Language:
English
Year of publication:
2006
Titel der Quelle:
Yad Vashem Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
34 (2006) 7-43
Keywords:
Hitler, Adolf,
;
National socialism Philosophy
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Historiography
;
Antisemitism History 20th century
;
Jews History 1939-1945
;
Europe History 20th century
Abstract:
Argues that Hitler's role was decisive and indispensable to the unfolding of the Final Solution. Hitler's obsession with the "Jewish question" (in recorded political statements from 1919 on), especially with the idea that the Jews were guilty of unleashing the two world wars, excludes the theory that the radicalization of Nazi policy toward the Jews from 1939 to 1945 could have taken place without the Führer's orders. Dwells on Hitler's "prophecy" of 30 January 1939 - far from being a rhetorical phrase, it provided a guideline for action and was often referred to and quoted by Nazi leaders who determined the course of the genocide of the Jews. Surveys works of historians dealing with the origins of the Final Solution, criticizing the functionalist approach which, inter alia, dismisses Hitler's role in making the crucial decision and in defining the policy of mass murder of Jews.
Note:
An Italian version appeared as "Il ruolo di Hitler nell'Olocausto" in "Storia della Shoah" I (2005) 525-551, and in the compact version: "Storia della Shoah; la crisi dell'Europa, lo sterminio degli ebrei e la memoria del XX secolo. Vol. II" (2006) 75-105.
,
In Hebrew:
,
"יד ושם; קובץ מחקרים" לד (תשסו) 5-34
URL:
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