In the Midst of Civilized Europe

In the Midst of Civilized Europe examines the wave of pogroms and anti-Jewish violence that swept through Ukraine from 1918-1921. Drawing on extensive archival research and survivor testimonies, historian Jeffrey Veidlinger reconstructs the events that led to hundreds of attacks on Jewish communities. The book traces the complex political and social forces at work during this period of revolution and civil war in the former Russian Empire. Through accounts of specific communities and individuals, Veidlinger documents how these attacks marked a shift from previous anti-Jewish violence and set patterns that would resurface in later decades. The narrative follows various perspectives - from international observers and relief workers to local officials and survivors - to piece together both the immediate circumstances and broader historical context of the pogroms. Military units, civilian groups, and government forces all play roles in the events described. This work illuminates crucial questions about how organized violence takes root in societies and how neighbor turns against neighbor. The research connects these historical events to wider patterns of ethnic violence and genocide, while examining the relationship between modernization and brutality in early 20th century Europe.

Readers emphasize the book's detailed documentation of anti-Jewish violence in Ukraine during 1918-1921. Many note its relevance to current events and patterns of ethnic violence. Readers appreciated: - Clear connections between local politics and broader historical forces - Personal accounts and survivor testimonies - Maps and statistics that provide context - Documentation of international responses Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Overwhelming amount of detail - Repetitive descriptions of violence - Some sections move slowly through administrative minutiae Ratings: Goodreads: 4.33/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (134 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Documents a forgotten genocide with meticulous research" - Goodreads reviewer "Important but emotionally difficult reading" - Amazon reviewer "Could have been more concise in parts" - Goodreads reviewer "The parallels to modern events are chilling" - Amazon reviewer

Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder This history examines mass killings in Eastern Europe between 1933-1945, detailing how both Nazi and Soviet policies led to systematic violence against civilian populations.

Neighbors by Jan T. Gross The book documents the 1941 massacre of Jews in Jedwabne, Poland by their Polish neighbors, revealing the local dynamics of anti-Jewish violence during World War II.

The Holocaust in Ukraine by Wendy Lower Through archival research and survivor testimonies, this work reconstructs the implementation of the Final Solution in Ukraine's towns and villages.

Hitler's Furies by Wendy Lower This study uncovers the role of German women as participants in Nazi genocide in Eastern Europe through examination of wartime records and postwar testimonies.

The Holocaust by Bullets by Patrick Desbois Based on hundreds of witness testimonies and forensic evidence, this work documents the mass shootings of Jews in Ukraine by Nazi mobile killing units and local collaborators.

🔹 While many associate large-scale anti-Jewish violence in Eastern Europe with World War II, over 100,000 Jews were killed in Ukraine between 1918-1921, during what became known as the "pogroms" of the Russian Civil War era. 🔹 Author Jeffrey Veidlinger discovered that these pogroms were documented in real-time by relief workers and researchers, who collected thousands of witness testimonies that had been largely forgotten in archives for decades. 🔹 The book reveals how local neighbors, not just soldiers or outsiders, often participated in the violence against Jewish communities, highlighting the complex social dynamics that preceded the Holocaust. 🔹 The title "In the Midst of Civilized Europe" comes from a quote by Winston Churchill, who expressed shock that such barbaric violence could occur in what was considered a modern, civilized part of the world. 🔹 The research for this book drew from nine archives in six countries and incorporated materials in seven languages, taking nearly a decade to complete.