Das letzte Kapitel : Realpolitik, Ideologie und der Mord an den ungarischen Juden 1944-1945

Chronicles the history of the persecution of Hungarian Jews, from the prewar quota laws to Nazi deportations, in their political and economic context, emphasizing the multi-causality of the Holocaust. The regime wished to restore national pride after the defeat in World War I, and for this purpose allied itself with Nazi Germany, for which it felt an ideological affinity and which helped it regain territories lost in that war. The government acquiesced in the deportation of Jews for forced labor in the Greater Reich, in order to be able to reject demands to send Magyar labor; and by selling the Jews' possessions, it attained relative economic stability and the support of the population. Thus it alienated the Allies and involved itself even more inextricably with Nazi Germany. Germany was in need of forced labor for its war industry, infrastructure, and fortifications. Some of the Jews were deported for labor in Austria and the rest to Auschwitz, where ca. 25% were transferred to labor camps; the "useless" 75% were immediately gassed. In Hungary, Jews not in military labor service units were ghettoized; many were beaten or shot by the Arrow Cross. Describes the experience of the Jews in the German labor camps, the tactics of survival, and the international rescue attempts. Includes bibliographical references (pages 449-468) and indexes. 481 pages : map ; 22 cm