"The pages of history recall scarcely any parallel episode at once so romantic in character and so extensive in scale." -- Winston S. Churchill In 1917, two empires that had dominated much of Europe and Asia teetered on the edge of the abyss, exhausted by the ruinous cost in blood and treasure of the First World War. As Imperial Russia and Habsburg-ruled Austria-Hungary began to succumb, a small group of Czech and Slovak combat veterans stranded in Siberia saw an opportunity to realize their long-held dream of independence. While their plan was audacious and complex, and involved moving their 50,000-strong army by land and sea across three-quarters of the earth's expanse, their commitment to fight for the Allies on the Western Front riveted the attention of Allied London, Paris, and Washington. On their journey across Siberia, a brawl erupted at a remote Trans-Siberian rail station that sparked a wholesale rebellion. The marauding Czecho-Slovak Legion seized control of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and with it Siberia. In the end, this small band of POWs and deserters, whose strength was seen by Leon Trotsky as the chief threat to Soviet rule, helped destroy the Austro-Hungarian Empire and found Czecho-Slovakia. British prime minister David Lloyd George called their adventure "one of the greatest epics of history," and former US president Teddy Roosevelt declared that their accomplishments were "unparalleled, so far as I know, in ancient or modern warfare." Read more

This is a sweeping and powerful narrative history of the Jewish people from biblical times to today. Based on the latest scholarship and richly illustrated, it is the most authoritative and accessible chronicle of the Jewish experience available. Michael Brenner tells a dramatic story of change and migration deeply rooted in tradition, taking readers from the mythic wanderings of Moses to the unspeakable atrocities of the Holocaust; from the Babylonian exile to the founding of the modern state of Israel; and from the Sephardic communities under medieval Islam to the shtetls of eastern Europe and the Hasidic enclaves of modern-day Brooklyn. The book is full of fascinating personal stories of exodus and return, from that told about Abraham, who brought his newfound faith into Canaan, to that of Holocaust survivor Esther Barkai, who lived on a kibbutz established on a German estate seized from the Nazi Julius Streicher as she awaited resettlement in Israel. Describing the events and people that have shaped Jewish history, and highlighting the important contributions Jews have made to the arts, politics, religion, and science, "A Short History of the Jews" is a compelling blend of storytelling and scholarship that brings the Jewish past marvelously to life. Read more

This autobiography describes the dramatic events in Slovakia and Hungary between 1939 and 1945 seen through the eyes of a Jewish child/teenager, Gerti. The rise of fascism in Slovakia destroyed the peaceful co-existence of the Jews with their Slovak neighbours and demoralized both groups. The threat of deportation of Jews from Slovakia to Auschwitz forced Gerti and her parents to flee to Hungary, where deportations of Jews to Auschwitz had not yet begun. There the family lived under an assumed identity. The dangers and isolation associated with this existence plunged Gerti into depression and forced her to learn skills of deception to survive. As Hitler's grip on Hungary tightened and the dangers for Jews in Hungary increased, Gerti's father was arrested. Gerti and her mother had to flee to Slovakia in the spring of 1944, where they assumed yet further false identities. During the summer of 1944 Gerti met her childhood friend Walter (Rudi Vrba), who escaped from Auschwitz and told Gerti about his first-hand experience of witnessing the mass murders there. With time the remaining few Jews in Slovakia were rounded up. Gerti and her mother were denounced and taken to the Gestapo. The knowledge of the death factories waiting for them encouraged Gerti to take a serious risk and escape. Her mother, however, gave up hope and stayed to perish in a concentration camp. Gerti, then on her own, returned to Budapest and lived through the round up of Jews and the siege, assuming the identity of a Hungarian refugee from Russian-occupied Hungary. To survive, she had to use her hard-learned skills in assessing who she could trust and whom she had to deceive. Read more

‘At the age of six I began to fear for the future. … By the age of nine I was on the run for my life. … By the time I was ten I had seen all there was to see.’An accessible and honest account of the Holocaust that reminds us of the dangers of racism and intolerance, providing lessons that are relevant today. A true story of heroism during this painful horrific time in history.Tomi Reichental grew up in a small village, with friendly neighbours and a big, happy family. But things began to change, and Tomi was told he couldn’t play with some of the local children any more. Then the police started to take away friends and family.Life changed completely when he was sent a thousand kilometres away, with all the other local Jews, to the terrifying Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.The Nazis killed millions of people, simply because of their race or religion.Tomi tells his story so that such a horrific thing won’t happen again. Read more

