4.18

5

Jul 08, 2019

The information is provided through the author’s first hand account as a court reporter of the Nazi doctor’s crimes at the Nuremberg trials.
She presents the chapters through the different Nazi experiments on humans. For example, there is a chapter on freezing experiments, another chapter on sterilization, another chapter on mustard gas experiments, etc… Because the chapters are divided in this manner, it makes it easy to use for research purposes while for the common reader it allows you to The information is provided through the author’s first hand account as a court reporter of the Nazi doctor’s crimes at the Nuremberg trials.
She presents the chapters through the different Nazi experiments on humans. For example, there is a chapter on freezing experiments, another chapter on sterilization, another chapter on mustard gas experiments, etc… Because the chapters are divided in this manner, it makes it easy to use for research purposes while for the common reader it allows you to easily obtain the information.

The facts are explained through the Nuremberg testimonies as reported by the court. It is not the entire report, but only the pertinent information for the purpose of the book. The reports account for dialogue between both the prisoners, Nazi’s, judge, witnesses, and prosecutors. The author explains the court reports before and after exposing them to provide background information. She uses language that is understandable for the common layman to comprehend. Photos are included throughout this book.

Keep in mind that this is a memoir, which is considered literary nonfiction. So, there are moments when she does recount her thoughts and feelings during this time. Occasionally, she will discuss her life in Germany while working as a young reporter; this adds to the setting during this time since her and other reporters had no warm running water etc…as a result of the war.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the facts during the Holocaust, specifically the atrocities committed by Nazi doctors to innocent civilians in Germany. ...more

2

May 20, 2010

Well written book, but I felt a bit hoodwinked. The title suggested a more comprehensive picture of the atrocities committed by medical professionals within the Third Reich. However the book is really a summary of court room testimonies as recorded by one of the court reporters. The author also gives a brief glimpse in to the climate (physical and emotional) of Nuremberg during the secondary trials and her life after returning to the US.

Interestingly, one of the witnesses for the prosecution was Well written book, but I felt a bit hoodwinked. The title suggested a more comprehensive picture of the atrocities committed by medical professionals within the Third Reich. However the book is really a summary of court room testimonies as recorded by one of the court reporters. The author also gives a brief glimpse in to the climate (physical and emotional) of Nuremberg during the secondary trials and her life after returning to the US.

Interestingly, one of the witnesses for the prosecution was Dr. Eugon Kogon who survived a concentration camp (I think it was Dachau). His book, written shortly after liberation of the camp, gives a much better account of experiences in the camp. You can find it here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45... ...more

4

Nov 11, 2016

Documented history, hopefully never to be lost. A fresh approach to the Nuremberg trials and the atrocities of the Holocaust. Spitz, the youngest court reporter during this time of testimony, writes with a profound sense of truth and a no nonsense dedication to facts.

2

Dec 30, 2009

One of my Christmas presents? Couldn't we pick something a little more more cheerful?

1

Mar 23, 2008

Considering the author was the court reporter...of course the book is highly detailed. She also does a good job reporting from a non insider point of view, especially just about how things were run, how she got to be in the trial and all of that. When it came down to the trials themselves and what was said, if you're a world war II buff, this is really good. She definitely did a good thing, putting all this information out there. If you have any interest in the topic at all this is the book for Considering the author was the court reporter...of course the book is highly detailed. She also does a good job reporting from a non insider point of view, especially just about how things were run, how she got to be in the trial and all of that. When it came down to the trials themselves and what was said, if you're a world war II buff, this is really good. She definitely did a good thing, putting all this information out there. If you have any interest in the topic at all this is the book for you.

I personally got the book to find out about the nazi experiments while there was plenty of information on that topic it wasn't really what I was looking for. the book focused more on her getting to the trial and how it changed her and what she saw back home. I feel like the title was false advertising in that regard. If you're looking for more information on the nazi medical experiments and don't already have a solid base knowledge then start here.

