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FDR and the Holocaust: A New Look at a Troubled History

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Published in Roosevelt And The Holocaust: How FDR Saved The Jews And Brought Hope To A Nation

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By David M. Kennedy

Franklin D. Roosevelt is one of the most iconic figures in American history. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II, and he is widely credited with saving the world from fascism. However, Roosevelt's legacy has been tarnished by his response to the Holocaust. Critics have accused him of ignoring the plight of European Jews and of failing to take concrete steps to stop their genocide.

Roosevelt and the Holocaust: How FDR Saved the Jews and Brought Hope to a Nation

by Robert L. Beir

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3307 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	386 pages

In his new book, FDR and the Holocaust, historian David M. Kennedy re-examines Roosevelt's response to the Holocaust. Kennedy argues that Roosevelt was aware of the mass murder of Jews in Europe and that he could have done more to stop it. The book has sparked a renewed debate about Roosevelt's legacy and the role of the United States in the Holocaust.

Kennedy bases his argument on a close reading of the historical record. He shows that Roosevelt received numerous reports about the Holocaust from his own government officials, from Jewish leaders, and from other sources. Roosevelt was also aware of the public outcry against the Holocaust, both in the United States and abroad.

Despite this knowledge, Roosevelt did not take any concrete steps to stop the Holocaust. He did not Free Download the bombing of Auschwitz or other death camps. He did not provide sanctuary to Jewish refugees. And he did not pressure the Nazis to stop their genocide.

Kennedy argues that Roosevelt's inaction was due to a combination of factors. First, Roosevelt was preoccupied with the war against Germany. He believed that he could not afford to divert resources to the rescue of European Jews. Second, Roosevelt was reluctant to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries. He believed that it was up to the European powers to solve the Jewish problem.

Third, Roosevelt was influenced by anti-Semitism. He believed that Jews were a powerful and dangerous force in the world. He feared that if he took steps to help Jews, he would be accused of being a pawn of Jewish interests.

Kennedy's book has been praised by some historians for its rigor and its willingness to challenge the conventional wisdom about Roosevelt's response to the Holocaust. However, other historians have criticized the book for being too harsh on Roosevelt. They argue that Roosevelt was a complex figure who made difficult decisions in a time of great crisis.

The debate over Roosevelt's response to the Holocaust is likely to continue for many years to come. Kennedy's book is a valuable contribution to this debate, and it is sure to provoke further discussion about one of the most troubling chapters in American history.