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Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men

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How does an ordinary group of people turn into bloodless killers? The author of Ordinary Men, Christopher Browning offers the most captivating argument towards how it is possible for ordinary men to commit extraordinary atrocities. This paper will analyze the different viewpoints of what caused ordinary men to commit murder.
To better understand this issue one must understand the sides of argument. Some believe that the Nazi’s are not fully to blame for the atrocities and that periodization better explains why the Holocaust was able to happen. The other side argues that the Nazi’s were needed as a cataclysm to give the orders so that those with Anti-Jewish sentiments could act on those feelings of dissent towards the Jews. One must comprehend the historical context of Europe to recognize the issue. It is true that Europe has a long history of resentment towards Jews, but it is also true Europeans themselves never committed to the …show more content…

Goldhagen believes in sole-responsibility for The Holocaust. This trend of hatred from the Jews is historic, but also that these men had a choice, and they were willing. Goldhagen writes about Major Wilhelm Trapp, a fifty-three year old WW1 veteran. Trapp was unwilling to kill Jews because he served with them and he couldn’t bring himself to killing. After the killing of one of his own, "Trapp moved to tears by the killing of Poles, turned around and initiated the killing of Jews." These targeted Jews had no relationship to the attack on Third Company and the death of a sergeant. Goldhagen goes on to argue "The men's zealous and dedicated slaughtering of Jews stands in sharp relief. The killing of Poles was a regrettable necessity." Goldhagen’s convincing and eloquent words provide a clear picture to the Battalion’s actions. Goldhagen paints the picture that everyone wanted to kill Jews after the soldiers were

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During the Holocaust, European citizens did not have many options when it came to life itself. They were to abide by the rules implemented by the Nazi’s or be sentenced to death. One of the biggest laws during the Holocaust was not to provide aid and shelter to Jews. Those who did so, their entire family would be killed. Despite this law, very few took on the risk of aiding Jewish people as they believed the Jewish population posed no threat to their community.

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The Holocaust is the most recognized genocide in modern history, claiming millions of innocent lives, and indiscriminately destroying the livelihood of everybody opposed to the monstrous Nazi party, regardless of whether or not you were of the blonde haired, blue eyed Aryan race that Adolf Hitler had sought to create. Naturally, with the dark tide of oppression, came resistance from the oppressed themselves, the Jewish partisans. This resistance group was formed from the many thousands of the threatened European Jewish, and whether or not they were escapees or the inhabitants of ghettos, deportation camps, and death camps hardly mattered when it it came down to their purpose, aiding their people both physically and spiritually. The Jewish partisan

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Individuals make choices every day that affect history. During the Holocaust, the mass murder of Jews during Hitler’s reign, ordinary European citizens shaped history by allowing Jews to die. Their decisions were greatly influenced by their understanding of the universe of obligation, which sociologist Helen Fein defines as “The circle of individuals and groups ‘toward whom obligations are owed, to whom rules apply, and whose injuries call for [amends]’ (“We and They” 56). The majority of ordinary citizens chose to neglect Jews in order to protect themselves or their families. However, some brave individuals called upstanders chose to stand up to the Nazi regime by rescuing Jews and other victims of persecution.

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This resolution and action on this type of conflict reveals the character of the person. Orders read, “As many Jews, especially rich ones, are to be arrested as can be accommodated in the prison (7).” This order derived from the German government, along with advocate Heinrich Himmler, worshipper of Hitler, Reinhard Heydrich,

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Who could have thought that the victims were most responsible for the Holocaust? After all, they were the targets of this abominable act; 6 million Jews, 9-18 million Soviets, 1.8 million Poles, and more groups with fewer casualties. This book, Night, is a memoir about a Jewish prisoner that goes by the name of Elie Wisel that survived this ordeal. After all, they had many opportunities to escape, repeal, or act. The people who chose not to do anything till it was too late are responsible for the Holocaust.

