The Forgotten Holocaust

The Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles Under German Occupation, 1939-1944 (1986) documents Nazi Germany's systematic campaign of violence against both Jewish and non-Jewish Polish citizens during World War II. This historical account by Richard C. Lukas examines previously underreported aspects of the German occupation of Poland. The book draws from extensive research, survivor testimonies, and historical records to present a comprehensive picture of life under Nazi occupation. It details the policies and actions that targeted Polish citizens, examining the calculated destruction of Polish culture, institutions, and people. The work features a foreword by historian Norman Davies in its later editions and has been translated into Polish. Its examination extends beyond military conflict to document social changes, resistance movements, and daily life during the occupation period. Through its analysis of this lesser-known dimension of World War II, the book raises questions about historical memory and the varying recognition given to different groups of Nazi victims. The term "Holocaust" as applied to non-Jewish victims has sparked scholarly discussion about how we categorize and remember wartime atrocities.

Readers value this book as one of few English-language works focused on Poland's experience during WWII. Many note it fills gaps in Holocaust education that often overlook non-Jewish Polish victims. Readers appreciate: - Extensive documentation and research - Coverage of both Jewish and non-Jewish Polish persecution - Details about Polish resistance movements - Clear explanations of complex historical events Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited coverage of certain regions/events - Could use more personal accounts Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (186 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (92 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Finally gives voice to the forgotten Polish victims" - Goodreads reviewer "Important history but dry reading" - Amazon reviewer "Should be required reading for WWII courses" - LibraryThing reviewer "Too focused on statistics over human stories" - Goodreads reviewer

Black Earth by Timothy Snyder This historical analysis details the Nazi occupation and genocide in Poland and Eastern Europe through primary sources and survivor accounts.

God's Playground: A History of Poland by Norman Davies This two-volume work examines Poland's history through World War II with focus on the nation's resistance and survival during Nazi occupation.

The Eagle Unbowed by Halik Kochanski This comprehensive account documents Poland's experience during World War II from invasion through occupation, resistance, and exile.

Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy Snyder This study chronicles the mass killings perpetrated by both Nazi and Soviet regimes in Poland and Eastern Europe between 1933 and 1945.

The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 by Joshua D. Zimmerman This research presents the complex relationship between the Polish resistance movement and Jewish citizens during Nazi occupation through archival records and testimonies.

🔍 The first edition was published in 1986, making it one of the earliest English-language works to extensively document Nazi crimes against non-Jewish Poles. 📚 Author Richard C. Lukas spent over a decade conducting research, including interviews with survivors and gathering documents from archives in both Poland and the United States. ⚡ Approximately 3 million non-Jewish Poles were killed during the Nazi occupation, alongside 3 million Polish Jews - representing the largest number of non-Jewish civilian casualties in any occupied country during WWII. 🏛️ The book reveals that Nazi Germany established 2,000 camps and prisons in occupied Poland, more than in any other occupied nation during WWII. 📜 Norman Davies, who wrote the foreword for later editions, is considered one of the world's leading authorities on Polish history and has been decorated by the Polish government for his contributions to Polish culture.