Historical Dictionary of the Holocaust

The term Holocaust came into popular usage following the conclusion of WWII. The word was at first associated with Nazi Germany’s murder of six million Jews. Gradually, the expression was broadened to include the millions of others who were also victims of the Nazis. Nevertheless, the Jews were designated in a special category for the Nazis.

The intention of this historical dictionary is not to belittle the death and suffering of Nazi Germany’s non-Jewish victims, but to focus on the unprecedented nature of the German assault on the Jews. Its purpose, therefore, is to provide the reader with the facts of the Holocaust with an emphasis on the central role Jews played in the Nazi genocide. The introductory essay provides the reader with an historical overview of the Holocaust, and is followed by individual entries on the subject arranged alphabetically. The historical dictionary is intended for the non-specialist with some background in history. However, it will also be of use as an accessible reference tool for more advanced research. Extensive introduction, comprehensive bibliography, and a chronology further supplement the usefulness of this volume.