'In the last couple of years I realised that, as one of the last witnesses, I must speak out.'Tomi Reichental, who lost 35 members of his family in the Holocaust, gives his account of being imprisoned as a child at Belsen concentration camp. He was nine-years old in October 1944 when he was rounded up by the Gestapo in a shop in Bratislava, Slovakia. Along with 12 other members of his family he was taken to a detention camp where the elusive Nazi War Criminal Alois Brunner had the power of life and death.His story is a story of the past. It is also a story for our times. The Holocaust reminds us of the dangers of racism and intolerance, providing lessons that are relevant today. Read more

The true life story of a young Jewish boy from Slovakia caught up in the tragedy of the Holocaust. After being liberated in Theresienstadt by the red army, six-year-old Paul Drexler struggles to come to terms with his father’s mysterious disappearance. He migrates to Australia with his heartbroken mother and begins a new life, but memories of his father are never far from his mind. Fifty years later, Paul Drexler begins searching for his father, the man known as Eugen Drexler. His journey takes him from Australia to Slovakia, Germany, and other foreign lands to which he never thought he would ever return. His desperate search to unveil the circumstances surrounding his father’s brutal killing in the last days of World War II finally comes to an end, with the most unexpected evidence uncovered. In Search of My Father is a testament to the bond between father and son—a bond that could not be broken by separation, death, or the passing of time. Read more

Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia were all German allies in the Second World War, unlike the other countries of Europe which had either been forcibly occupied by the Nazis or remained neutral. SOE Missions mounted within their borders were thus doubly hazardous for they were conducted in enemy-populated territory, heavily policed by military forces and gendarmerie. Furthermore all these states had well developed and experienced security services, usually supplemented by Gestapo and Abwehr units. A further complication to the activities of SOE in these countries was that they had all been effectively conceded by Western Allies to Russia; not surprisingly therefore, operations in the Soviet sphere of influence were to prove diabolically difficult.This is a story about the courage of individuals in the face of overwhelming odds. Hunger, ill-health, exhaustion, cold and treachery all combined to make life for those members of SOE who parachuted into these Fascist outposts of Fortress Europe as insufferable as it was dangerous. For weeks on end, the SOE missions moved continually at night, chased by enemy troops, betrayed by local villagers, awaiting air drops that never came and listening out for orders that were rarely specific. Thus the picture that emerges of SOE activities in these countries is one of heroic proportions, with courage, dedication and daring displayed by every mission.Although nearly all SOE personnel were either killed or captured, the impact of their clandestine operations served as a persistent irritant, continuously undermining Germanys strategic and political assumptions about the loyalty of her allies. Read more

'In the last couple of years I realised that, as one of the last witnesses, I must speak out.'Tomi Reichental, who lost 35 members of his family in the Holocaust, gives his account of being imprisoned as a child at Belsen concentration camp. He was nine-years old in October 1944 when he was rounded up by the Gestapo in a shop in Bratislava, Slovakia. Along with 12 other members of his family he was taken to a detention camp where the elusive Nazi War Criminal Alois Brunner had the power of life and death.His story is a story of the past. It is also a story for our times. The Holocaust reminds us of the dangers of racism and intolerance, providing lessons that are relevant today. Read more

Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Europe with our text-only masterpiece, "Slovakia: Everything You Need to Know." This book is your passport to discovering the hidden treasures, rich history, and vibrant culture of this enchanting country.Slovakia, though small in size, is a land of remarkable diversity, and this book is your key to unlocking its secrets. Explore the towering peaks of the High Tatras, delve into the medieval history of its cities, savor the flavors of Slovak cuisine, and immerse yourself in the traditions and folklore that shape the lives of its people.From the picturesque capital city of Bratislava to the historic gems of Kosice, Presov, Banska Bystrica, Nitra, Trnava, Martin, Poprad, and beyond, this book takes you on a virtual tour of Slovakia's most iconic and lesser-known destinations. Experience the beauty of its architecture, landmarks, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Discover the linguistic richness of Slovakia, its folklore, and superstitions, and learn about the diverse cultural tapestry that defines this nation. Dive into the world of Slovak literature, music, and art, and gain insight into the role of religion in shaping its identity. Explore the efforts made for environmental conservation, the natural wonders that will leave you awe-inspired, and the unique wildlife that calls Slovakia home.Whether you're planning a trip to Slovakia, interested in its history and culture, or simply seeking a captivating read, "Slovakia: Everything You Need to Know" is your comprehensive guide. Order your copy today and let the pages of this book transport you to a land of beauty, tradition, and boundless wonder. Read more