But for those, like me, looking for more obscure knowledge on the subject , go somewhere else. ...more

4

Mar 14, 2015

Quick take (thanks to an ongoing hand injury that doesn't like typing):

3.5 stars, really, but I'll grant it a 4 because it's such a unique perspective on otherwise available information. Spitz intersperses her Nuremberg transcripts with personal wartime anecdotes that make it easier to imagine what being in the presence of evil was really like.

On the other hand, the detours outside of the courtroom may be taken as false advertising courtesy of the title of this book. It's not, as one might Quick take (thanks to an ongoing hand injury that doesn't like typing):

3.5 stars, really, but I'll grant it a 4 because it's such a unique perspective on otherwise available information. Spitz intersperses her Nuremberg transcripts with personal wartime anecdotes that make it easier to imagine what being in the presence of evil was really like.

On the other hand, the detours outside of the courtroom may be taken as false advertising courtesy of the title of this book. It's not, as one might expect, a dispassionate 300 wall to wall pages of Nazi horrors; Spitz spends a chapter here and there illustrating postwar Germany and America, and it does take a while for her to bring us into the court with her young self. I was a bit impatient in the beginning, but by the end - and after a dozen chapters illuminating some of the most upsetting and repulsive things humanity has ever done - I welcomed the sidelines about how she dealt with her job on a personal level. It took me out of the terrible things too vividly conjured in my own head by the haunted words of Dachau survivors.

Overall this is a well-researched, finely remembered account of the doctors who were tried for war crimes. Once you get to the details of the experiments you may find yourself wishing you'd turned back; I felt quite ill at points, and I'm pretty well versed in my WWII history. The witness testimony will shake even the most unshakable reader, and the total lack of guilt or remorse from the defendants is still a total gut-punch 70+ years later. The Kindle version has some formatting problems that make a few of the transcribed sections difficult to follow, but that's a fairly minor quibble in the face of this insider access.

If you're looking for an entry-level book on the subject of the Nazi experiments and the Nuremberg trials, this will work for you. If you're a bit more advanced you may want to seek out a more specific, "deep dive" kind of book instead. Truth be told, though...for me, the level of detail in DOCTORS FROM HELL was more than enough. I can barely figure out how I'll ever get those chapters out of the front of my mind, let alone imagine wanting to read more about them.

You've been warned. It's almost certainly worse than your history classes let on. I'm at a loss. ...more

5

May 25, 2015

If I were setting a curriculum for anyone seeking any degree in any medical profession and/or governmental profession, I would make this required reading. Actually, I think I would make ethics be a required course for all and it would include this book. We often think of terrible atrocities carried committed against mankind are only done by the most uncivilized, least advanced societies. This book proves that nothing could be further from the truth. People need to see what can happen when the If I were setting a curriculum for anyone seeking any degree in any medical profession and/or governmental profession, I would make this required reading. Actually, I think I would make ethics be a required course for all and it would include this book. We often think of terrible atrocities carried committed against mankind are only done by the most uncivilized, least advanced societies. This book proves that nothing could be further from the truth. People need to see what can happen when the state is exalted and science is misused to advance the state and God's teaching to love one's fellow man is rejected. It soon becomes all to easy for the individual to be 'dehumanized'. If he be considered an enemy to the state he can be referred to as a 'human guinea pig', or a 'rabbit', or even 'material' and the results can be horrific. I am confident that God has blessed and may he continue to bless Vivian Spitz for having the courage to right this book.
...more

4

Dec 31, 2009

This well written memoir/historical account reveals the horrifying torture and experiments that took place in some of the death camps. Compelling story of how these men were brought to justice.

5

Oct 18, 2016

A very insightful book in regards to one of the most horrific moments in history. Vivian Spitz writes a factual based book about a major worldwide trial.

5

Apr 20, 2015

My God, my God, my God!

