Dialogues in Holocaust Studies and the Second World War

Marius Turda, *In Search of the Perfect Romanian: National Specificity, Racial Degeneration, and Social Selection in Modern Romania*. Budapest: Central European University Press, 2026

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553426/fan_mail/new] This study investigates the discourse on the Romanian national identity and race spanning from the 1880s to the 1950s. It asserts that in the early 1940s, anti-Semitism and anti-Roma racism were significant elements in the ethnic purification campaigns of the Ion Antonescu regime. The doctrines of racism and eugenics not only legitimized the deportation and extermination of Jews but also targeted the Roma. Consequently, the Holocaust in Romania should be interpreted as a result of both anti-Semitism and biopolitical nationalism. Finally, the book reveals that the eugenic ideal of the 'perfect' Romanian continued to exist after 1945, becoming part of the socialist vision of the 'new man' and the 'ideal' society that developed during the communist era.

Pontus Järvstad, *Postwar Mnemonic Anti‑Fascism: From the Spanish Question to the Nordic Committees against the Greek Junta, 1946–1974*. New York: Routledge, 2026.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553426/fan_mail/new] This book investigates the transnational initiatives and political activism of a Nordic social movement formed to resist the junta that seized power in Greece after the military coup of 1967. The focus is primarily on the anti-fascist aspects of the opposition movement. It demonstrates how the various committees established across the Nordic nations framed their resistance to the military regime as a continuation of the historical struggle against fascism. As a result, even in the midst of the profound ideological divide between the Soviet Union and the United States, Nordic politicians and activists were able to rise above political ideologies during the Cold War. While encompassing a broad political spectrum, the Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish Committees were largely shaped by social democratic members. Nevertheless, it is clear that despite their strong connections with social democratic governments, these anti-fascist activists were prepared to breach legal boundaries in their clandestine efforts to unify the Greek democratic opposition, advocating for the assassination of Junta officials and direct resistance actions within Greece. This book argues that the Nordic Committees on Spain and Greece fostered a collective anti-fascist identity. By labeling these regimes as fascist, the activists sought to rekindle the historical battle against fascism in a post-war setting. This transnational social movement gained momentum for its cause by evoking memories of the past, particularly the Spanish Civil War and the Nazi occupation of Denmark and Norway. The military coup in Greece was viewed as a 'critical juncture,' disrupting the established democratic order and heightening fears of fascism in Europe. This book is likely to attract scholars interested in anti-fascism, social movements, memory studies, and the far right.

Nadia Wheatley, *Strange New World: Belsen's First Year of Freedom*. Melbourne, Australia: Monash University Press, 2026.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553426/fan_mail/new] The liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on April 15, 1945, was hailed as a major British triumph over Nazi Germany. Yet, for the 55,000 survivors of the 'Horror Camp', this newfound liberty was accompanied by profound grief: a quarter of them died in the following five weeks. For many who lived through it, liberation meant barbed wire, military control, and a different kind of imprisonment. Relocated to a nearby army barracks, which would soon evolve into Europe’s largest Jewish Displaced Persons’ camp, the survivors faced widespread illness, bureaucratic indifference, and an uncertain future. Josef Rosensaft, a Jewish political figure in the camp, characterized the first year of freedom as 'more oppressive to our souls than the years in the hell of Auschwitz and Belsen': “we saw before us a new kind of world, cold and strange”. This monograph reveals the untold narrative of the Belsen survivors. They refused to be seen merely as victims, opting instead to reclaim their agency, foster a community, and forge new lives from the ruins. Their story resonates today as millions of displaced people worldwide navigate the difficult terrain between rescue and true freedom. Listeners are invited to learn more about Nadia Wheatley's work on her website. Link: https://www.nadiawheatley.com.

Grace Huang, *Chiang Kai-Shek's Politics of Shame: Leadership, Legacy and National Identity in China*. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2021.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553426/fan_mail/new] Once a powerful leader who prevented the disintegration of China and led the nation to triumph alongside the Allies during World War II, Chiang Kai-shek eventually found himself in exile following his defeat in the Chinese civil war in 1949. As attention turned to Mao Zedong’s communist policies, Chiang was relegated to the pages of history. In this examination, Grace C. Huang reassesses Chiang’s leadership and legacy by employing a remarkable and unfiltered collection of his diaries, telegrams, and speeches carefully compiled by his aides. She creates a new and engaging portrayal of this twentieth-century figure who advocated for a Confucian political approach based on shame to confront the Japanese invasion of China and promote unity among his fellow citizens. By also comparing Chiang’s responses to imperialism with those of Mao, Yuan Shikai, and Mahatma Gandhi, Huang broadens the implications of her findings to explore alternatives to Western nationalism and modernity, demonstrating how leaders of vulnerable nations can leverage significant cultural tools to inspire their people and cultivate a lasting national identity.

Christopher Harrison, *Genocidal Conscription: Drafting Victims and Perpetrators under the Guise of War*. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2023.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553426/fan_mail/new] In this monograph, Christopher Harrison delineates and contrasts the tactics used by two genocidal regimes engaged in warfare – the Ottoman Empire during World War One and Hungary under Axis control in World War Two – which instituted specific military service policies to seize and eradicate their targets amidst the disorder of modern warfare. Following this historical comparative examination, Harrison summarizes significant implications and ongoing issues. The conclusion provides insights into conscription practices by contemporary authoritarian regimes. By analyzing these histories and crises, the book suggests that multiple states are currently at risk of enacting genocidal conscription. While it is challenging and unlikely, due to political disincentives, the implications of this analysis consider reforms that may prevent states from repeating similar policies and actions in the future.