Synopses & Reviews
As the Holocaust passes out of living memory, future generations will no longer come face-to-face with Holocaust survivors. But the lessons of that terrible period in history are too important to let slip past.
How Was It Possible?, edited and introduced by Peter Hayes, provides teachers and students with a comprehensive resource about the Nazi persecution of Jews. Deliberately resisting the reflexive urge to dismiss the topic as too horrible to be understood intellectually or emotionally, the anthology sets out to provide answers to questions that may otherwise defy comprehension.
and#160;This anthology is organized around key issues of the Holocaust, from the historical context for antisemitism to the impediments to escaping Nazi Germany, and from the logistics of the death camps and the carrying out of genocide to the subsequent struggles of the displaced survivors in the aftermath.
and#160;Prepared in cooperation with the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, this anthology includes contributions from such luminaries as Jean Ancel, Saul Friedlander, Tony Judt, Alan Kraut, Primo Levi, Robert Proctor, Richard Rhodes, Timothy Snyder, and Susan Zuccotti. Taken together, the selectionsand#160;make the ineffable fathomable and demystify the barbarism underlying the tragedy, inviting readers to learn precisely how the Holocaust was, in fact, possible.
Review
“[Thomass] book will ignite a contentious debate about the interpretation of his evidence and Piuss role during the Holocaust.”—Publishers Weekly on The Pope's Jews
“An episodic, fast-paced narrative.”—Kirkus Reviews on The Pope's Jews
"Literally impossible to put down." —The New York Times on Gideon's Spies
"Tells it like it was—and like it is." —Meir Amit, former Director General of Mossad on Gideon's Spies "A compelling read, with any number of disturbing revelations." —FHM on Gideon's Spies "Authoritative history of Britains spy services by a veteran who has been writing about “the Great Game” for fifty years [and a] well-written page-turner that demystifies the notoriously foggy “wilderness of mirrors.” —Kirkus Reviews on Secret Wars “A fine depiction of the multifaceted context of this cause célèbre." —Kirkus Reviews on Operation Exodus
Review
“[Thomass] book will ignite a contentious debate about the interpretation of his evidence and Piuss role during the Holocaust.”—Publishers Weekly on The Pope's Jews
"Literally impossible to put down." —The New York Times on Gideon's Spies
"Tells it like it was—and like it is." —Meir Amit, former Director General of Mossad on Gideon's Spies "A compelling read, with any number of disturbing revelations." —FHM on Gideon's Spies "Authoritative history of Britains spy services by a veteran who has been writing about “the Great Game” for fifty years [and a] well-written page-turner that demystifies the notoriously foggy “wilderness of mirrors.” —Kirkus Reviews on Secret Wars “A fine depiction of the multifaceted context of this cause célèbre." —Kirkus Reviews on Operation Exodus
Review
“The reputation of Pius XII, pope from 1939 to 1958, has been subjected to criticism for the pontiffs alleged silence about the Holocaust. The best-known Pius-bashing title is Hitlers Pope, by John Cornwell (1999). In this rebuttal to Cornwell and other critics, Thomas recounts the period of maximum danger for the Vatican during WWII, from September 1943 to June 1944, when German forces occupied Rome, and Hitler sought to kidnap the pope. He also tried to capture the citys Jewish population, an operation that largely fizzled from the Nazi point of view, with most Jews eluding the dragnet (although about 1,200 did not). How the rest were saved is Thomass main case for Pius, which he makes by narrating activities of local Jewish leaders, Vatican prelates, and German officers. When the SS sprang its trap, thousands of Jews had received shelter in Romes churches, convents, and the Vatican itself. Suggesting that Pius was responsible for this, Thomas presents an earnest defense while sketching Romes menacing atmosphere during the Nazi occupation. Pair this title with Ralph McInerneys Defamation of Pius XII (2001).”
—Booklist on The Pope's Jews
"Gordon Thomas's new book The Pope's Jews: The Vatican's secret Plan to Save the Jews from the Nazis, is one of the few books that accurately reflects the truth of the terrible years of the War II based on primary source documented evidence rather than unsupported accusations. He logically assembles the jig saw puzzle of evidence and analyzes it with his personal lifelong wisdom, into an easy to read page turner. Mr. Thomas will be further sustained with the opening of the Vatican Secret Archives. I think this book should one day make a very exciting film."
—Gary Krupp on The Pope's Jews
“[Thomass] book will ignite a contentious debate about the interpretation of his evidence and Piuss role during the Holocaust.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Pope's Jews
“An episodic, fast-paced narrative.”
