Children of Nazis by Tania Crasnianski

After the terrific testimonies from The Real Odessa and the previous revelations about Nazi billionaires I was curious to find out more information about the personal and political genealogies of representatives of the German elites during WWII. 

I cannot remember any reliable information - article or books - that was actually published by German authors living in Germany on this topic. I will try to find out more about this topic and probably dedicate a full article on this topic later on. The topic however is not completely absent and books like Children of Nazis by Tania Crasnianski, following the biographies of eight offsprings of Third Reich elites is eye opening, as it displays not only attitudes but social structures allowing them to perpetuate, supporting children of Nazis to benefit of support structures and sometimes protection too. 

Children may not be taken responsible for the deeds of their parents, but the problem occurs when those are actually proudly perpetuating the criminal mindsets of their parents. This book also shows that the actual discussion about the Nazi past is far from being over in Germany.

The material used is impressive but limited to the eight examples studied in the book. Diplomatically, it avoids to hurry up to general conclusions but at least it may offer an useful mentality pattern.

Children of Nazis is a recommended read for anyone interested in elites in post-totalitarian regimes. It may offer as inspiration and guidance to follow up similar personal and professional pathways in other countries that had to cope with the perpetrators of a traumatic past.

Rating: 4 stars

About Cults

Understanding cults cannot go separately from trying to understand the societies and their fears that produced them. The phenomenon is far from new and there are many discussions regarding its  definition and various categorizations. However, when it comes to leaders, the main character threats are usually the same: mostly male, narcissist, manipulating their female followers and luring them into open relationships and sexual slavery.

The books Cults by Max Culter with Kevin Conley, based on a popular podcasts with the same name, offers to the reader a diverse overview of various such movements, mostly created in the 1970s in the North American realm, many inspired by liberation hippie movements. Mostly focused on events and biographic information about the leaders, the book can be used as a reference for anyone interested in the psychology of cults. 

Importantly, it takes into account also less known cults, such as the Narcosatanists, NXIVM or Heaven´s Gate, but definitely it does leave unaccounted many others. Clearly, there is a need of more research and classification work for offering an even better view over such phenomena. 

A recommended read to anthropologists, historians and psychologists. Cults are offering insights about the intimate wishes at the society level, although in extreme form. Understanding them may only make the social reading in general much easier and predictable.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review