Raphael Lemkin – Ohne Auftrag. Autobiografie

This book is only available in German.

Ohne Auftrag – The autobiography of Raphael Lemkin tells the story of this exceptional figure in the history of the 20th century, a man of moral imagination and civic conviction who proved to us that the search for justice and the protection of human rights are not an entelechy. Raphael Lemkin's intense, unusual life story reflects the history of Europe during the tremors of the 20th century and shows the striving for a spirit of universal humanity. True to Tolstoy's maxim, "to believe in an idea requires to live it," Lemkin made the realization of his idea the purpose of his life.

"Lemkin was one of those spoilsport prophets who wanted to warn the Allies, especially the democratic powers, that the military expansion towards Eastern Europe involved a program for the destruction of human peoples whose scale was unprecedented in history. (...) Since man will continue to succumb to the temptations of despotism, the search for scapegoats and the criminalization of entire communities, his concern is our concern. Unfortunately, there is little danger that the word invented by Raphael Lemkin will be forgotten."
– Antonio Muñoz Molina

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