—Kirkus Reviews on The Pope's Jews
“With knowledge cultivated by the serious study of espionage, Gordon Thomas sees through disinformation that has obscured the view of others. With the determination of a great investigator, he provides accounts that were previously unknown, and with the writing skills of a bestselling author, he breathes life into the story of Pope Pius XII and the Jews of World War II. The Pope's Jews is a riveting account of an immensely important but often misunderstood slice of history.”
—Ronald J. Rychlak, author of Hitler, the War, and the Pope and Righteous Gentiles on The Pope's Jews
"Literally impossible to put down."
—The New York Times on Gideon's Spies
"Tells it like it was—and like it is."
—Meir Amit, former Director General of Mossad on Gideon's Spies "A compelling read, with any number of disturbing revelations."
—FHM on Gideon's Spies "Authoritative history of Britains spy services by a veteran who has been writing about “the Great Game” for fifty years [and a] well-written page-turner that demystifies the notoriously foggy “wilderness of mirrors.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Secret Wars “A fine depiction of the multifaceted context of this cause célèbre."
—Kirkus Reviews on Operation Exodus
Review
“Many may find fault with the pope's decision to "keep silent" and not single out by name the Nazis or their crimes; however, Thomas is convincing in his revelations about the pope's secret work and relays how complex and sensitive these issues were for everyone involved at the time. Any World War II history buff or Holocaust researcher will find this book an important balance to existing historical scholarship.”
—Library Journal on The Pope's Jews
“The reputation of Pius XII, pope from 1939 to 1958, has been subjected to criticism for the pontiffs alleged silence about the Holocaust. The best-known Pius-bashing title is Hitlers Pope, by John Cornwell (1999). In this rebuttal to Cornwell and other critics, Thomas recounts the period of maximum danger for the Vatican during WWII, from September 1943 to June 1944, when German forces occupied Rome, and Hitler sought to kidnap the pope. He also tried to capture the citys Jewish population, an operation that largely fizzled from the Nazi point of view, with most Jews eluding the dragnet (although about 1,200 did not). How the rest were saved is Thomass main case for Pius, which he makes by narrating activities of local Jewish leaders, Vatican prelates, and German officers. When the SS sprang its trap, thousands of Jews had received shelter in Romes churches, convents, and the Vatican itself. Suggesting that Pius was responsible for this, Thomas presents an earnest defense while sketching Romes menacing atmosphere during the Nazi occupation. Pair this title with Ralph McInerneys Defamation of Pius XII (2001).”
—Booklist on The Pope's Jews
"Gordon Thomas's new book The Pope's Jews: The Vatican's secret Plan to Save the Jews from the Nazis, is one of the few books that accurately reflects the truth of the terrible years of the War II based on primary source documented evidence rather than unsupported accusations. He logically assembles the jig saw puzzle of evidence and analyzes it with his personal lifelong wisdom, into an easy to read page turner. Mr. Thomas will be further sustained with the opening of the Vatican Secret Archives. I think this book should one day make a very exciting film."
—Gary Krupp on The Pope's Jews
“[Thomass] book will ignite a contentious debate about the interpretation of his evidence and Piuss role during the Holocaust.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Pope's Jews
“An episodic, fast-paced narrative.”
—Kirkus Reviews on The Pope's Jews
“With knowledge cultivated by the serious study of espionage, Gordon Thomas sees through disinformation that has obscured the view of others. With the determination of a great investigator, he provides accounts that were previously unknown, and with the writing skills of a bestselling author, he breathes life into the story of Pope Pius XII and the Jews of World War II. The Pope's Jews is a riveting account of an immensely important but often misunderstood slice of history.”
—Ronald J. Rychlak, author of Hitler, the War, and the Pope and Righteous Gentiles on The Pope's Jews
"A highly readable, and often riveting, book that gives a very good sense not only of the difficulties faced by the Catholics in saving their fellow Jewish Italian citizens but in surviving the daily obstacles of finding food for themselves."
—Dr. Eugene Fisher, a leading Catholic scholar, The Catholic News Service on The Pope's Jews
“In The Popes Jews Thomas explores the controversy in depth, revealing dramatic new details. Thomas is no ordinary writer: he is one of the most prominent political and investigative journalist of our time. What gives the Popes Jews such power is its immediacy. The heroes were many - even though now long forgotten - but Thomas book brilliantly brings them back to life, paying them homage and providing some long-overdue recognition. All Jews and Catholics - and not only them - should read this vitally important book.”