This classic book offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date history of Slovakia, from its establishment on the Danubian Plain to the present. While paying tribute to Slovakia's resilience and struggle for survival, it describes contributions to European civilization in the Middle Ages; the development of Slovak consciousness in response to Magyarization; its struggle for autonomy in Czechoslovakia after the Treaty of Versailles; its resistance, as the first Slovak Republic, to a Nazi-controlled Europe; its reaction to Communism; and the path that led to the creation of the second Slovak Republic. Now fully updated to the present day, the book examines the vagaries of Slovak post-Communist politics that led to Slovakia's membership in NATO and the European Union. Read more

Eastern Front Sniper is a long overdue and comprehensive biography of one of World War IIs most accomplished snipers.Mathus Hetzenauer, the son of a Tyrolean peasant family, was born in December 1924. He was drafted into the Mountain Reserve Battalian 140 at the age of 18 but discharged five months later.He received a new draft notice in January 1943 for a post in the Styrian Truppenbungsplatz Seetal Alps where he met some of the best German snipers and learned his art.Hetzenauer went on to fight in Romania, Eastern Hungary and in Slovakia. As recognition for his more than 300 confirmed kills he was awarded on the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 17, 1945.After nearly five years of Soviet captivity Mathus Hetzenauer returned to Austria on January 10, 1950. He lived in the Tyrol's Brixen Valley until his death on 3 October of 2004. Read more

'In the last couple of years I realised that, as one of the last witnesses, I must speak out'. Tomi Reichental, who lost 35 members of his family in the Holocaust, gives his account of being imprisoned as a child at Belsen concentration camp. He was nine-years old in October 1944 when he was rounded up by the Gestapo in a shop in Bratislava, Slovakia. Along with 12 other members of his family he was taken to a detention camp where the elusive Nazi War Criminal Alois Brunner had the power of life and death. His story is a story of the past. It is also a story for our times. The Holocaust reminds us of the dangers of racism and intolerance, providing lessons that are relevant today. Read more

The story of the diverse communities of Eastern Europe’s borderlands in the centuries prior to World War II Focusing on the former province of Galicia, this book tells the story of Europe’s eastern borderlands, stretching from the Baltic to the Balkans, through the eyes of the diverse communities of migrants who settled there for centuries and were murdered or forcibly removed from the borderlands in the course of World War II and its aftermath.   Omer Bartov explores the fates and hopes, dreams and disillusionment of the people who lived there, and, through the stories they told about themselves, reconstructs who they were, where they came from, and where they were heading. It was on the borderlands that the expanding great empires―German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman―overlapped, clashed, and disintegrated. The civilization of these borderlands was a mix of multiple cultures, languages, ethnic groups, religions, and nations that similarly overlapped and clashed. The borderlands became the cradle of modernity. Looking back at it tells us where we came from. Read more

The holocaust began for the Slovka Jews in Autumn of 1938, when Slovakia became an autonomous region. Jewish property was confiscated and businesses liquidated at bargain prices all in an effort to "Aryanize" the country. But by March 26, 1942 the first trainloads of Jews deported from Slovakia embarked to their final destination at Auschwitz, and death camps in the Lublin area. The mechanism for rounding up the Jews and subsequent forced deportation was the Hlinka Guard. By October 1942 the Hlinka Guard had overseen the deportation of some 60,000 Slovak Jews. During the 1944-1945 German occupation, another 13,500 Jews were deported and 5,000 imprisoned. Many of the Jews ended up at the Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration and Extermination Camp. After a brief respite, the Hlinka guard once again took to rounding up, and persecuting Jews throughout Slovakia. Slovak Gypsies (Roma) were also persecuted by the Hlinka Guard. Hlinka Guardsmen were used to do the dirty work, killing suspect Roma rebels in front of their wives and children, and then murdering the entire family. Read more

Jazz in Europe provides a detailed record of how new (American) music evolved on the old (European) continent. The chroniclers explore the history of jazz in individual European countries from a local perspective, with each author contributing a unique bird's-eye view of their particular context. Read more

