The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest's Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews
3 journalers for this copy...
Received as a Christmas present.
From Chapters:
In this heart-wrenching book, Father Patrick Desbois documents the daunting task of identifying and examining all the sites where Jews were exterminated by Nazi mobile units in the Ukraine in WWII. Using innovative methodology, interviews, and ballistic evidence, he has determined the location of many mass gravesites with the goal of providing proper burials for the victims of the forgotten Ukrainian Holocaust. Compiling new archival material and many eye-witness accounts, Desbois has put together the first definitive account of one of history''s bloodiest chapters.
From Chapters:
In this heart-wrenching book, Father Patrick Desbois documents the daunting task of identifying and examining all the sites where Jews were exterminated by Nazi mobile units in the Ukraine in WWII. Using innovative methodology, interviews, and ballistic evidence, he has determined the location of many mass gravesites with the goal of providing proper burials for the victims of the forgotten Ukrainian Holocaust. Compiling new archival material and many eye-witness accounts, Desbois has put together the first definitive account of one of history''s bloodiest chapters.
Father Patrick Debois is a French Catholic Priest whose grandfather was imprisoned by the Germans in 1942 in the Ukraine. Inspired by his grandfather, Debois travels around Ukraine looking to unearth stories about how the Jews were treated in these small villages during WWII. He finds many elders willing to share their stories of what they witnessed while they were children. The Jews were trucked to pits that had been dug into the earth, forced to undress, and then shot en mass. Those that were shot fell in to the pits and the next group came waiting for their execution. The same story is told in many different villages.
Debois also learns about how non-Jewish villagers were forced to help the Germans by digging the pits, packing the bodies with sand, guarding the pits, cooking for the Germans between the executions, etc. According to Debois, this was a previously unknown fact that locals had been requisitioned by the Germans to do work like this. Using the bullets left in the mass graves, Desbois and his team were able to find graves, where the shooters stood, and determine the number of Jews killed, which was 1.5 million.
Interviews of individuals were transcribed for this book, most of them heart-breaking. The similarities between them all was interesting. Not all the people that wound up in the pit were dead and many said that the ground moved for days after. I read this book on the train and my eyes would well up. I just cannot understand why. What was the point of all of this death and personal destruction?
At times the book felt repetitive, but this story needed to be told. Some of the information that Debois found was new to people that have been studying the holocaust for many years. The worst part is that I bet hardly any of those that took part in the executions were brought to justice.
Debois also learns about how non-Jewish villagers were forced to help the Germans by digging the pits, packing the bodies with sand, guarding the pits, cooking for the Germans between the executions, etc. According to Debois, this was a previously unknown fact that locals had been requisitioned by the Germans to do work like this. Using the bullets left in the mass graves, Desbois and his team were able to find graves, where the shooters stood, and determine the number of Jews killed, which was 1.5 million.
Interviews of individuals were transcribed for this book, most of them heart-breaking. The similarities between them all was interesting. Not all the people that wound up in the pit were dead and many said that the ground moved for days after. I read this book on the train and my eyes would well up. I just cannot understand why. What was the point of all of this death and personal destruction?
At times the book felt repetitive, but this story needed to be told. Some of the information that Debois found was new to people that have been studying the holocaust for many years. The worst part is that I bet hardly any of those that took part in the executions were brought to justice.
Mailed today to my birthday partner!
Sorry I didn't journal this earlier. I went on a trip for my birthday, and when I returned, life was busy, Internet was down... Finally get some time to sit down and clear out the stack of books by my desk.
Given the topic, this book is an unusual choice for a holiday or birthday gift.
I picked this to read as I want to read something from Ukraine, and there is an extra level of sadness as I realize how history is repeating itself, that invaders are again murdering civilians. How many bones are lying under the grass there now?
It's inspirational how Father Desbois, a French priest, has dedicated his life to save the memory and history of the Jews who perished in Ukraine during WWII. Unlike the concentration camps in Poland and other countries, in Ukraine the Jewish population was wiped out with little record keeping.
Father Desbois and his team was able to use metal detectors to find bullet shells and thus the mass graves, and interviewed thousands of Ukrainians. Many remembered seeing their Jewish friends and neighbors being carted away or killed, and some villagers were requisitioned to dig pits, cook, or sort through the clothings left behind. Even children were forced to work, pulling out gold teeth or even stepping on the bodies to press them down. All the witnesses were advanced in age, for many it was the first time that they spoke aloud of the horror they saw decades ago. The retelling was painful, but also cathartic, for the guilty burden they carried. It's amazing how Father Desbois had the courage and perseverance to continue, day after day, interview after interview.
I picked this to read as I want to read something from Ukraine, and there is an extra level of sadness as I realize how history is repeating itself, that invaders are again murdering civilians. How many bones are lying under the grass there now?
It's inspirational how Father Desbois, a French priest, has dedicated his life to save the memory and history of the Jews who perished in Ukraine during WWII. Unlike the concentration camps in Poland and other countries, in Ukraine the Jewish population was wiped out with little record keeping.
Father Desbois and his team was able to use metal detectors to find bullet shells and thus the mass graves, and interviewed thousands of Ukrainians. Many remembered seeing their Jewish friends and neighbors being carted away or killed, and some villagers were requisitioned to dig pits, cook, or sort through the clothings left behind. Even children were forced to work, pulling out gold teeth or even stepping on the bodies to press them down. All the witnesses were advanced in age, for many it was the first time that they spoke aloud of the horror they saw decades ago. The retelling was painful, but also cathartic, for the guilty burden they carried. It's amazing how Father Desbois had the courage and perseverance to continue, day after day, interview after interview.
Chose from the "Around the World Bookbox #2".
