Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)

Friends of mine know me to be a left-of-center democrat. Definitely not a reliable conservative or republican voter. Thus, they might be surprised at my response to this invaluable educational resource that NEEDS to be used widespread in our educational system.Just a month ago, Bob Woodward’s book on Trump was released despite a furious Presidential uproar. Now, Bill O’Reilly’s book, released two days ago, focuses attention on the hunt for war criminals following the end of World War 2. Mind you, I, and most of my generation witnessed aspects of the events portrayed in this book, either up close, or from afar. Still, it is an invaluable reminder of what happened after the brutal murders of so many innocent Jewish people and other people due to racial, ethnic and religious hatred and persecution.I’ve not yet read other O’Reilly books, but will make a point of doing so in the future. Not because I am a political devotee, but because I appreciate his sense of history and style of presentation. I think I would have loved being a student of his, despite our political differences.BLUSH FACTOR: I came across no profanities. Further, this is a terrific book to read aloud in your prayer group, or to (or with) your children and your elders.Excerpt‘…In a classic courtroom Q and A, James Heath destroys the SS killer:OHLENDORF: The Jews were collected at one place; and from there they were later transported to the place of execution, which was, as a rule, an antitank ditch or a natural excavation. The executions were carried out in a military manner, by firing squads under command.PROSECUTOR: In what way were they transported to the place of execution?OHLENDORF: They were transported to the place of execution in trucks, always only as many as could be executed immediately. In this way it was attempted to keep the span of time from the moment in which the victims knew what was about to happen to them until the time of their actual execution as short as possible.PROSECUTOR: Was that your idea?OHLENDORF: Yes.PROSECUTOR: And after they were shot what was done with the bodies?OHLENDORF: The bodies were buried in the antitank ditch or excavation.PROSECUTOR: What determination, if any, was made as to whether the persons were actually dead?OHLENDORF: The unit leaders or the firing-squad commanders had orders to see to this and, if need be, finish them off themselves.PROSECUTOR: And who would do that?OHLENDORF: Either the unit leader himself or somebody designated by him.PROSECUTOR: In what positions were the victims shot?OHLENDORF: Standing or kneeling.PROSECUTOR NIKTCHENKO: In your testimony you said that the Einsatz group had the object of annihilating the Jews and the commissars, is that correct?OHLENDORF: Yes.PROSECUTOR: And in what category did you consider the children? For what reasons were the children massacred?OHLENDORF: The order was that the Jewish population should be totally exterminated.PROSECUTOR: Including the children?OHLENDORF: Yes.Benny Ferencz listens to the responses, baffled by Ohlendorf’s arrogance. “He told his men never to use infants for target practice nor smash their heads against a tree. He ordered his men to allow the mother to hold her infant to her breast and to aim for her heart. That would avoid screaming and would allow the shooter to kill both mother and infant with one bullet. It saved ammunition.“Ohlendorf said he refused to use the gas vans that were assigned to his companies. He found that when the mobile killing vehicles arrived at their destination, where they were supposed to dump their asphyxiated human cargo into a waiting ditch, some of the captives were still alive and had to be unloaded by hand. His troops had to dig out the vomit and excrement—and that was very hard on his men.”Most unforgettable among Ohlendorf’s offensive comments was that each murder was an act of self-defense.O'Reilly, Bill. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series) (Kindle Locations 487-520). Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.BOTTOM LINEHow thorough and how powerful is this work by O’Reilly? Because of him, I spent another $8.99 to get a book mention by him: Paul Manning’s “Martin Bormann: Nazi in Exile.” Regardless of your political sentiment, you NEED to read Bill O’Reilly’s “Killing the SS.” Better yet, add the Audible edition to your library. I wish the publisher would make the book and its Audible edition available to middle schools across the country for the maximum possible impact of this historical work upon our youth.Five stars out of five.I am striving to produce reviews that help you find books that you want, or avoid books that you wish to avoid. With your help, my improvement will help you and me improve book reviews on Amazon. Together, you and I can build a great customer review process that helps everybody. Will you join me? It is people such as you who have helped me improve over the years. I'm still learning, and I have a great deal yet to learn. With your help, I'll improve every day.One request: Be respectful and courteous in your comments and emails to me. I will do likewise with you.Thank you so much for indicating if this review helped you, or for your comment.

Very fascinating work! The author goes great lengths to present evidence, both pro and con on many topics and allows reader the freedom to make up their own mind or do further independent research.The author points out many things that average person most likely does not know, such as female Death Camp guards- some caught living in United States, married to Jewish community members; convicted Nazi's receiving US Social Security benefits; the extent some local populations-including France, assisted the Nazi's in rounding up local Jewish populations; and the extent the Nazi's put "escape" plans to places like South/Central America, as well as other places, into place with a fully supportive infrastructure to assist them, with the money they plundered from conquered countries; how the state of Israel utilized former Nazi's to assist them in other "clandestine" operations, etc.....It makes one wonder about supposed sightings IAW internet, during World War II, of Nazi submarines in places like the middle of Mobile Bay AL- where, nearby, oddly Nazi/German US based POW camps were also located during World War II as well as the finding of Nazi submarine wrecks in/off the near coastal waters of the US and Canada as well as in the Gulf of Mexico, even near New Orleans, LA. (IAW the internet a Nazi submarine was supposedly found sunk in a river in mainland Canada, supposedly causing quite an issue as to raising it!)Furthermore, the author makes a very strong point for the due process of law in cases such as these. However, as in case of Germany, after World War II, as well as other places, not so sure if disallowing Nazi symbols, such as the Swastika, to be publicly displayed was a very sound decision, as would it simply not make it harder to identify those retaining such an ideology as National Socialism and/or push them further underground, were even harder to detect and potentially root out?Very well done book by the author and well worth the read by those interested in a very dark chapter of human history...(After reading this book and author's signature work "Killing Lincoln" it makes one wonder a whole lot of things going back to US Civil War that changed not only history of the US but the world! Such as, US Confederate Army members whom refused to surrender escaping to South and Central America, per various internet sources, as well as other places abroad- kind of like John Wilkes Booth possibly living out his days in then British Colony of India- where most were allegedly welcomed, like members of Nazi SS, with open arms. Wonder, if author does any updates to these great works, any historical correlation/relevance???? Would be truly interesting....perhaps???)

This book, like all the books in Bill O'Reilly's "Killing" series, is phenomenal. Martin Dugard (O'Reilly's co-author who I am %100 convinced is the one who actually writes these books) has a way with writing non-fiction history books that make you feel like you are reading a story book. I finished this book in just two days because of how amazing his writing style is and how unbelievable this history he presents is.As someone who thinks they know a lot about WW2, this book opened my eyes to evens I was previously ignorant to. I would highly recomend this book to anyone with any desire to learn about the atrocities commited by Hitler's SS and how they avoided capture post war.My only gripe is that starting at page 249, some of the pages were binded out of order! This made reading the last few chapters difficult to read which is why I didn't give this 5 stars.

Excellent and excellent delivery

Very interesting and well written, as all O'Reilly books are.

Most of the stories are well known and yet there are many details of the notorious killers which are shocking, and sickening. In the end justice prevails?

WHAT A GOOD BOOK EXCELLENT READING

Very informative reading. How the nazi criminals escaped and were hunted down is eye opening. We should be vigilant lest history be repeated.