The Holocaust

Archival Summary & Scope

Laurence Rees, drawing on 25 years of research and interviews with Holocaust survivors and perpetrators, presents a uniquely accessible and authoritative account. Combining never-before-seen eyewitness testimony with the latest academic research, Rees clarifies the Holocaust's origins, grotesque mentality, and chaotic development. He meticulously examines the Nazi state's decision-making, revealing the series of escalations that culminated in genocide. Rees argues that while antisemitism fueled Nazi thinking, a complete understanding must include the systematic murder of Jews alongside the disabled, Sinti, Roma, and millions of Soviet civilians. This chronological, intensely readable narrative offers a compelling new perspective on history's worst crime.