Lemkovyna: A History of the Lemko Region of the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe is both a celebration of the mountain area the author calls a "foretaste of paradise," and a lament over its suffering, especially the ethnic cleansing of its inhabitants after WW II. Along the way, Polianskii traces the social, political, and religious history of Lemkos and neighboring Carpatho-Rusyns, chronicling early Slavic tribes and the introduction of Christianity, how villagers earned their living and worked against long odds to improve their circumstances, including emigration to America, and how the Lemko world in the Carpathians was shattered by forced resettlements after the Second World War, including the infamous Operation "Vistula". Polianskii's passion for his native region brings his subjects to life, from indentured servants in medieval manors to outlaws raiding noblemen's carriages. His eye for detail and access to source material are evident in the detailed histories of Lemko towns such as Sanok, Gorlice, Krynica, Nowy Sacz, and many more. Appearing for the first time in English and including over one hundred photographs, along with Polianskii's own autobiography and appendices by Lemko scholars Paul Best, Walter Maksimovich, Mykhailo Almashii, Stanislaw Stepien, and Bogdan Horbal, this book is recommended not only for those with roots in the region, but for anyone looking for a unique perspective on a nearly forgotten corner of Central Europe. Read more

Until the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia's identity seemed inextricably linked with that of the former state. This book explores the key moments and themes in the history of Slovakia from the Duchy of Nitra's ninth-century origins to the establishment of independent Slovakia at midnight 1992–3. Leading scholars chart the gradual ethnic awakening of the Slovaks during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation and examine how Slovak national identity took shape with the codification of standard literary Slovak in 1843 and the subsequent development of the Slovak national movement. They show how, after a thousand years of Magyar-Slovak coexistence, Slovakia became part of the new Czechoslovak state from 1918–39, and shed new light on its role as a Nazi client state as well as on the postwar developments leading up to full statehood in the aftermath of the collapse of communism in 1989. There is no comparable book in English on the subject. Read more

This is a dual biography of Thomas Masaryk, the founder of the Czechoslovak republic, and of his son Jan who became its first foreign minister. Their lives are set against the dramatic background of central and east European history in the century following 1850. The Masaryks have often been seen as mavericks in terms of the prevailing ideologies of their days, some seeing them as egregious idealists, others as traitors to the cause of socialism. This book examines the controversy that their careers have been subject to, as well as attempting to produce a well-rounded picture of the men themselves. Read more

Slovakia split from Czechoslovakia and formed its own state on March 14, 1939. The Slovak State was born under the auspices of Hitler’s Third Reich and became its first ally on September 1, 1939, when it took part in the invasion of Poland. The Slovak army inherited its weapons, equipment, training manuals and its doctrine from the defunct Czechoslovak Army. Though hampered by a shortage of specialists in its air force, armored units and artillery, it managed to field several division-sized units and sustain them during the initial three years of combat on the Eastern front. Its Mobile division fought its way all the way from the Carpathian Mountains to the Caucasus. In the last years of the war, the Slovak people became more and more disillusioned with the war and with their own semi-fascist government. These feelings led to mounting desertions in the fighting units, and culminated in the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944. Though the uprising was liquidated after two months of bitter fighting, it gave the Slovak nation the right to join the victorious allies and be accepted back into the restored Czechoslovakia. Though the Slovak army was by far the smallest of the armies of Germany’s allies on the Eastern front, it was part of this grandiose “clash of titans” and deserves thus a place in the history of the Second World War. This book describes in detail the composition, dislocation and equipment of all branches of the Slovak army (infantry, artillery, armored and air force) and its operational history through the war years. Read more

Czechoslovakia’s “velvet divorce”―the peaceful break-up of the nation into the new independent states of Czechia and Slovakia―is widely perceived as a victory of liberal democracy and an enlightened response to ethnic and nationalist differences. But in reality the disintegration of Czechoslovakia was neither of these, argues the author of this penetrating book. Abby Innes describes and analyzes in detail the causes, process, and consequences of Czechoslovakia’s 1993 separation. Her account reveals that the Czechoslovak split was a process manufactured by ruthlessly pragmatic Czech right-wing political forces and abetted by a populist and opportunist Slovak leadership. Both political forces remained practically free from public constraint and distinctly authoritarian in their attitudes to the state and its purpose―hallmarks of a Communist legacy.In addition to a highly detailed account of the break-up of Czechoslovakia, Innes sets the velvet divorce in the context of the history of the Czechoslovak state since its formation in 1918 and traces the political developments in Czechia and Slovakia to the end of 2000. She shows that Western policymakers underestimate the continuing strength of the Communist legacy and often misunderstand the motivation of politicians in this region. The problems of managing the politics of transition remain daunting, she cautions, and the most attractive solutions for politicians are rarely the most democratic. Read more