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When we think about some of the horror stories throughout history, we try to convince ourselves that the criminals are different from us normal people. We imagine villains with no moral since just killing people for the fun of it. Nobody likes to consider the fact that under the same circumstances “normal people” would be able to commit the same heinous crimes against humanity. Ordinary Men, by Christopher Browning portrays a story of the most notorious mass murders forced on normal people, and gives us some interesting insight to who the perpetrators of this mass killing really are. A brief summary of this book could simply be explained by one word, horrifying.

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Many Germans, during WWII had started to take on the ideology of Hitler – that Jewish citizens in Germany were the cause of their poverty and misfortune. Of course, many knew that this was merely a form of scapegoating, and although they disagreed with the majority of Germany’s citizens, many would not speak up for fear of isolation (Boone,

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Many theories exist today to show that not only Hitler was responsible for the Holocaust. Many different forces, people, and ideas were at work to achieve this monumental tragedy which still rocks our world to this day. The evidence showing one of the main factors to achieve this event was the condition that Germany itself as a people, and a country, were facing after World War I. The fact that Germany played a major role in this event made it even harder for it’s people as many harsh conditions were put onto it in the end.     As Germany was just exiting WWI the Allies felt as though further punishment should be administered because they felt Germany had started the war.

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The common belief of the human race is that all people are inherently good. In the short stories “The Cask of Amontillado”, “The Veldt”, and “Good Country People” this belief is questioned. These stories prove that there is a switch to every light, as people are overcome by strong feelings and turned to the dark side. Taking the leg off of an amputee in “Good Country People”, murdering a colleague in “The Cask of Amontillado”, and killing their own parents in “The Veldt” are examples of exactly that. The dark side of human nature in these instances is fueled by hunger for power, anger, and the need to retaliate.

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Also, non-Jewish people all over Europe were more responsible than the leaders of Allied countries because of how they did nothing in opposition against the Nazis. Europeans who were lucky enough not to be the target of the Nazis “cooperated in the persecution of Jews” (“How and why did ordinary people”). This proves how non-Jewish Europeans are undoubtedly responsible for the Holocaust due to their cooperation with the Nazis through antisemitic ideas and hatred towards Jews. Unlike non-Jewish Europeans, leaders of Allied countries had no responsibility for the Jews seeking refuge, meaning that other European citizens were much more responsible for the events of the Holocaust. In conclusion, even though some people say that leaders of Allied countries were responsible for the Holocaust, the evidence proving that SS officers, non-Jewish Europeans, and the German press were more responsible is much more

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In the story Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the author utilizes rhetorical questions, similes and imagery to create meaning in the text. First, Shelley uses rhetorical questions to show Elizabeth’s emotions, “... when falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?” (Shelley, 105). Elizabeth is frustrated with thoughts of whether or not ignorance is bliss.

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In conclusion, the responsibility of the Holocaust should be held under German people rather than the Nazis. The direct motivational traits that the German soldiers showed when herding Jews, the superior impression of German citizens that jeopardized the lives of Jews, and the unnecessary degrees of loyalty that the Germans heaved shows the deserving guilt of the Germans for the

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The Holocaust was a horrific tragedy which started in January of 1933 and ended in May of 1945, the Holocaust was the mass murder of millions of people. The word was derived from the Greek word that meant Sacrifice to the Gods (Steele 7), also called the Shoan which is the Hebrew word for catastrophe (Steele 7). So many countries took place in this 12-year genocide, including, “Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria, which were also known as the Axis Powers” (Steele 34). But, although there were all those countries they were all part of one larger group called the Nazis, were the ones who were killing all the different denominations of people. (Bachrach 58).

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To emphasize on the statements above the Holocaust caused approximately 6 million deaths of innocent Jews and other “unsatisfactory” members of society including the handicapped and gypsies. In the upcoming paragraphs I plan to highlight the detrimental effects of the “Final Solution” had on the majority of the Jewish Population and the heinous crimes that were directly targeted towards the Jews who were unfortunate enough to be placed in the Nazi work/ death camps.

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“Morality binds people into groups. It gives us tribalism, it gives us genocide, war, and politics. But it also gives us heroism, altruism, and sainthood,” (Haidt). The holocaust is known as one of the worst mass genocides in history. So many people lost their lives during this tragedy, and many had not only physical scars, but mental scar as well.

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