Harvest of Despair : Life and Death in Ukraine Under Nazi Rule

"If I find a Ukrainian who is worthy of sitting at the same table with me, I must have him shot," declared Nazi commissar Erich Koch. To the Nazi leaders, the Ukrainians were Untermenschen—subhumans. But the rich land was deemed prime territory for Lebensraum expansion. Once the Germans rid the country of Jews, Roma, and Bolsheviks, the Ukrainians would be used to harvest the land for the master race. Karel Berkhoff provides a searing portrait of life in the Third Reich's largest colony. Under the Nazis, a blend of German nationalism, anti-Semitism, and racist notions about the Slavs produced a reign of terror and genocide. But it is impossible to understand fully Ukraine's response to this assault without addressing the impact of decades of repressive Soviet rule. Berkhoff shows how a pervasive Soviet mentality worked against solidarity, which helps explain why the vast majority of the population did not resist the Germans. He also challenges standard views of wartime eastern Europe by treating in a more nuanced way issues of collaboration and local anti-Semitism. Berkhoff offers a multifaceted discussion that includes the brutal nature of the Nazi administration; the genocide of the Jews and Roma; the deliberate starving of Kiev; mass deportations within and beyond Ukraine; the role of ethnic Germans; religion and national culture; partisans and the German response; and the desperate struggle to stay alive. Harvest of Despair is a gripping depiction of ordinary people trying to survive extraordinary events.

if I Find A Ukrainian Who Is Worthy Of Sitting At The Same Table With Me, I Must Have Him Shot, Declared Nazi Commissar Erich Koch. To The Nazi Leaders, The Ukrainians Were Untermenschen—subhumans. But The Rich Land Was Deemed Prime Territory For Lebensraum Expansion. Once The Germans Rid The Country Of Jews, Roma, And Bolsheviks, The Ukrainians Would Be Used To Harvest The Land For The Master Race.

karel Berkhoff Provides A Searing Portrait Of Life In The Third Reich's Largest Colony. Under The Nazis, A Blend Of German Nationalism, Anti-semitism, And Racist Notions About The Slavs Produced A Reign Of Terror And Genocide. But It Is Impossible To Understand Fully Ukraine's Response To This Assault Without Addressing The Impact Of Decades Of Repressive Soviet Rule. Berkhoff Shows How A Pervasive Soviet Mentality Worked Against Solidarity, Which Helps Explain Why The Vast Majority Of The Population Did Not Resist The Germans. He Also Challenges Standard Views Of Wartime Eastern Europe By Treating In A More Nuanced Way Issues Of Collaboration And Local Anti-semitism.

berkhoff Offers A Multifaceted Discussion That Includes The Brutal Nature Of The Nazi Administration; The Genocide Of The Jews And Roma; The Deliberate Starving Of Kiev; Mass Deportations Within And Beyond Ukraine; The Role Of Ethnic Germans; Religion And National Culture; Partisans And The German Response; And The Desperate Struggle To Stay Alive.

harvest Of Despair Is A Gripping Depiction Of Ordinary People Trying To Survive Extraordinary Events.

isabel Heinemann - Journal Of Modern History

berkhoff Offers A Vivid Account Of What Life Was Like For The Local Population In Nazi-occupied Ukraine. Other Books That Might Embark On Presenting A More Perpetrator-centered View Of The German Occupation Regime And Its Lethal Economic And Extermination Policies In Ukraine Will Have To Meet The High Standards Set By This Impressive Piece Of Victim-centered Historical Analysis.

"If I find a Ukrainian who is worthy of sitting at the same table with me, I must have him shot," declared Nazi commissar Erich Koch. To the Nazi leaders, the Ukrainians were Untermenschen -- subhumans. But their rich land was deemed prime territory for Lebensraum expansion. Once the Germans rid the country of Jews, Roma, and Bolsheviks, the Ukrainians would be used to harvest the land for the master race. Karel Berkhoff provides a searing portrait of life in the Third Reich's largest colony. Under the Nazis, a blend of German nationalism, anti-Semitism, and racist notions about the Slavs produced a reign of terror and genocide. But it is impossible to understand fully Ukraine's response to this assault without addressing the impact of decades of repressive Soviet rule. Berkhoff shows how a pervasive Soviet mentality worked against solidarity, which helps explain why the vast majority of the population did not resist the Germans. He also challenges standard views of wartime eastern Europe by treating in a more nuanced way issues of collaboration and local anti-Semitism. Berkhoff offers a multifaceted discussion that includes the brutal nature of the Nazi administration; the genocide of the Jews and Roma; the deliberate starving of Kiev; mass deportations within and beyond Ukraine; the role of ethnic Germans; religion and national culture; partisans and the German response; and the desperate struggle to stay alive. Harvest of Despair is a gripping depiction of ordinary people trying to survive extraordinary events. "Karel Berkhoff provides a searing portrait of life in the Third Reich's largest colony. Under the Nazis, a blend of German nationalism, anti-Semitism, and racist notions about the Slavs produced a reign of terror and genocide. But it is impossible to understand fully Ukraine's response to this assault without addressing the impact of decades of repressive Soviet rule. Berkhoff shows how a pervasive Soviet mentality worked against solidarity, which helps explain why the vast majority of the population did not resist the Germans. He also challenges standard views of wartime eastern Europe by treating in a more nuanced way issues of collaboration and local anti-Semitism." "Berkhoff offers a multifaceted discussion that includes the brutal nature of the Nazi administration; the genocide of the Jews and Roma; the deliberate starving of Kiev; mass deportations within and beyond Ukraine; the role of ethnic Germans; religion and national culture; partisans and the German response; and the desperate struggle to stay alive."--Jacket Frontmatter Figures (page ix) Preface (page xi) Introduction (page 1) 1 Soviet Ukraine and the German Invasion (page 6) 2. The Reichskommissariat Ukraine (page 35) 3 The Holocaust of the Jews and Roma (page 59) 4 Prisoners of War (page 89) 5 Life in the Countryside (page 114) 6 Conditions in the Cities (page 141) 7 Famine in Kiev (page 164) 8 Popular Culture (page 187) 9 Ethnic Identity and Political Loyalties (page 205) 10 Religion and Popular Piety (page 232) 11 Deportations and Forced Migrations (page 253) 12 Toward the End of Nazi Rule (page 275) Conclusion (page 305) Appendix: Tables (page 317) Abbreviations (page 319) Notes (page 321) Sources (page 439) Acknowledgments (page 445) Index (page 447)