Most accounts of the Holocaust from the Nazi perspective are stories of soldiers or citizens who were forced to participate in the massacres of Jewish citizens. These people say they had no choice and feared for their lives if they did not follow orders. Neighbors, The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland, by Jan T. Gross, shows a different narrative of people through their free will and motivations to kill their Jewish neighbors. Through Gross's research, he uncovers a complex account of a mass murder of approximately 1,600 Jews living in the town of Jedwabne in Poland in 1941. What is captivating about this particular event is that these Jews were murdered by friends, colleagues and neighbors who lived in the city. same town of Jedwabne. Crude attempts to explain what motivated these neighbors to murder their fellow citizens of Jedwabne and how it was possible for them to continue their lives as if it had never happened. Jedwabne's account is unique in that it focuses on a mass murder. of approximately 1,600 Jewish residents, occurred in July 1941. The murder took place during the violent German campaign of anti-Semitism in Poland. The main event of the anti-Semitic campaign observed in Germany and Poland was the murder and justified harassment of Jewish residents. Without doubt, the events in Jedwabne were triggered by Nazi influence. What's interesting is how Gross represents these influences. It shows that the Jedwabne murders were planned, organized and enthusiastically carried out by local authorities and citizens of the non-Jewish community. Gross also points out that it is possible that the Germans did not participate in this killing and that it is even possible...... middle of paper ......e of Jedwabne to seriously examine what happened in their town. What really influenced the murders carried out by non-Jewish citizens? Gross used excerpts from the accounts that occurred. These are often untold and hidden stories. The stories are heartbreaking and painful. We understand why these people chose to hide the truth for so many years. These people murdered their friends, colleagues and neighbors with whom they lived daily. Those involved made a conscious decision to participate in the killings, as they were not innocent bystanders. Some chose to participate out of fear for themselves and their families, while others felt deep resentment and hatred toward these people. Some of it was inspired by Nazi Germany, but there must have been something deep within these people that made them act with such hatred and contempt towards others..