I wasn't taught in schools what truly happened in the Holocaust-merely that Adolph was a monster and that many Jews died. did a book report on the origins of the monster's roots-Shicklgruber. Now I have the time to study. I look at Castro, Kim Kong il, Osama, Saddam, Iran, Isis. history is repeating.We need Leaders like Netanyahu. what can I do for Israel?

3

Jan 05, 2014

There are still secular humanists.
Even after two world wars.
Even after the holocaust.
Even after the doctors of the Third Reich. These were the finest minds and most upstanding citizens of Germany. They were the ones who should have known better and should have cared more. Even as we learn of the experiments they performed on living people, without their consent, and in contradistinction to the Hippocratic oath, there are still secular humanists.

We live in an age of confidence in man's There are still secular humanists.
Even after two world wars.
Even after the holocaust.
Even after the doctors of the Third Reich. These were the finest minds and most upstanding citizens of Germany. They were the ones who should have known better and should have cared more. Even as we learn of the experiments they performed on living people, without their consent, and in contradistinction to the Hippocratic oath, there are still secular humanists.

We live in an age of confidence in man's nature, but that's because we are ignoring books like this. Man has a mean streak. If that meanness isn’t controlled, we're in trouble. If that meanness is encouraged, God help us. ...more

5

Jul 09, 2018

If you're looking for a book that goes into great detail about what the Nazi Doctors actually did to their victims then this isn't the book for you. It's an account of one court reporter's experiences during the Nuremburg trials, and only gives an overview of the crimes committed that she transcribed and by proxy witnessed. Arguably the most horrific thing was the collection of final statements by Nazi Doctors and their collaborators at the end of the book. Even before being executed, these men If you're looking for a book that goes into great detail about what the Nazi Doctors actually did to their victims then this isn't the book for you. It's an account of one court reporter's experiences during the Nuremburg trials, and only gives an overview of the crimes committed that she transcribed and by proxy witnessed. Arguably the most horrific thing was the collection of final statements by Nazi Doctors and their collaborators at the end of the book. Even before being executed, these men and women insisted what they did was right and for the benefit of humanity. Absolutely chilling. And seeing that we have a Nazi resurgence going on in the world right now, it's worth it to go back and study this history since it's all repeating. ...more

4

Mar 16, 2015

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In recent years I have done projects that talked about the kinds of human experimentation that went on during WWII, but I wanted more. I found out about this book while looking at site for more information. Sadly, I didn't have the money or a place to go check it out. Summer rolled around and I had happened to have taken a trip to the Holocaust Museum and in the gift shop I found what I was looking for. Reading it in about a day and then a few more time after that, I felt a little disappointed. In recent years I have done projects that talked about the kinds of human experimentation that went on during WWII, but I wanted more. I found out about this book while looking at site for more information. Sadly, I didn't have the money or a place to go check it out. Summer rolled around and I had happened to have taken a trip to the Holocaust Museum and in the gift shop I found what I was looking for. Reading it in about a day and then a few more time after that, I felt a little disappointed. I enjoyed that I got to read through the trials and see what it was like to see through the eyes of someone reporting on it, but honestly, I thought I was going to get to read in a little more on the kinds of doctors that had taken part of it. Getting a little more incite on them. Other than that, having read the book and enjoying the amount of information and detailed explanations of what happened, I would have to give it a 4. Overall, I enjoyed it. ...more

1

Dec 27, 2016

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I tried so hard and got so far (Page 190), but in the end I just couldn't finish this book.

If you're looking for a book about the accounts of Nazi experiments on humans, there are several other titles that will give you more than enough information without forcing you to wade through unnecessary descriptions of the black market value of cigarettes. This book would have fared so much better as an autobiography, as an overwhelming amount of time was spent describing the author outside of the I tried so hard and got so far (Page 190), but in the end I just couldn't finish this book.

