The Holocaust in Hungary

This book is special because the sources it presents are not only explained in the footnotes but contextualized by an introduction that provides commentary. . . .The diversity of sources is particularly remarkable. Official pronouncements, decrees, and reports by perpetrators are contrasted with primary sources that show the victims’ perspective: appeals and assessments by Jewish communities, personal writings (letters, diaries). By including a broad range of the contemporary perceptions of non-Jews the authors also document the (all too often apathetic) knowledge about the crimes committed against the Hungarian Jews. . . .[The book] presents history and historic sources in a very gripping and multi-faceted manner. Readers are not only introduced to the history of the Holocaust in Hungary, but also to the sources with their innumerable aspects and perspectives (perpetrators and victims, official declarations and private accounts). The volume is thus not only useful for Holocaust researchers, but also for classroom teaching and self-study. * Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft *
As a whole, the book is a very significant contribution to the topic of the Holocaust in Hungary, which is relatively underrepresented in research literature about the Holocaust in English. It deals with the most central topics in depth and brings a rich panorama of documentation. Important concepts and persons appear in the text in bold type and the reader can find basic information about them in the rich glossary. The chronology that concludes the book is another helpful tool that orients this complicated historical narrative. * H-Judaic *
[T]he book is a very significant contribution to the topic of the Holocaust in Hungary, which is relatively underrepresented in research literature about the Holocaust in English. It deals with the most central topics in depth and brings a rich panorama of documentation. Important concepts and persons appear in the text in bold type and the reader can find basic information about them in the rich glossary. The chronology that concludes the book is another helpful tool that orients this complicated historical narrative. * H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online *
This volume...promises to “present original historical documents on the Holocaust within an explanatory narrative”. [The authors] - representatives of a talented new generation of Hungarian historians - certainly deliver and provide a carefully researched and masterfully crafted account of the tragic fate of Hungary’s once thriving Jewish community. . . .The volume has an extremely useful introduction. After reading it, even those unversed in the complexities of this tragic chapter of Hungarian history have the necessary information to proceed to the ten thematically and chronologically organized following chapters. . . .Amidst Hungarian controversies over commemorations, awards, and statues—and the general politicization of the Holocaust in Hungary—there has been and, as the present volume clearly indicates, continues to be quality work done on the topic. This reviewer would love to see more made accessible to English-speaking audiences. This outstanding volume will undoubtedly be much welcomed by scholars and students of the Holocaust and of Hungarian history. * Austrian History Yearbook *
The Holocaust in Hungary: Evolution of a Genocide is perhaps the most significant volume in the Documenting Life and Destruction: Holocaust Sources in Context series. Beyond featuring select sources that are made available in English for the first time, this book offers an incisive analysis on how the Holocaust in Hungary ‘came about, what drove it, and what it meant for those who were targeted.’ [The book] is not only an immensely useful collection of primary documents that traces the various life trajectories of their authors to great effect, but it also provides an up-to-date overview of its subject. It . . . is a seminal volume that greatly enriches Holocaust historiography. * Yad Vashem Studies *
An unusually rich and variegated account of the Holocaust in Hungary that has much to offer both to the uninitiated reader and the seasoned historian. This well-crafted work will enable both students and scholars to better understand and relate the events of the last century in East-Central Europe to larger themes in European history. -- Holly Case, Cornell University
An essential addition to any library because of its detailed examination of this 'last chapter' of the Holocaust. The authors are to be applauded for their selection of documents—the majority translated into English for the first time—that capture the vast range of materials that are found in Hungary's archives. Their accompanying narrative brilliantly synthesizes the wealth of recent scholarship, bringing these military reports, diary entries, photographs, and other key primary sources to life. -- Tim Cole, University of Bristol
This remarkable volume combines a rich variety of sources with a meticulously researched narrative. It demonstrates clearly the crucial role that Hungarian authorities played at all stages; the material on plunder and the confiscation of Jewish property is especially significant. The authors also give us the voices of Jewish Hungarians as they experienced greater restrictions, ghettoization, and deportations. It is an essential resource for scholars, teachers, and students of the Holocaust and of Hungarian history. -- Paul Hanebrink, Rutgers University