Jewish Book World
The concentration camp experiences described here are drawn from original sources and those who lived them. The book opens with facing pages of fifteen boxed statements of pivotal points in the history of the Nazi Era from 1919 through 1943 and five photographs. The introduction provides the setting and progression of slander against the Jews, projecting Jews as the cause of all misfortunes fallen upon German citizens, who in turn swallowed Hitler’s lies and the official anti-Semitic propaganda. This resulted in Jews being sent to ghettos and concentration camps ranging from labor to death camps. The graphic photos in this portion show the shriveled, starved prisoners lying on the floor waiting to die, yet there were some who survived to testify against those who had tortured them. This book delivers information and discussions on a variety of topics ranging from deportation and arrival, through descriptions in separate chapters of housing, food, living conditions, forced labor and exploitation of inmates, threats of punishment and death, and, finally, the miracles of survival and liberation. Not only are there photos and maps throughout, but also definitions of the terms used to describe words such as “latrine,” German words, and other words used in the context of this topic, as well as the insertion of personal narratives. There are no “code” words used to soften the facts and some of the photos are gruesomely graphic, particularly the one of piled up emaciated dead prisoners. Included are: Source Notes For Further Research, a lengthy Index and Picture Credits. This is a marvelous introduction to the study of the Holocaust for students ages 11 and up.