Language:
English
Year of publication:
2000
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish Studies at the Central European University
Angaben zur Quelle:
1 [1996-1999] (2000) 135-145
Keywords:
Goldhagen, Daniel Jonah
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Historiography
Abstract:
Criticizes the monocausality of Goldhagen's approach to the Holocaust, that attributes to the German people an "eliminationist" antisemitism. Faults Goldhagen for a limited and selective use of sources. Notes that Christopher Browning reached different conclusions based on the same archival material about Police Batallion 101. Stresses that the process by which "ordinary Germans" came to commit murder was more complex than Goldhagen claims and that it included indoctrination of Nazi ideology (especially antisemitism). Goldhagen erases the distinction between genocidal killers and the larger group of those who were discomforted by their role as killers. He ignores those who declined to participate in the killing. His fixation on antisemitism fails to illuminate Nazi killing of non-Jews, as well as non-German collaboration in killing Jews. Stresses that Germans in all circles (even some antisemites) tried to save Jews. There is no evidence that the majority of Germans approved of the Final Solution; more were indifferent or denied the reality. Argues that the German call for total assimilation long before the Holocaust should not be equated with a call to murder the Jews. Goldhagen appears not to notice postwar German antisemitism. His stress on national, ethnic, or genetic factors can lead to a failure to study the historical processes, social structures, and political aspirations of regimes that have engaged in campaigns of genocide and continue to do so.
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