The Good Old Days: The Holocaust as Seen by Its Perpetrators and Bystanders

The Good Old Days presents firsthand accounts from Nazi perpetrators and witnesses who participated in or observed the Holocaust. The book compiles letters, diaries, photographs, and official documents that record the systematic murder of Jews and other victims during World War II. The text focuses on the everyday activities and attitudes of those who carried out or enabled genocide, from high-ranking SS officers to ordinary German soldiers and civil servants. Primary sources reveal how perpetrators documented their actions through personal correspondence, internal memos, and official reports. The assembled materials demonstrate the scale of complicity across German society during the Holocaust. Klee provides historical context and factual framing while letting the raw documents speak for themselves. This collection raises fundamental questions about human nature, moral choice, and the psychology of mass violence. The banality of evil emerges as bureaucrats and soldiers describe atrocities in mundane, technical language.

Readers describe this collection of primary source documents as emotionally difficult but illuminating. Many note it provides raw insights into perpetrators' mindsets through their own words, letters, and photographs. Readers appreciated: - The original source material without editorial commentary - The inclusion of both official documents and personal correspondence - High-quality photo reproductions - Clear organization by location and chronology Common criticisms: - Content is extremely disturbing and graphic - Some translations feel stilted - Limited context provided for individual documents - Price point is high for a paperback Ratings: Goodreads: 4.44/5 (448 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (168 ratings) Representative review: "This book shows the banality of evil through bureaucratic memos and casual letters home. Not an easy read but an important historical record." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted they had to read it in small segments due to the emotional weight of the content.

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📚 The book contains over 500 previously unpublished letters, diaries, and photographs from German soldiers and officials who participated in Nazi atrocities. 🗂️ Ernst Klee spent years gathering documents from various archives, including materials that were hidden or buried by German soldiers trying to conceal evidence of war crimes. 📝 Many of the perpetrators documented in the book were ordinary citizens - doctors, engineers, and businessmen - not hardened soldiers or longtime Nazi party members. 📸 The photographs included in the book were largely taken by the perpetrators themselves as personal "souvenirs" of their activities, providing chilling evidence of their mindset. 🏛️ The book's title "The Good Old Days" comes from the actual words used by some SS men in their letters home, describing their participation in mass killings with disturbing casualness and even pride.