—William Doino, contributing editor Inside the Vatican on The Popes Jews
“Thomas is convincing about the Popes secret work.”
—Social Science on The Popes Jews
“The Pope during World War II supposedly did little as Europes Jews were exterminated wholesale. Gordon Thomas sets out to debunk that notion. The Popes Jews show how Pius oversaw a covert network of priests, nuns and Roman citizens who forged documents and smuggled Jewish refugees to Switzerland, the United States and Palestine while Vatican infirmaries became hiding places. The Pope was considered such a threat that Nazi officials hatched a plot to kidnap him. All the while he had to keep the Germans from finding out about the secret operations that saved hundreds of lives.”
—The Washington Post on The Popes Jews
“The Popes Jews offers an extraordinary well-researched account as well as a magnificent portrait of the refugees, the residents of Romes ghetto and Romes Catholic community. In doing so Thomas has provided a most welcome addition to the fight to preserve Pius good name. This book follows the timeline of events as they actually occur: headline making events as the Ardeatine massacre , Hitlers demand for gold, the bombing of Rome by Allied planes and the battle for Rome. To his credit the author lists his sources. In Thomas The Popes Jews there is little reason to expect the opening of the archives will alter the end results that the Catholic Church under Pope Pius leadership, rescued more Jews than any other institution or government.”
—Bill Loughlin, The National Catholic Register on The Popes Jews
"Thomas riveting narrative relates the wartime decision in regard to the Jews made by Pope Pius XII. He cites the Popes orders to open convent and monastery doors to harbour Jews, issuing Vatican passports that allowed thousands of German Jews to leave Nazi Germany. As Thomas notes “the wartime files will fully end the controversy about ‘Hitlers Pope and silence the argument that he is not worthy to become a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.”
—Jack Fischel, The Jewish Book Council of America on The Popes Jews
"Literally impossible to put down."
—The New York Times on Gideon's Spies
"Tells it like it was—and like it is."
—Meir Amit, former Director General of Mossad on Gideon's Spies "A compelling read, with any number of disturbing revelations."
—FHM on Gideon's Spies "Authoritative history of Britains spy services by a veteran who has been writing about “the Great Game” for fifty years [and a] well-written page-turner that demystifies the notoriously foggy “wilderness of mirrors.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Secret Wars “A fine depiction of the multifaceted context of this cause célèbre."
—Kirkus Reviews on Operation Exodus
Review
andquot;How Was It Possible constitutes an invaluable resource and should find its place in all libraries.andquot;andmdash;Jack Fischel, Jewish Book Council
Review
andldquo;Peter Hayes has assembled an outstanding collection of texts addressing what is undoubtedly the most important question arising from the Holocaust: How was it possible? This volume will prove invaluable to academic specialists, students, and non-expert readers who insist on the importance of approaching the subject with empirical and intellectual rigor.andrdquo;andmdash;Alan E. Steinweis, professor of history and Miller Distinguished Professor of Holocaust Studies at the University of Vermont and author of Kristallnacht 1938and#160;and#160;
Review
andldquo;This brilliant compilation includes must-read primary sources, classic works of scholarship, and cutting-edge interpretations, assembled and introduced by a master historian and path-breaking Holocaust educator. An invaluable resource for students and teachers alike.andrdquo;andmdash;Doris L. Bergen, author of War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaustand#160;and#160;
Review
andquot;A first-class anthology.andquot;andmdash;Sheldon Kirshner Journal
Synopsis
This revelatory account of how the Vatican saved thousands of Jews during WWII shows why history must exonerate "Hitler's Pope"
Accused of being “silent” during the Holocaust, Pope Pius XII and the Vatican of World War II are now exonerated in Gordon Thomass newest investigative work, The Pope's Jews. Thomass careful research into new, first-hand accounts reveal an underground network of priests, nuns and citizens that risked their lives daily to protect Roman Jews.
Investigating assassination plots, conspiracies, and secret conversions, Thomas unveils faked documentation, quarantines, and more extraordinary actions taken by Catholics and the Vatican. The Pope's Jews finally answers the great moral question of the War: Why did Pope Pius XII refuse to condemn the genocide of Europe's Jews?
About the Author
Peter Hayes is a professor of history and Theodore Zev Weiss Holocaust Educational Foundation Professor of Holocaust Studies at Northwestern University. He is the author of
From Cooperation to Complicity: Degussa in the Third Reich and
Industry and Ideology: IG Farben in the Nazi Era. Harvey Schulweis is chairman of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous.