First off, let me say that this book is extremely well written, however, it is definitely difficult to read (as Jeremy warned us). I think that the perspective that Browning takes is unique and intriguing.
From the first 100 pages or so of “Ordinary Men” I noticed a pattern in the beginning of trying to justify the mass murders. The main justifications came when orders were given to the Police Order to kill Jewish women and children. Many of the men in the Police Battalion’s were middle aged so they had established moral compasses. The men were old enough to understand that what they were doing was wrong and so in order to force those men to commit them to follow through with their orders, the army leaders needed to justify their orders. These justifications were assorted ranging from quotations such as “could be proud to be participating in the defeat of the world enemy…” (13) or “...the measure was justified as a deterrent for the protection of German troops” (19). Both of these quotations show different justification for the atrocious actions that were taken against the Jews by the police battalions.
The point of “Ordinary Men” was to show that Hitler’s ‘charismatic personality’ was so strong and influential that normal men from ordinary backgrounds could commit mass murders and wipe out nearly an entire race of people. Considering psychological factors I think it is important to note the concept of mob mentality. Mob mentality is the concept of working together as if a collective mind. Although the army does not fit into the concept of mob mentality completely it is a simple way to explain why some of the men in the Police Battalions who said they did not want follow through still did what they were told. The other possibility is that the men in the Police Battalions were too scared of Hitler and his power that they did what they were told. However, Browning specifically states that the men from the Police Battalion were not attracted to Hitler for his ideologies but rather just wanted to fight for their country.
I feel like this is totally on point. They were old enough and sane enough to be able to know what they were doing was wrong. And in my post I show this with Trapp's struggle. However--I feel like maybe the men thought that they had no choice, or that being shunned would be worse, or that maybe they didn't really know what they were talking about.
ReplyDeleteKind of unrelated--but in "The Wire" a tv show about a police squad in Baltimore, a lot of these authority phenomena can be seen--in present day. Lower officers might not agree with their superiors--but chain of command says they must follow orders. They have to do what they're told. It's what keeps the unit strong and cohesive. However--superiors can make mistakes--and in the case of the holocaust it was a HUGE chain of mistakes.