FDR and the Holocaust : a breach of faith

The legendary image of Franklin D. Roosevelt as a liberal and humanitarian president who was concerned for the downtrodden conflicts with his response to the Nazi persecution of European Jewry. During the years of Nazi rule in Germany, the Roosevelt administration ignored the plight of European Jews, obstructed opportunities for their rescue, closed the country's doors before refugees (ca. 190,000 quota spaces for refugees from the Reich were not used during 1933-45), refused to bomb Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, etc. Contemporary evidence shows FDR not only as cold and indifferent toward the Jewish tragedy, but also as mildly antisemitic and racist; moreover, he was tolerant to outright antisemites in his administration. Dismisses the myths that the U.S. had no means and ways of rescue, and that any rescue initiative was doomed due to antisemitic and anti-immigrant sentiments widespread in the USA at this time. On the contrary, many Americans opposed Nazism and were prepared to support the Jews. Dismisses, also, the myth that David Ben-Gurion and some other influential Jewish leaders also opposed bombing Auschwitz - a myth that helps to absolve the U.S. administration. Dwells on the ambivalent position of Rabbi Stephen Wise, who could condemn FDR's policy behind closed doors but never criticized him publicly. Dwells, also, on historiography on this subject, especially David Wyman's "The Abandonment of the Jews". Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-269) and index. viii, 317 pages ; 23 cm