“A remarkable—and singularly chilling—glimpse of human behavior. . .This meticulously researched book…represents a major contribution to the literature of the Holocaust.”—Newsweek Christopher R. Browning’s shocking account of how a unit of average middle-aged Germans became the cold-blooded murderers of tens of thousands of Jews—now with a new afterword and additional photographs.Ordinary Men… afterword and additional photographs.
Ordinary Men is the true story of Reserve Police Battalion 101 of the German Order Police, which was responsible for mass shootings as well as round-ups of Jewish people for deportation to Nazi death camps in Poland in 1942. Browning argues that most of the men of RPB 101 were not fanatical Nazis but, rather, ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions. Very quickly three groups emerged within the battalion: a core of eager killers, a plurality who carried out their duties reliably but without initiative, and a small minority who evaded participation in the acts of killing without diminishing the murderous efficiency of the battalion whatsoever.
While this book discusses a specific Reserve Unit during WWII, the general argument Browning makes is that most people succumb to the pressures of a group setting and commit actions they would never do of their own volition.
Ordinary Men is a powerful, chilling, and important work with themes and arguments that continue to resonate today.
more
We wonder how we would have reacted had we been placed in the conditions of the Holocaust. This book offers a frightening view of humans just like me and the combination of factors which turned ordinary men into willing or at least complicit supporters of the most horrendous genocide the world has ever known. A lesson that we should not believe we are necessarily superior to the German soldiers drawn from the general population.
I’ve read similar books with the theme that Holocaust Nazi’s were not generally hand-picked, highly-trained, brainwashed killers. Indeed, there were those who were, and, even more tragic, many who became just that.
But the author’s point is that many started out as ordinary men who at first were not only squeamish but appalled at what they were ordered to do; some even refused and were excused, despite peer pressure to conform. As expected, many did become “not-me” perpetrators who became inured to the job, either because they cleared ghettos or filled up trains, leaving the “wet work” to others.
This well-documented, updated treatise is not an excuse for those who were executioners; it is a chilling thought that instead of merely condemning them, we must wonder: could I have done that? I’m just an ordinary person. The point is: we could have. And we must realize that, in order to prevent such behavior ever again.
It is scary to see how individuals lose their humanity when faced with groupthink
Tedious
How many people did Hitler kill with his own hands? An important study, currently 0.99.
Deeply disturbing
could this happen today, yes, probably in some situations. scary to think about. Unbelievably horrible. Should read, as bad as the Holocaust, just smaller scale.
It was difficult to read because of the reality the book exposes. Ordinary people can often commit unspeakable atrocities simply because someone else tells them to. A difficult read, but a necessary one.
I don’t know if it’s the book or the grinding evil that is the whole of this piece. Never forget this happened. If you have to sit through this to brand your brain, do it.
This non-fiction book makes grim reading, and rightly so. It explores in detail how ordinary, law-abiding people can commit the most appalling acts of barbarity. We should all read this and learn from it.
More insights into “How could this happen?” and “How can we be sure it never happens again?”
These men were police officers. Faced with order to kill unarmed people. And the shocking part is that they did just that … a must read for anyone who does not believe the Holocaust never happened.
Some might find the analysis of the psychology of how ordinary men could become mass killers a bit academic, but I found it to be a thoughtful answer to a very big question.
Sensible discussion of a very difficult issue.
An insight as to how ordinary people can do awful things. It is not a simple answer but a very complex one that has to be look at very closely.
Not for late night reading. The response of average people to this horror is thoroughly troubling.
Excellent account of a seldom revealed historical fact. The book explains how the Nazi government used non-military men and locals as part of the Final Solution. Men who were former military, policemen, too old for service, were signed up and conscripted for guard duty and execution squads. In occupied territories, local volunteers joined international SS divisions and served as camp guards. The author provides the history of the era to the end of the war. Well written, and recommended reading.
To be honest I only read part of this book, the free part. And I love it! Its very informative part of history that should be taught more in high school. I really loved how the author wrote this book.
“French Jewish historian Marc Bloch wrote, “When all is said and done, a single word, ‘understanding,’ is the beacon light of our studies.” (Preface of ordinary men).
Required reading if you are interested in understanding the Holocaust.