insufficient when it comes to fathoming the universal historical significance of National Socialism. Historians write about it either from the perspective of the perpetrators or that of the victims. Although National Socialism has been described as a "historical crisis", it seems to have left no visible changes in the rationally organized structure of civilization. Contends that historiography must relate to the experiences of the "Judenräte", which were both victims and perpetrators at the same time, to understand the universal significance of Nazism and the nature of the "historical crisis" - the nullification of that rationality of action oriented toward traditional and universally accepted notions of evil. Society and its functioning is based on that rationality of action, and therefore society and historians tend to relegate the core event of National Socialism - nullification of rationality - to oblivion.
Note:
Appeared also in his "Beyond the Conceivable" (2000) 160-172.
URL:
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