German Reparations and the Jewish World » (ANN)

The Holocaust was not only about "ethnic cleansing" and mass murder. It was a major asset-stripping and looting operation. In the years immediately following the end of World War II, up until the 1990s, vast sums have been repaid by the Federal Republic of Germany in reparations, indemnification and restitution (over $70 billion). Resulting from a series of quietly negotiated technical agreements between Germany and the Jewish world, these payments have allowed the rehabilitation and resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Holocaust survivors in Israel, America and elsewhere. They also underwrote the reconstruction of Jewish communal life throughout Europe.
"German Reparations and the Jewish World" has become a standard reference work since it was first published. Based extensively on archival sources, the author examines the difficult debate within the Jewish world whether it was possible to reach a material settlement with Germany so soon after Auschwitz. Concentrating on how the money was spent in rebuilding Jewish life, he also analyzes how the reparations payments transformed the relations bteween Israel and the diaspora, and between different Jewish political and ideological groups. This revised and expanded edition includes material on sensitive relief programmes from archives that have only recently been opened to researchers. In a new, extensive introductory essay the author reexamines the reparations, restitution and indemnification processes from the perspective of 50 years later.

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Drawing on archival sources, Zweig (modern Jewish history, Tel Aviv University) examines the debate within the Jewish world over whether it was possible to reach a material settlement with Germany. Concentrating on how the money was spent in rebuilding Jewish life, he also analyzes how the reparations payments transformed the relations between Israel and the diaspora, and between different Jewish political and ideological groups. This new edition includes material on sensitive relief programs from archives that have only recently been opened to researchers. A new introductory essay is also included. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)