The Scourge of the Swastika : A Short History of Nazi War Crimes

This account of the atrocities that took place during WWII are difficult to fathom, and much worse and diverse that you can imagine. It wasn't just the 6 million Jews who were slaughtered, but thousands of Polish, Italians, Russians, and more. There are several photos to accompany the accusations.

Despite its age, this book is a terrific reminder of the myriads of crimes commited by the Nazis during World War II as it covers not only the wel known fate of the Jewish population but also the crimes against POWs, the forced labor, the medical experiments on prisoners, the crimes of U-Boat commanders against merchant ships' crews and of course the terrible retribution that German troops took in European villages and cities when attacked by partisans. I think that the most powerful descriptions are those about the massacre in Oradour-sur-Glane and the hideous tortures suffered by male and female prisoners in the various concentration camps, at the hands of sadistic SS guards. The only drawback of the book is the fact that it was written in 1954, just a few years after the end of the war, when many details of the Nazi war crimes were not yet known or promptly analysed.

Russell dispels the notion that the trials following WWII were victor's justice. The book details the crimes the Nazis perpetrated on the people of Europe. These crimes included genocide, incorrect treatment of POWs and civilian populations, and torture. Russell details in this short book why the Nazis were guilty of crimes against humanity. In one quote, Goering states how he doesn't care about the civilian populations of the conquered countries--they could die for all he cares. Well Goering and his counterparts got their just deserts following the war. The Nurenberg trials and others were not victor's justice. These trials brought to justice people who led a criminal regime.This is a good read about the crimes of the Nazis. Those who perpetrate crimes against humanity should be held accountable to the world population.

This account was from a British soldier who witnessed the crimes of the Nazis, written soon after the war. This perspective makes it difficult for anyone to argue that the terrors of the Holocaust were simply created by Jews to evoke sympathy - this man saw what happened, and tells the story quite well.Additionally, the book has a nice way of not weighing one group of victims over another. It details each section of society targeted by Nazis, with a really quality depiction of the harm inflicted on the Soviet population.It's an easy read, and one that I think everyone can benefit from.