Primary witnessing; in its original forms-from survivor and bystander testimonies; to memoirs and diaries-inform our cultural understanding of the multiple experiences of the Holocaust. Henri Lustiger Thaler and Habbo Knoch look at many of these expressions of primary witnessing in Witnessing Unbound: Holocaust Representation and the Origins of Memory; which is particularly relevant today with the hastening decline of the Holocaust survivor demographic and the cultural spaces for representation it leaves in its wake; in addition to the inevitable and cyclical search for generational relevancy; siphoned through acts of memory.The essays in Witnessing Unbound are written by some of the leading figures on the theme of witnessing as well as scholars exploring new primary sources of knowledge about the Holocaust and genocide. These include a focus on the victims: the perished and survivors whose discursive worlds are captured in testimonies; diaries; and memoirs; the witnessing of peasant bystanders to the terror; historical religious writing by rabbis during and after the war as a proto memoir for destroyed communities; and the archive as a solitary witness; a constructed memory in the aftermath of a genocide. The experiences showcased and analyzed within this memorializing focus introduce previously unknown voices; and end with reflections on the Belzec Memorial and Museum. One survivor moves hearts with the simple insight; "I died in Auschwitz; but no one knows [sees] it." In counterpoint is a court case with SS General Karl Wolff; who has conveniently forgotten his crimes during the Holocaust. Original experience and its reimagination within contemporary frameworks make sense of an event that continues to adapt and change metaphorically and globally. As one of the contributors writes: "In my mind; the 'era of the witness' begins when the historical narrative consists of first-person accounts." Witnessing Unbound augers in the near completion of that defining era; by introducing a collection of diverse reflections and mediations on witnessing and memory. A must-read for the further understanding of the Holocaust; its cruel reality; and its afterdeath.
#1434314 in Books Colin Edward Woodward 2014-03-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 6.25 x 1.00l; 1.25 #File Name: 0813935415296 pagesMarching Masters Slavery Race and the Confederate Army during the Civil War A Nation Divided Studies in the Civil War Era
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An exploration of the relationship of slaves and slavery to Confederate soldiers. An intriguing read.By lyndonbrechtThis book examines slavery and its impact on Confederate identity and the Confederate army. It's a fairly short book but full of information and I found it thought-provoking. The South's most valuable property in dollar terms was slaves; and slave-based economic activities was the key element in Southern prosperity. The social system was based on white supremacy maintained by force. The book began as a dissertation and here has been turned into a book--that is a recipe for a difficult book; but in this case it's highly readable.There's a lot of still heated debate about the relevancy of slavery to the Civil War; as other reviews indicate. Whatever your feelings on the mater are; there can be no denying that slavery was a determining characteristic of the South; and in wartime represented both an asset (freeing up white men from labor to military service) and a danger (slave rebellion was feared). Here's the author's view: "Whether or not men owned African Americans; Confederate soldiers believed that slavery was an economically beneficial; divinely ordained institution that maintained a racially structured social order in the South..." Woodward researched heavily into letters; journals and other material by Confederate soldiers and veterans.In the Army of Northern Virginia (Lee's outfit) one in ten soldiers and one in two officers owned slaves. Interestingly soldier's letters sometimes referred to harsh military discipline as a kind of slavery (punishments included whipping; for example).Chapter 2 looks at race; social class and the Confederate soldier. Chapter 3 covers the Army's use of black labor; sometimes paid; sometimes drafted slaves (from their owners); who dug trenches; built fortifications; used as haulers; teamsters and much else. Oddly some blacks were not drafted in this sense because the legislation did not apply to free blacks of whom there were 260;000 in the South in 1860. Chapter 4 discusses slaves and soldiers in camp--some soldiers had a slave from home with them (and sometimes these bonds were very close and sometimes also blood relations); who might do such tasks as forage for food; cook; wash clothes; and sometimes care for the sick. Such slaves were often actually paid. Lee's army in its invasion of Pennsylvania was accompanied by 6;000 blacks; who were not soldiers but were important as wagon drivers and other roles.Chapter 5 looks at emancipation and the problem of slave loyalty. Large numbers of slaves were seized by the Union forces. Confederates seem to have thought that most of the slaves were compelled to leave rather than being refugees from slavery. Some 200;000 came to be enrolled in USCT--US Colored Troops. Chapter 6 discusses how Confederate soldiers dealt with facing Union black troops--often with murderous rage; killing prisoners and sometimes their white officers. Black troops sometimes returned the favor. Union black troops captured seem to have sometimes been sold into slavery; even if before serving they had been free. Chapter 7 covers the intriguing topic of Confederates advocating arming slaves as Confederate troops; an idea seriously advocated by several Confederate officers and at the very end of the war; legislation was passed allowing creation of black units but freedom was not offered them. Chapter 8 looks at Confederate soldiers in the aftermath of war; including reconstruction.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. The Men; the Moment; the MovementBy SimkoI am writing here to support these recent titles in CW history that make such fine; detailed use of archival material. Much like; 'Taken at the Flood' which clarifies the numbers involved in the combat fields at the battle of Antietam; we gain new perspectives from an 'on the ground' view; i.e.; what actually happened; or was said; not what people later said happened. (Although that's of interest too.)I have two titles to suggest that overlap the themes of 'Marching Masters.' One is 'Confederate Reckoning' by McCurry. The author goes into much detail on the subject of the Confederate experience of Black people during the war; thei changing perception of passive allies to adversaries and the collective decision by Black people to launch what is one of the most successful 5th Column Movements in history; The story of The Soldier's Wives' movement breathes new life into what most people; day to day; encountered in southern social/economic life. Also; Glatthaar's 'Lee's Army from Victory to Collapse.' This book paints a picture of extended family 19th century farm society in the South; which assumed a near universal presence of Black labor available seasonally; men and women. I also gleaned from it that R.E. Lee was a Federalist! His advice to Davis on how to mobilize society would make Washington proud.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must have for those who study the Civil War !By 1861 SouthI found Colin Woodward's book a most thoughtful and even handed examination of not only the Civil War but the Confederate soldier's perspective on slavery. I have recommended this to several of my friends who collect CW books. Excellent !