If you're looking for a book about the accounts of Nazi experiments on humans, there are several other titles that will give you more than enough information without forcing you to wade through unnecessary descriptions of the black market value of cigarettes. This book would have fared so much better as an autobiography, as an overwhelming amount of time was spent describing the author outside of the courtroom. Many of the chapters equally split focus between transcripts and how the author felt about trivial subjects, such as her roommate or space heaters. The introduction provided just enough, if not more, information as the chapters as the author literally lists out everything that she will be talking about in the book.

The chapters include odd sub-headers in an obnoxiously large font that seem to be generated at random; some state dates, some list names, some describe a scene in the following paragraphs. Some of these sections go on for pages; some last a single paragraph.

Almost all of the chapters were laid out in a repetitive format: the date of the experiments, why the Nazis stated that they were performing the experiments, a poorly edited transcript (overloaded with unnecessary information such as the martial status and current residency of the victim), and the same conclusion that the end (that there was no scientific grounds for the experiments).

The book also had an annoying habit of referring to itself in the middle of narration.

Honestly, the fact that the author touched on so many of the experiments and victims earned her some brownie points. But please, save yourself some time and read another book. ...more

4

Jun 22, 2019

This was honestly probably one of the hardest books I’ve ever read. While I wish there were more details about the crimes, at the same time I don’t think I would have been able to finish it if there were.

5

Jul 10, 2011

Review Written by Bernie Weisz Historian contact: BernWei1@aol.com July 10, 2011 Pembroke Pines, Florida U.S.A. Title of Review: Demented Doctors infected with the insanity of National Socialism Lilian Spitz's book hands down takes the cake in showing the depravity of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and the depths that even their medical profession descended into. Ms. Spitz gives a bone chilling account of human depravity and the ultimate justice she witnessed as a court reporter for the Nuremberg Review Written by Bernie Weisz Historian contact: BernWei1@aol.com July 10, 2011 Pembroke Pines, Florida U.S.A. Title of Review: Demented Doctors infected with the insanity of National Socialism Lilian Spitz's book hands down takes the cake in showing the depravity of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and the depths that even their medical profession descended into. Ms. Spitz gives a bone chilling account of human depravity and the ultimate justice she witnessed as a court reporter for the Nuremberg war crimes trial of Nazi Doctors. With trial transcripts and previously unreleased photographs included in this book that were actually used as evidence in the trial, an account of torture and murder by experiment in the name of science and distorted National Socialistic patriotism is told. Aside from explaining what it was like to live for eighteen months in bombed-out, dangerous, post-war Nuremburg without hot water and electricity while working on the trial, the reader is taken with Ms. Spitz into the courtroom to hear the demonic testimony and see the reactions of the defendants to the proceedings. Adolf Hitler's doctors used unwilling Concentration Camp victims and Russian prisoners of war (as well as political prisoners) as unwilling subjects in these experiments and tests.

These subjects were usually lied to and promised an easier life, better food, or release...of course, all lies. Spitz starts off reminding readers of the oath all doctors supposedly must take, i.e. the "Hippocratic Oath" which states: "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work. Whatever house I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves". How much did the Nazi's abide by this? Ms. Spitz points out in her book that after Hitler became Chancellor, compulsory sterilization laws were enacted to sterilize people born with congenital mental defects, schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, hereditary epilepsy and severe alcoholism. Nazi doctors, despite their "Hippocratic Oath" saw to this. Next, came euthanasia of "useless eaters", i.e. welfare recipients, the elderly and infirm, terminal cancer patients, and the like.

