The Holocaust was masterminded by the Germans, but it would not have been possible without the assistance of thousands of helpers in other countries: state officials, police, and civilians who supported the genocide. If we are to fully understand how and why it happened, Götz Aly argues, we must examine the Holocaust's origins throughout Europe. Looking back to the 19th century, Aly notes how the upward mobility of the Jewish people fueled a surge of anti-Semitism, creating the preconditions for deportations and murder in decades to come.

"Sweeping and persuasive…. This expertly researched account is destined to influence future histories of the Holocaust."—Publishers Weekly