The Death Marches: The Final Phase of Nazi Genocide The Final Phase of Nazi Genocide

From January 1945, in the last months of the Third Reich, about 250,000 inmates of concentration camps perished on death marches and in countless incidents of mass slaughter. They were murdered with merciless brutality by their SS guards, by army and police units, and often by gangs of civilians as they passed through German and Austrian towns and villages. Even in the bloody annals of the Nazi regime, this final death blow was unique in character and scope. In this first comprehensive attempt to answer the questions raised by this final murderous rampage, the author draws on the testimonies of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. Hunting through archives throughout the world, Daniel Blatman sets out to explain—to the extent that is possible—the effort invested by mankind’s most lethal regime in liquidating the remnants of the enemies of the “Aryan race” before it abandoned the stage of history. What were the characteristics of this last Nazi genocide? How was it linked to the earlier stages, the slaughter of millions in concentration camps? How did the prevailing chaos help to create the conditions that made the final murderous rampage possible? In its exploration of a topic nearly neglected in the current history of the Shoah, this book offers unusual insight into the workings, and the unraveling, of the Nazi regime. It combines micro-historical accounts of representative massacres with an overall analysis of the collapse of the Third Reich, helping us to understand a seemingly inexplicable chapter in history. (20101008) From January 1945, In The Last Months Of The Third Reich, About 250,000 Inmates Of Concentration Camps Perished On Death Marches And In Countless Incidents Of Mass Slaughter. They Were Murdered With Merciless Brutality By Their Ss Guards, By Army And Police Units, And Often By Gangs Of Civilians As They Passed Through German And Austrian Towns And Villages. Even In The Bloody Annals Of The Nazi Regime, This Final Death Blow Was Unique In Character And Scope. In This First Comprehensive Attempt To Answer The Questions Raised By This Final Murderous Rampage, The Author Draws On The Testimonies Of Victims, Perpetrators, And Bystanders. Hunting Through Archives Throughout The World, Daniel Blatman Sets Out To Explainto The Extent That Is Possiblethe Effort Invested By Mankinds Most Lethal Regime In Liquidating The Remnants Of The Enemies Of The Aryan Race Before It Abandoned The Stage Of History. What Were The Characteristics Of This Last Nazi Genocide? How Was It Linked To The Earlier Stages, The Slaughter Of Millions In Concentration Camps? How Did The Prevailing Chaos Help To Create The Conditions That Made The Final Murderous Rampage Possible? In Its Exploration Of A Topic Nearly Neglected In The Current History Of The Shoah, This Book Offers Unusual Insight Into The Workings, And The Unraveling, Of The Nazi Regime. It Combines Micro-historical Accounts Of Representative Massacres With An Overall Analysis Of The Collapse Of The Third Reich, Helping Us To Understand A Seemingly Inexplicable Chapter In History. - Publisher. The Concentration Camps, 1933-1944 -- The Circumstances Of Evacuation -- Waves Of Violence And Acts Of Annihilation -- Administrative Chaos And The Last Order -- Murder Is Rampant -- Dead Men Marching -- A Society In Collapse -- Marched Toward Gardelegen -- The Burning Barn -- After The Flames -- The Murderers. Daniel Blatman ; Translated From The Hebrew By Chaya Galai. Originally Published As Les Marches De La Mort. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Co-winner of the Yad Vashem International Book Prize for Holocaust ResearchFrom January 1945, in the last months of the Third Reich, about 250,000 inmates of concentration camps perished on death marches and in countless incidents of mass slaughter. They were murdered with merciless brutality by their SS guards, by army and police units, and often by gangs of civilians as they passed through German and Austrian towns and villages. Even in the bloody annals of the Nazi regime, this final death blow was unique in character and scope.In this first comprehensive attempt to answer the questions raised by this final murderous rampage, the author draws on the testimonies of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. Hunting through archives throughout the world, Daniel Blatman sets out to explain—to the extent that is possible—the effort invested by mankind's most lethal regime in liquidating the remnants of the enemies of the “Aryan race” before it abandoned the stage of history. What were the characteristics of this last Nazi genocide? How was it linked to the earlier stages, the slaughter of millions in concentration camps? How did the prevailing chaos help to create the conditions that made the final murderous rampage possible?In its exploration of a topic nearly neglected in the current history of the Shoah, this book offers unusual insight into the workings, and the unraveling, of the Nazi regime. It combines micro-historical accounts of representative massacres with an overall analysis of the collapse of the Third Reich, helping us to understand a seemingly inexplicable chapter in history. From January 1945, in the last months of the Third Reich, about 250,000 inmates of concentration camps perished on death marches and in countless incidents of mass slaughter. They were murdered with merciless brutality by their SS guards, by army and police units, and often by gangs of civilians as they passed through German and Austrian towns and villages. Even in the bloody annals of the Nazi regime, this final death blow was unique in character and scope. In this first comprehensive attempt to answer the questions raised by this final murderous rampage, the author draws on the testimonies of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. Hunting through archives throughout the world, Daniel Blatman sets out to explain to the extent that is possible the effort invested by mankind's most lethal regime in liquidating the remnants of the enemies of the Aryan race before it abandoned the stage of history. What were the characteristics of this last Nazi genocide? How was it linked to the earlier stages, the slaughter of millions in concentration camps? How did the prevailing chaos help to create the conditions that made the final murderous rampage possible? In its exploration of a topic nearly neglected in the current history of the Shoah, this book offers unusual insight into the workings, and the unraveling, of the Nazi regime. It combines micro-historical accounts of representative massacres with an overall analysis of the collapse of the Third Reich, helping us to understand a seemingly inexplicable chapter in history. - Publisher Blatman writes about the end phase of the German concentration camp system when the Nazis, realizing that they were losing the war, were faced with the enormous problem of what to do with the people being held captive. As these camps were being evacuated, the collapse of the front in Poland and the advance of the Red Army generated frantic waves of flight and the evacuation of millions of civilians and soldiers. The panicky retreat created conditions under which prisoners were murdered in horrific death marches. Gas chambers in faraway camps were no longer in use, and now the slaughters took place on the very doorsteps of ordinary German civilians' homes and in the streets German and Austrian towns. Unknown numbers of ordinary civilians across the dissolving Reich, fearing for the fate of their families and property, participated in the lethal eruption of violence. The book is divided into two sections. The first part provides an detailed overview of the camp system and a thorough chronological treatment of the camp evacuations during the winter of 1944-45 and the spring of 1945. The second part is a case study of the atrocity in the German town of Gardelegen where over 1000 prisoners were murdered, along with about 400 in the surrounding villages. This event serves as a focused example of the breakdown of the evacuation plans at the end of the war. Contents 8 Abbreviations 10 Introduction 14 I. The System Disintegrates 28 1. The Concentration Camps, 1933–1944 30 2. The Circumstances of Evacuation 64 3. Waves of Violence and Acts of Annihilation 86 4. Administrative Chaos and the Last Order 139 5. Murder Is Rampant 168 6. Dead Men Marching 210 II. Criminal Communities 268 7. A Society in Collapse 270 8. Marched toward Gardelegen 295 9. The Burning Barn 338 10. After the Flames 366 11. The Murderers 390 Conclusion 430 Notes 458 Bibliography 540 Acknowledgments 568 Index 572 9780674050495 Harvard University Press From January 1945, in the last months of the Third Reich, about 250,000 inmates of concentration camps perished on death marches and in countless incidents of mass slaughter. Even in the bloody annals of the Nazi regime, this final death blow was unique in character and scope. This work answers the questions raised by this final murderous rampage.