On 80th Anniversary Of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Hitler’s Birthday, Historian Dan McMillan Reminds Us No One Has Clearly, Succinctly Explained The Causes Of The Holocaust

Historian Dr. Dan McMillan Explains Causes of the Holocaust on 80th Anniversary

Dan McMillan, J.D., Ph.D.

Fluent in English, German and Spanish

Yom Hashoah (17th-18th), the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (19th), and Hitler’s birthday (20th) all fall within the same week in April, reminding us that no one has yet clearly and succinctly explained WHAT caused the Holocaust. Yet, it’s important to remember those who lost their lives and to understand why the genocide happened.

Dr. Dan McMillan’s book, How Could This Happen: Explaining the Holocaust (Basic Books, 2014), is a comprehensive essay on the causes of the Holocaust, providing vital context and understanding of what led to German elites completely rejecting the value of human life.

Robert O. Paxton, Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University, co-author of Vichy France and the Jews, and author of The Anatomy of Fascism said, “This book is an impressive achievement.”

Sir Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler and The End: The Defiance and Destruction of Hitler’s Germany, 1944-1945 said, “Dan McMillan’s book is clearly written, well-structured, and rests on good acquaintance with recent research. It offers a thoughtful and intelligent answer for a non-specialist readership to the vital but often strangely ignored question: what caused the Holocaust? It deserves to be widely read.”

Dan McMillan on Sky News Australia

“An important and much needed book. In explaining why the Holocaust happened, Dan McMillan explores not only the motives of Hitler and his fanatical followers, but also of the millions of ordinary Germans and other Europeans who shared responsibility for this tragedy. Beautifully written, persuasive, and often very touching, this book should be read by everyone who wants to understand how such a monstrous crime was possible.” István Deák, Seth Low Professor Emeritus, Columbia University, author of Essays on Hitler’s Europe

About Dan McMillan

Dr. Dan McMillan has spent nearly four decades on a journey to understand the multi-faceted answer to the wrenching question: how could something as horrific as the Holocaust have happened?

His search to find an explanation has taken him across several countries, universities, and countless specialized studies in pursuit of the truth. His groundbreaking book, How Could This Happen, brings together the various pieces of this puzzle – so we can never forget why or how it happened, and work to ensure it never happens again.

McMillan holds a Ph.D. in German history from Columbia University and a law degree from Fordham University, and has worked as a history professor and a prosecuting attorney. He lives in New York City.

Banner Image: How Could This Happen book cover. Image Credit – Dan McMillan