A world without Jews : the Nazi imagination from persecution to genocide

**A groundbreaking reexamination of the Holocaust and of how Germans understood their genocidal project**Why exactly did the Nazis burn the Hebrew Bible everywhere in Germany on November 9, 1938? The perplexing event has not been adequately accounted for by historians in their large-scale assessments of how and why the Holocaust occurred. In this gripping new analysis, Alon Confino draws on an array of archives across three continents to propose a penetrating new assessment of one of the central moral problems of the twentieth century. To a surprising extent, Confino demonstrates, the mass murder of Jews during the war years was powerfully anticipated in the culture of the prewar years. The author shifts his focus away from the debates over what the Germans did or did not know about the Holocaust and explores instead how Germans came to conceive of the idea of a Germany without Jews. He traces the stories the Nazis told themselves—where they came from and where they were heading—and how those stories led to the conclusion that Jews must be eradicated in order for the new Nazi civilization to arise. The creation of this new empire required that Jews and Judaism be erased from Christian history, and this was the inspiration—and justification—for Kristallnacht. As Germans imagined a future world without Jews, persecution and extermination became imaginable, and even justifiable. Why Exactly Did The Nazis Burn The Hebrew Bible Everywhere In Germany On November 9, 1938? The Perplexing Event Has Not Been Adequately Accounted For By Historians In Their Large-scale Assessments Of How And Why The Holocaust Occurred. In This Gripping New Analysis, Alon Confino Draws On An Array Of Archives Across Three Continents To Propose A Penetrating New Assessment Of One Of The Central Moral Problems Of The Twentieth Century. To A Surprising Extent, Confino Demonstrates, The Mass Murder Of Jews During The War Years Was Powerfully Anticipated In The Culture Of The Prewar Years. The Author Shifts His Focus Away From The Debates Over What The Germans Did Or Did Not Know About The Holocaust And Explores Instead How Germans Came To Conceive Of The Idea Of A Germany Without Jews. He Traces The Stories The Nazis Told Themselves-where They Came From And Where They Were Heading-and How Those Stories Led To The Conclusion That Jews Must Be Eradicated In Order For The New Nazi Civilization To Arise. The Creation Of This New Empire Required That Jews And Judaism Be Erased From Christian History, And This Was The Inspiration--and Justification--for Kristallnacht. As Germans Imagined A Future World Without Jews, Persecution And Extermination Became Imaginable, And Even Justifiable-- A New Beginning By Burning Books -- Origins, Eternal And Local -- Imagining The Jews As Everywhere And Already Gone -- Burning The Book Of Books -- The Coming Of The Flood -- Imagining A Genesis -- Epilogue: A World With Jews Alon Confino. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 247-267) And Index. A groundbreaking reexamination of the Holocaust and how Germans understood their genocidal project: "Insightful [and] chilling." — Kirkus Reviews Why exactly did the Nazis burn the Hebrew Bible everywhere in Germany on November 9, 1938? The perplexing event has not been adequately accounted for by historians in their large-scale assessments of how and why the Holocaust occurred. In this gripping new analysis, Alon Confino draws on an array of archives across three continents to propose a penetrating new assessment of one of the central moral problems of the twentieth century. To a surprising extent, Confino demonstrates, the mass murder of Jews during the war years was powerfully anticipated in the culture of the prewar years. The author shifts his focus away from the debates over what the Germans did or did not know about the Holocaust and explores instead how Germans came to conceive of the idea of a Germany without Jews. He traces the stories the Nazis told themselves—where they came from and where they were heading—and how those stories led to the conclusion that Jews must be eradicated in order for the new Nazi civilization to arise. The creation of this new empire required that Jews and Judaism be erased from Christian history, and this was the inspiration—and justification—for Kristallnacht. As Germans entertained the idea of a future world without Jews, the unimaginable became imaginable, and the unthinkable became real. "At once so disturbing and so hypnotic to read . . . Deserves the widest possible audience." — Open Letters Monthly A groundbreaking reexamination of the Holocaust and of how Germans understood their genocidal project Why exactly did the Nazis burn the Hebrew Bible everywhere in Germany on November 9, 1938? The perplexing event has not been adequately accounted for by historians in their large-scale assessments of how and why the Holocaust occurred. In this gripping new analysis, Alon Confino draws on an array of archives across three continents to propose a penetrating new assessment of one of the central moral problems of the twentieth century. To a surprising extent, Confino demonstrates, the mass murder of Jews during the war years was powerfully anticipated in the culture of the prewar years. The author shifts his focus away from the debates over what the Germans did or did not know about the Holocaust and explores instead how Germans came to conceive of the idea of a Germany without Jews. He traces the stories the Nazis told themselveswhere they came from and where they were headingand how those stories led to the conclusion that Jews must be eradicated in order for the new Nazi civilization to arise. The creation of this new empire required that Jews and Judaism be erased from Christian history, and this was the inspirationand justificationfor Kristallnacht. As Germans imagined a future world without Jews, persecution and extermination became imaginable, and even justifiable. Why exactly did the Nazis burn the Hebrew Bible everywhere in Germany on November 9, 1938? The perplexing event has not been adequately accounted for by historians in their large-scale assessments of how and why the Holocaust occurred. In this gripping new analysis, Alon Confino draws on an array of archives across three continents to propose a penetrating new assessment of one of the central moral problems of the twentieth century. To a surprising extent, Confino demonstrates, the mass murder of Jews during the war years was powerfully anticipated in the culture of the prewar years.
 
The author shifts his focus away from the debates over what the Germans did or did not know about the Holocaust and explores instead how Germans came to conceive of the idea of a Germany without Jews. He traces the stories the Nazis told themselves—where they came from and where they were heading—and how those stories led to the conclusion that Jews must be eradicated in order for the new Nazi civilization to arise. The creation of this new empire required that Jews and Judaism be erased from Christian history, and this was the inspiration—and justification—for Kristallnacht. As Germans imagined a future world without Jews, persecution and extermination became imaginable, and even justifiable. "Why exactly did the Nazis burn the Hebrew Bible everywhere in Germany on November 9, 1938? The perplexing event has not been adequately accounted for by historians in their large-scale assessments of how and why the Holocaust occurred. In this gripping new analysis, Alon Confino draws on an array of archives across three continents to propose a penetrating new assessment of one of the central moral problems of the twentieth century. To a surprising extent, Confino demonstrates, the mass murder of Jews during the war years was powerfully anticipated in the culture of the prewar years. The author shifts his focus away from the debates over what the Germans did or did not know about the Holocaust and explores instead how Germans came to conceive of the idea of a Germany without Jews. He traces the stories the Nazis told themselves--where they came from and where they were heading--and how those stories led to the conclusion that Jews must be eradicated in order for the new Nazi civilization to arise. The creation of this new empire required that Jews and Judaism be erased from Christian history, and this was the inspiration--and justification--for Kristallnacht. As Germans imagined a future world without Jews, persecution and extermination became imaginable, and even justifiable"-- Provided by publisher Part I 1933-1938: The Jew as the Origins of Modernity. A New Beginning by Burning Books ; Origins, Eternal and Local ; Imagining the Jews as Everywhere and Already Gone Part II 1938-1941: The Jew as the Origins of Moral Past. Burning the Book of Books ; The Coming of the Flood Part III 1941-1945: The Jew as the Origins of History. Imagining a Genesis Epilogue: A World with Jews.