The Collaborators: Three Stories of Deception and Survival in World War II

Ian Buruma's The Collaborators is a multiple biography with overlapping chronology that explores the lives of three individuals who committed wartime acts and were mythologized by their respective countries. The book examines the power and credibility of history, particularly in times of political turmoil, and offers a fascinating reconstruction of what we can know about these fantasists and what will always remain out of reach.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: Atlantic Books

A remarkable achievement, Ian Buruma skillfully weaves together the lives of three individuals with overlapping chronologies in his captivating work, The Collaborators. Despite their apparent differences, these three figures share a common thread: their involvement in wartime actions that have left them both revered as national heroes and reviled as villains. Each of them was a master storyteller, driven by a desire to create myths and legends that transcended the realm of truth.

Felix Kersten, a plump Finnish pleasure-seeker, found himself serving as Heinrich Himmler's indispensable personal masseur. Himmler affectionately referred to Kersten as his "magic Buddha," acknowledging his extraordinary abilities. After the war, Kersten presented himself as a resistance hero, convincing Himmler to spare countless lives from mass murder. He claimed to have played a pivotal role in saving countless individuals from the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Kawashima Yoshiko, a gender fluid Manchu princess, operated as a spy for the Japanese secret police in China. Her remarkable story was mythologized by the Japanese, portraying her as a heroic amalgamation of Mata Hari and Joan of Arc. She was revered as a symbol of resistance and bravery, with her actions hailed as a selfless sacrifice for her country.

Friedrich Weinreb, a Hasidic Jew residing in Holland, embarked on an elaborate scheme to raise funds for the purported purpose of saving fellow Jews from deportation. In reality, Weinreb betrayed some of his fellow Jews to the German secret police, earning him the label of a traitor and a con artist. Post-war, he was sentenced as a traitor and a fraudster, yet his supporters continue to view him as the Dutch Dreyfus, a symbol of injustice.

In his exploration of these three individuals, Buruma delves into the complex nature of history and the construction of myths. He argues that there is an inherent need to perceive history, particularly World War II, as a tidy narrative of angels and devils. The Collaborators provides a captivating reconstruction of what we can know about these fantasists and what remains forever out of reach. It also serves as an insightful examination of the power and credibility of history, particularly in times of political turmoil. The truth, as Buruma points out, is always a relative concept, but it becomes even more so during periods of upheaval.

Through the narratives of Kersten, Kawashima, and Weinreb, Buruma sheds light on the complexities of human behavior and the motivations that drive individuals to engage in acts that defy moral and ethical conventions. The Collaborators is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the ability of individuals to shape their own narratives, even in the face of overwhelming historical circumstances. It is a thought-provoking and compelling work that invites readers to reflect on the nature of truth, justice, and the legacy of war.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 198 x 128 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838957674
Edition number: Main