Once again, Nazi doctors saw to this "mercy killing". World War II broke out with Germany's invasion of Poland on Sept. 1st, 1939. Spitz writes: "In 1940, carbon monoxide was the agent of choice, and 70,000 mental patients in German hospitals were reported in meticulously kept records to have been killed, but cause of death was falsified. In 1941, with the invasion of Russia, "Einsatzgruppen" (unique units of soldiers) with the specific mission of murdering Jews, Gypsies, and mental patients, moved with the armies into conquered territories. In December, 1941, Heinrich Himmler and the doctors that carried out the "euthanasia" combed the concentration camps for those who were unable to work or were otherwise undesirable, resulting in a vast number of deaths by the poison gas "Zyklon B". In 1941, Jews were touted by Adolf Hitler as "beings of another species" thus dehumanizing them and giving the German nation permission to act on their most sordid impulses. What type of doctor would perform gruesome and illegal experiments on innocent human beings? Spitz suggests: "Some German doctors sought the glory of professional distinction among peers through contributing to the welfare of humanity only as an abstract art. To them it was not unlike the amputation of a gangrenous limb or excising a malignant growth.

The doctors obliterated all impulses of compassion and ruthlessly pursued those impulses that were necessary to promote the well being of the state, which they identified utterly. Add martial music, torchlight parades, and the skill of propagandists to manipulate emotions, commingling national pride and hatred for a fabricated internal enemy. All that, plus awareness of the egocentric nature of human beings, dispelled the need for esoteric theories to explain the behavior of a nation not yet recovered from the humiliating and impoverishing consequences of a lost war". To give a good idea of what Spitz graphically describes in some very difficult and painful reading, here were the charges read against the Nazi doctors at Nuremburg as quoted by Brigadier General Telford Taylor's courtroom reading. After reading this, the reader may want to reconsider if he or she can stomach this book! Telford asserted: "Between September 1939 and April, 1945 all of the defendants herein unlawfully committed war crimes involving medical experiments without the subject's consent, upon civilians and members of the armed forces of nations then at war with the German Reich, murders, brutalities, cruelties, tortures, atrocities, and other inhumane acts.

Such experiments included, but were not limited to the following: "High-Altitude Experiments". Carried out in a low pressure chamber in which the atmospheric conditions and pressures prevailing at high altitude (up to 68,000 feet) could be duplicated, many victims died as a result of these experiments and others suffered grave injury, torture and ill treatment. "Freezing Experiments" Victims were placed in a tank of ice water for up to 3 hours, or kept naked outdoors for hours at below freezing temperatures, during which numerous victims died. "Malaria Experiments" Over 1000 involuntary subjects were infected by mosquitoes, or by injections of extracts of the mucous glands of mosquitoes, who then contracted malaria, many of whom died, while others suffered severe pain and permanent disability. "Mustard Gas Experiments" Wounds were deliberately inflicted on victims and then infected with poisonous gas, some of whom died and others suffered intense pain and injury. "Sulfanilamide Experiments" Wounds were deliberately inflicted on experimental subjects and were infected with streptococcus, gas gangrene, and tetanus, and then wood shavings and ground glass were forces into the wounds, resulting in deaths, serious injury and intense agony.

Next, there was "Bone, Muscle, and Nerve Regeneration and Bone Transplantation Experiments" Sections of bones, muscles, and nerves were removed from the victims, resulting in intense agony, mutilation, permanent disability, and death. "Sea Water Experiments" Subjects were deprived of all food and given only chemically processed sea water, causing great pain, suffering, serious bodily injury and madness. "Epidemic Jaundice Experiments" Subjects were deliberately infected with epidemic jaundice resulting in pain, suffering, and death. "Sterilization Experiments" Thousands of victims were sterilized by x-ray, surgery, and drugs, causing great mental and physical anguish. "Typhus Experiments" Hundreds of deliberately infected persons experimented upon died-over 90%. "Experiments with Poison" Poisons were secretly administered to experimental subjects in their food, all of whom died or who were deliberately killed to permit autopsies. Poison bullets were shot into other victims, who suffered torture and death. "Incendiary Bomb Experiments" Burns were inflicted on subjects with phosphorous taken from the bombs, causing severe pain, suffering, and serious bodily injury.

