Jocko Podcast 85: Rationalizing Evil Deeds. Burden of Choice. Following Immoral Orders. "Ordinary Men"
Jul 25, 2017
Christopher R. Browning, a historian known for his work on the Holocaust, dives deep into the chilling actions of Reserve Police Battalion 101. He discusses the psychological struggles and moral dilemmas faced by ordinary men who carried out horrific orders. The conversation highlights the dangers of conformity and the rationalization of evil deeds in extreme circumstances. Browning examines how authority and social dynamics can cause ordinary people to commit unspeakable acts, urging a critical evaluation of morals and accountability in the face of authority.
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Intimacy Of Many Holocaust Killings
- The Holocaust included many close-range, personal killings, not only trains and gas chambers.
- Christopher Browning highlights face-to-face murder as central to understanding perpetrators' psychology.
Trapp's Offer And The Few Who Opted Out
- Major Wilhelm Trapp told Battalion 101 they must shoot women, children and elderly in Josefów and offered men the chance to step out.
- Only about a dozen of ~500 stepped forward, showing peer pressure's power.
Technique, Alcohol, And Rotations Lowered Resistance
- Shooters were trained to aim at a specific point on the neck to cause instant death, reducing botched shots.
- Alcohol and rotation eased shooters into continued killing despite physical revulsion.