I realise this may be a sensitive topic for many people, so I do apologise if it ruffles anyone’s feathers. I can only assure you that my questions are completely unloaded and that I am only seeking information.
Background:
I have a friend who believes that statistical records of approximately 4-6 million Jewish deaths during World War II are unreliable and probably very exaggerated. This is based on the concept that the winner keeps all the records and would therefore tailor them to be sympathetic to his cause. While there is a germ of truth in this, it seems very unlikely to me that all the records in all encyclopaedias, all history textbooks, all the websites…everything is a big propaganda conspiracy to skew the numbers in order to vilify Hitler and make the Allies look good.
Now, since all the reference materials at my hand are either of British or American origin, my friend has dismissed them completely at being unreliable and probably biased. What I’m hoping is that if I show him German records of the pogroms, he will be more willing to accept them as being factual.
This is where all the German Dopers come in.
I do not speak German and so all the German language websites are no use to me. If any doper can scan a page from, for instance, a school history textbook, or show me an official and local web resource, I might be able to get it translated from someone around here.
All I need is a summary of the number of civilian Jewish deaths - in concentration camps, in shootouts, in bombings…wherever. Just something that says “XYZ number of Jews were killed”.
This same friend believes that George Bush has been responsible for more civilian deaths worldwide than Jews killed under Hitler’s regime. I find this highly unlikely - I’m fairly anti-Bush, but I still don’t think he’s been responsible for that many deaths.
This is where the French Dopers come in.
I am trying to capitulate on the “French are anti-America and therefore anti-Freedom” stereotype. If a French Doper can lead me to an official and local web resource, or can scan and email me some document that enumerates total civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, that would be ideal.
Note: This thread is NOT meant to be a receptacle for political arguments. If you want to namecall, discuss issues, indulge in debate, anything that hijacks my topic, please take it elsewhere.