The Holocaust has proved a defining event in German, European and even world history. It has left moral, legal and political legacies which shape the global community we live in today. This text is designed to introduce readers to the most important debates about the event. It discusses the origins and course of the Holocaust, as well as the motives of its perpetrators and the reactions of bystanders and victims alike. In the process, the study makes clear why 'history' is not just about the past. Martyn Housden is Reader in History at the University of Bradford. His books include "Hans Frank: Lebensraum and the Holocaust" (Palgrave, 2003),"Hitler: Study of a Revolutionary?" (Routledge, 2000) and "Resistance and Conformity in the Third Reich" (Routledge, 1997). He has written and lectured widely for student audiences. "An excellent introduction to the topic, geared to senor pupils and undergraduates, but also of value to the general reader." History Teaching Review