Analysis Of Ordinary Men By Christopher R. Browning

The Holocaust is often regarded as one of the most heinous events in human history. It has been widely studied by scholars, historians, and scientists all across the world. "Ordinary Men" by Christopher R. Browning is a foundational study that examines the collaboration of ordinary German police personnel throughout the Holocaust. The book attempts to uncover the underlying causes behind why ordinary people may commit extraordinary heinous crimes.

Browning's investigation of the circumstances that caused regular German police officers to join in the Holocaust is critical to comprehending the horrors committed during that period. He contends that seeing these people as intrinsically wicked is too simplistic and that it is vital to explore the

Browning argues that the policemen in Battalion 101 did not necessarily want to kill Jews, but they were compelled to do so because of the group pressure and authority. The policemen did not want to be seen as disobedient or weak, and thus, they followed orders without questioning them. This highlights the danger of groupthink and conformity. With that being said, the reader must realize that these men were by no means hardened men who had experienced the horrors of war. These men, at this time, had as good a moral compass as one could find during WWII. While it is true that some members of the Battalion did choose to opt out and receive a different assignment, most members decided to stay. Reasons for these men staying could be pinned on the aforementioned reasoning of peer pressure, as Browning shows this with various members of the battalion having breakdowns and showing signs of regret, “The shooting of the men was so repugnant to me that I missed the fourth man…"I suddenly felt nauseous and ran away from the shooting site. rather than the fourth time I intentionally missed. I then ran into the woods, vomited, and sat down against a tree."(pg. 69) However, at the end of the day those men knew what horrendous actions lay ahead of them, and for whatever reasons those men felt, they chose in the face of adversity to conform to the commonplace thinking, instead of walking away, and making the morally

Browning's argument that situational factors and group dynamics were significant factors in their actions is well-supported and backed by empirical evidence. The book provides insight into the psychology and mindset of ordinary people who commit extraordinary crimes. It highlights the danger of conformity and the power of authority, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in the psychology of human behavior. With that being said, Browning has a very particular writing style that can lead to a sort of disorientation for the reader. An example of this can be found in Chapter 1, and Chapter 2. Chapter 1 (Pg.1) captures the reader’s attention, it gives a great insight into what exactly Ordinary Men will entail. However, as the page turns to Chapter 2 (Pg. 3) Browning goes out of chronological order, and provides extra information so that the reader can understand the reasoning for the atrocious acts in the book. While Browning’s method of writing is understood, for the reader’s sake, it would make more sense for these things to be in chronological order to keep the reader more engaged in the