One hundred and twelve Jews were selected, killed, and "defleshed" for completing a skeleton collection for the Reich University of Strasbourg in France under Nazi occupation. Tens of thousands of Polish nationals alleged to be infected with incurable tuberculoses were ruthlessly exterminated while others were isolated in death camps with inadequate medical facilities. Through the exercise of the "euthanasia" program of the German Reich, hundreds of thousands of human beings, including nationals of German-occupied countries, were murdered. This involved the systematic and secret execution of the aged, insane, incurably ill, deformed children, and other persons by gas, lethal injections and diverse other means in nursing homes, hospitals, and asylums. These people were termed "useless eaters" and a burden to the German war machine. Relatives of these victims were informed that they died from natural causes, such as heart failure. German doctors involved in the "euthanasia" program were also sent to Eastern occupied countries to assist in mass extermination of Jews".

Lillian Spitz goes into great detail of each experiment, the doctor(s) involved, their photos, their illogical demented justification of the necessity of these demonic experiments, their defense at Nuremburg, and the legal consequences (4 doctors and 3 assistants were sentenced to death and hung). In reading this book, I had a great deal of trouble remaining dispassionate emotionally and to keep my composure I made sure I read this nowhere close to bedtime. I must warn the reader there are some very ugly and obscene pictures of bizarre, non medical experiments, such as the "pool of detached legs". There is the deposition of former "Waffen SS" member Kurt Gersten who graphically described the entire killing process of Jewish men, women and children walking into the gas chamber, the looks on their faces, the screams of the dying coming out of the gas chamber, and the description of the bodies after the gassing that has me shaking even now as I type these words. Not for the faint hearted! This was the toughest reading I have ever come across in my life.

There is also a part where many years later Ms. Spitz is confronted with a "Holocaust Denier" who claimed that the aforementioned events never occurred. Ms. Spitz's response to this individual is inspiring, heart warming and very redemptive. This book ends with Ms. Spitz warning society with a prophetic quote from George Santana, which states: "Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The past is prologue to the future". Among all the thousands of history books I have read in my life, this is one of the most important, vital stories I have ever come across, reminding mankind that whenever a doctor uses their medical services or professional skills against the patient's interests or deviates away from a position of individual patient advocacy in therapy or research, he or she starts down a slippery slope paralleling the Nazi doctors discussed in this horrifying story. Please read this book ...more

4

Feb 23, 2019

Rated:3.5/5
We must never forget that the record on which we judge the defendants today is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow.

I was very excited to read this book as I have always been fascinated with the accounts of victims of a war, especially World War II.

The book is written by the youngest reporter of the Nuremberg trials. The book starts off a little slow. Vivien Spitz tries to familiarize us with the war-torn Germany she will live in for almost two years. Hence, in Rated:3.5/5
We must never forget that the record on which we judge the defendants today is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow.

I was very excited to read this book as I have always been fascinated with the accounts of victims of a war, especially World War II.

The book is written by the youngest reporter of the Nuremberg trials. The book starts off a little slow. Vivien Spitz tries to familiarize us with the war-torn Germany she will live in for almost two years. Hence, in the beginning I kind of felt cheated. The actual witness accounts started after 30% of the book had finished.

This book, even though very informative, is not as gruesome as one would expect. Yes, it is horrifying and you have a hard time believing doctors could be capable of treating people as “material” or “thing”. But still, this book had more of an autobiographical element to it. My rating would’ve been much if this were an autobiography of Vivien Spitz.

Lastly, this book is not for those people who already have a lot of knowledge regarding experiments that were done in the medicine field. If you’re more interested in the actual recording and the trial proceedings, then you may find this book interesting.

Overall, I loved the idea of the book, but it could’ve been so much better.

