Despite all the thousands of studies of the Holocaust and the rise of Nazi Germany, we still have no satisfactory explanation of why this tragedy occurred in one of the most "civilized" of Western nations. John Weiss's Ideology of Death is the first book to explore the unique nature of German history, showing how it rejected the liberal ideals of the Enlightenment, and to trace the culture of racism and anti-Semitism among powerful elites and ordinary Germans over a long period of German history. In a stunningly lucid narrative, Weiss describes exactly how and why Christian anti-Semitism, in its unique form among German Protestants and Austrian Catholics, reinforced modern secular racism to create an explosive mix. Using the latest research, he details how the Nazis, building on traditional German anti-Semitism, were able to adjust it so as to appeal to a wide variety of social groups-crucial to their electoral success. And he explains the specific complicities of various German groups and institutions in the Holocaust, and why they voluntarily cooperated with the Nazis. In its clarity and compelling argument, Ideology of Death is certain to be one of the most important books for many years to come on the reasons behind the Holocaust.

About the Author
John Weiss's Ideology of Death: Why the Holocaust Happened in Germany was lauded for its balanced interpretation. Mr. Weiss is professor of history at Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and has also written The Fascist Tradition and Conservatism in Europe.

Reviews
Effective. * Booklist *
Illuminating...deserves a permanent place on bookshelves. * Publishers Weekly *
An extremely stimulating and informative work...Weiss has produced a detailed, clearly written account. * Kirkus *
For many readers this book can safely take the place of an entire history. -- Raul Hilberg, author of The Destruction of the European Jews



Book Information
ISBN 9781566631747
Author John Weiss
Format Paperback
Page Count 444
Imprint Ivan R Dee, Inc
Publisher Ivan R Dee, Inc
Weight(grams) 558g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 150mm * 30mm