Murder Without Hatred: Estonians and the HolocaustIn this detailed study of Estonians’ role in the Holocaust, Anton Weiss-Wendt casts light on a largely unexplored subject. A country known for its benevolent treatment of ethnic minorities, Estonia had a small number of indigenous Jews, and anti-Semitism existed on a relatively limited scale. However, many ethnic Estonians, acting as auxiliary security forces under the guidance of the German security police, participated in the murder of several thousands of Estonian, Czech, and German Jews. Weiss-Wendt investigates these acts of genocide by posing the simple question: what prompted the Estonians to cooperate with the Nazis? He argues that the actions were voluntary but that the reasons varied. Narrating the history of Estonia’s involvement, Weiss-Wendt presents lucid explanations regarding the relationships between nation building, mass violence, and the brutal effects of authoritarian oppression on occupied states. The first book-length exploration of this aspect of the Holocaust, Murder Without Hatred: Estonians and the Holocaust enriches our knowledge of ethnic violence and reinvigorates current debates over the roots and operation of the Holocaust. |
Contents
Estonians and Their State | 1 |
The Breakdown 19391941 | 34 |
The Collective Experience of Nazi Occupation | 57 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
According activities administration AR-Z Army arrested arrived August authorities BA-MA Baltic Baltic Germans Baltöl barracks became Berlin called camp carried Central collaboration commandant Communism Communist concentration camp culture death early Eesti established Esto Estonian Security Police ethnic Europe example execution fact February five forced former German German Security Police Gerrets guards Gypsies Haapsalu head Holocaust hundred individuals Interrogation Jewish Jews July June Klooga labor later Latvia least Lithuania lived Mäe majority March mass military months murder Narva Nazi North occupation October Office organization percent political population position POWs prisoners question received records regarding Reich remained Riga Russian Sandberger Sept September Sipo Soviet summer Tallinn Tartu Testimony tion took train transport USHMM Vaivara victims wanted women workers