"The dead were still standing like stone statues, there having been no room for them to fall or bend over.”
...more

4

Apr 28, 2018

Adolf Hitler was a cruel, self-centered man driven by demonic dreams of grandeur. It is no wonder, then, that the German medical establishment that his National Socialist Party co-opted pursued their "scientific" aims with a sadistic and brutal methodology that negated much, if not all, the vaulted aims of the enterprise. Vivien Spitz was a court reporter at Nuremberg. As a young woman, she spent nearly two years hearing first hand testimony from medical experiment survivors, coerced Adolf Hitler was a cruel, self-centered man driven by demonic dreams of grandeur. It is no wonder, then, that the German medical establishment that his National Socialist Party co-opted pursued their "scientific" aims with a sadistic and brutal methodology that negated much, if not all, the vaulted aims of the enterprise. Vivien Spitz was a court reporter at Nuremberg. As a young woman, she spent nearly two years hearing first hand testimony from medical experiment survivors, coerced concentration camp "health" workers, and accused state medical personnel. The experience haunted her the rest of her long and productive life. Her book is a strong antidote against the poison of Holocaust denial. ...more

4

Sep 17, 2019

To what degree of barbarism will well educated elites devolve in order to support the goals of the state? This book is an eyewitness account of the Nuremberg trials of the Nazi doctor who committed horrendous experiments in the name of science and the state. The author at age 22 was a court reporter for the trials of of the medical professionals who dehumanized and brutalized those deemed as worthless to the Reich and humanity. It serves as a warning to the future of how political views and a To what degree of barbarism will well educated elites devolve in order to support the goals of the state? This book is an eyewitness account of the Nuremberg trials of the Nazi doctor who committed horrendous experiments in the name of science and the state. The author at age 22 was a court reporter for the trials of of the medical professionals who dehumanized and brutalized those deemed as worthless to the Reich and humanity. It serves as a warning to the future of how political views and a cooperative or passive citizenry can help create an environment that makes unthinkable atrocities occur. This a good read for the 21st century and its conflicts on the topics diversity, immigration, and genocide. ...more

4

Nov 21, 2018

I suspect that if you have already read transcripts from the trials, this book would fall short. However, as a book focussing on one single aspect of them, it makes for a riveting read.

I particularly liked the point of view of the young woman as Vivien was, when she found herself in a strange place in a strange land dealing with the most awful information imaginable. How it affected her at the time and since was a nice, additional touch.

It's a swift read and a gory insight into some of the worst I suspect that if you have already read transcripts from the trials, this book would fall short. However, as a book focussing on one single aspect of them, it makes for a riveting read.

I particularly liked the point of view of the young woman as Vivien was, when she found herself in a strange place in a strange land dealing with the most awful information imaginable. How it affected her at the time and since was a nice, additional touch.

It's a swift read and a gory insight into some of the worst of the experiments carried out. I am sure there are better books on the subject, but this is a good introduction. ...more

5

Jun 23, 2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A beautifully written account of the worst of humanity. I'm haunted by author Vivien's note towards the end of the book: "When we are born in the United States, we are born with blessings we take for granted. We will not be arrested, bludgeoned, tortured, and exterminated solely because of our race, religion, or political activity." This, from a book published in 2005. And where are we now?

4

Apr 01, 2018

An interesting and thought provoking novel that really makes you think about the power of medical professionals - how much power they have; how morals and ethics affect humanity and how scientific questions for the "greater good" cannot be at the cost of human life. how consent and liberty is fundamental. A heartbreaking but important read

4

Nov 16, 2018

Not what I expected when I picked this book up. I was thinking it was stories about the horrible things done by these evil doctors. But instead it is a transcript of the nuemberg trials and testimonial of actual patients of these doctors and the court reporter. It's fascinating. Dry at times, but very easy to put yours in the court watching the whole proceeding.

5

Jun 11, 2019

An excellent resource, and an account which must be remembered, even if it is an emotionally difficult read. Seems especially pointed in the current political climate, in which white nationalism is on the rise yet again and implicitly sanctioned by portions of the American government.

4

Nov 18, 2019

A difficult read for the material it handled. The writing was superb for a non fiction book and impressive for all the intricate details. Perfect for collectors of WWII history buffs but most definitely not for the faint of heart.