When Hitler marched into Austria in March 1938, he was given a rapturous reception. Millions lined the streets and filled the squares of Vienna. Tobias Portschy, a self-appointed regional Nazi chief, considered what to give the Fuhrer for his birthday, and devised a particular gift from the Austrian people: the elimination of Jewish life in the Burgenland, picturesque farming country about 70 km south-east of Vienna. Eichmann took note of the brutal methodology. The Holocaust had begun. Burgenland is an astonishing survey of Jewish history in Central Europe, an account of the opening salvo of what turned into the systematic industrial-scale genocide of European Jewry, a stern examination of British policy and the world's wholly inadequate response. It is also a deeply personal memoir and family history. Impeccably researched and hugely ambitious in scope, it narrates the full arc of the Jewish experience in Central Europe over 300 years, following the lives of one family who played a significant part in events described, from the struggle for civil liberties to the resistance to fascism and the rise of Zionism. David Joseph has dissected an uncomfortable history, and the results demand a substantial reassessment of the orthodox narrative around the Holocaust both in Britain and in Austria.

About the Author
David Joseph studied law at the University of Cambridge. He is a practising KC and sits on the board of a leading organisation tackling anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom. The research for Burgenland took him across the world, uncovering a substantial quantity of primary source material including letters, diaries and archived documents not previously examined.

Reviews
'What an extraordinary achievement. A story told with passion and adamantine dedication. David Joseph takes the reader with great tenderness on an absolutely heart-breaking journey of discovery.' -- Edmund de Waal CBE, author of The Hare with Amber Eyes
'This is a totally gripping book. Deeply moving, utterly engaging and profoundly important.' -- Rob Rinder MBE
'Highly recommended. An exceptionally researched family story which shines an uncomfortable light on the grotesque reality of the Holocaust and particularly those who stood by as the horrors unfolded.' -- Laura Marks OBE, Chair of the Trustees, Holocaust Day Memorial Day Trust
'Throughout this book, it is impossible to ignore the struggle and persecution that Jewish people have faced in Europe for centuries, and still face today.' -- History of War Magazine, September 2023
'Indeed, the struggles of those expelled from Burgenland are at times di cult to read about, but all the more valuable for this since this is a story that must not be forgotten and is a warning to present and future generations.' -- Family Tree Magazine, September 2023



Book Information
ISBN 9781398116931
Author David Joseph
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 675g