The Holocaust was,without doubt, one of the most horrific atrocities committed in war history.During Adolf Hitler's twelve year reign of terror,he contributed to the deaths of over fifty million people during the Second World War. He created a racial state where people considered unfit to live there were either persecuted,enslaved, or murdered in the most callous and inhumane way.Hitler's goal was to kill all Jewish men,women and children. He succeeded in murdering six million of them. Those that survived that horrendous atrocity would endure the pain and trauma suffered for the rest of their lives.On 1st November 2005, the United Nations resolved to designate 27th January as an International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.An outreach programme with the theme " Remembrance and Beyond " was developed with the aim of firstly, remembering the victims of the Holocaust, and secondly, helping to prevent future acts of genocide.The theme for the 2012 International Day of Commemoration was "Children and the Holocaust". The United Nations remembers ,and honours, the memory of all the children who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis.Hopefully,future generations will not have to suffer the same atrocities, pain and heartbreak.

Monday, 23 April 2012

The List

The List

Martin Fletcher

Thomas Dunne Books; 2011

ISBN: 978-0312606923



The List is the story of Austrian refugees Georg and his pregnant wife Edith, who migrate to London in 1945 after the Second World War.

They struggle to rebuild their lives and long to learn of other family members who may have survived the Holocaust, but they face blatant anti-semitism from Englishmen , many of whom would like to eject the immigrant Jews in favour of returning British servicemen in need of homes and jobs.

Other notable characters in the book include Anna,Edith’s cousin, who is damaged, vulnerable and unable to speak of the horrors she was forced to endure in Auschwitz, and Ismael, an Egyptian Arab, who falls in love with Anna, and who is not really who we are led to believe he is initially.

We learn about the Zionist underground movement which is a group of Jewish freedom fighters, considered by the British, to be terrorists.They plot to assassinate the British Prime Minister, to sabotage the British and force them to open Palestine’s border to all Jews who wish to enter in the period just prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.

This is a poignant historical story, one that has often been forgotten after the Second World War.

This is an outstanding book and the “ One Book, One Jewish Community “ reading/education/community outreach program has chosen Martin Fletcher’novel “ The List “ as its 2011-2012book selection.

Historical Fiction

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