Donald Bloxham Livres

When the Allies decided to try German war criminals at the end of World War II they were attempting not only to punish the guilty but also to create a record of what had happened in Europe. This ground-breaking new study shows how Britain and the United States went about inscribing the history of Nazi Germany and the effect their trial and occupation policies had on both long and short term 'memory' in Germany and Britain. Donald Bloxham here examines the actions and trials of German soldiers and policemen, the use of legal evidence, the refractory functions of the courtroom, and Allied political and cultural preconceptions of both 'Germanism' and of German criminality. His evidence shows conclusively that the trials were a failure: the greatest of all 'crimes against humanity' - the 'final solution of the Jewish question' - was largely written out of history in the post-war era and the trials failed to transmit the breadth of German criminality. Finally, with reference to the historiography of the Holocaust, Genocide on Trial illuminates the function of the trials in perpetuating misleading generalizations about the course of the Holocaust and the nature of Nazism.

The book delves into the Armenian genocide of 1915-16, where around one million Armenian Christians were killed by the Ottoman government. It explores the reasons behind this atrocity and examines the historical context that has led to its neglect in recognition. Donald Bloxham presents a fresh interpretation that situates the genocide within the broader framework of international history, shedding light on its significance and the enduring impact of its denial.

Challenging traditional narratives surrounding the Holocaust, this book critiques existing scholarship and highlights overlooked aspects of the tragedy. It emphasizes the need for a more nuanced understanding by addressing silences and simplistic interpretations in the literature. The author proposes innovative approaches to studying the Holocaust, aiming to deepen our comprehension of its complexities and implications.

This innovative history challenges the isolationist view of the Holocaust, arguing it should be understood within a broader context of European genocide. Bloxham examines Nazi policies towards various groups and compares them to other genocides, emphasizing that the Holocaust cannot be explained solely by Nazism or antisemitism.