An Analysis of Christopher R. Browning's Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland (The Macat Library)

Of all the controversies facing historians today, few are more divisive or more important than the question of how the Holocaust was possible. What led thousands of Germans -- many of them middle-aged reservists with, apparently, little Nazi zeal -- to willingly commit acts of genocide? Was it ideology? Was there something rotten in the German soul? Or was it -- as Christopher Browning argues in this highly influential book -- more a matter of conformity, a response to intolerable social and psychological pressure? Ordinary Men is a microhistory, the detailed study of a single unit in the Nazi killing machine. Browning evaluates a wide range of evidence to seek to explain the actions of the "ordinary men" who made up reserve Police Battalion 101, taking advantage of the wide range of resources prepared in the early 1960s for a proposed war crimes trial. He concludes that his subjects were not "evil"; rather, their actions are best explained by a desire to be part of a team, not to shirk responsibility that would otherwise fall on the shoulders of comrades, and a willingness to obey authority. Browning's ability to explore the strengths and weaknesses of arguments -- both the survivors' and other historians' -- is what sets his work apart from other studies that have attempted to get to the root of the motivations for the Holocaust, and it is also what marks Ordinary Men as one of the most important works of its generation Of All The Controversies Facing Historians Today, Few Are More Divisive Or More Important Than The Question Of How The Holocaust Was Possible. What Led Thousands Of Germans - Many Of Them Middle-aged Reservists With, Apparently, Little Nazi Zeal - To Willingly Commit Acts Of Genocide? Was It Ideology? Was There Something Rotten In The German Soul? Or Was It - As Christopher Browning Argues In This Highly Influential Book - More A Matter Of Conformity, A Response To Intolerable Social And Psychological Pressure?ordinary Men Is A Microhistory, The Detailed Study Of A Single Unit In The Nazi Killing Machine. Browning Evaluates A Wide Range Of Evidence To Seek To Explain The Actions Of The Ordinary Men Who Made Up Reserve Police Battalion 101, Taking Advantage Of The Wide Range Of Resources Prepared In The Early 1960s For A Proposed War Crimes Trial. He Concludes That His Subjects Were Not Evil; Rather, Their Actions Are Best Explained By A Desire To Be Part Of A Team, Not To Shirk Responsibility That Would Otherwise Fall On The Shoulders Of Comrades, And A Willingness To Obey Authority. Browning's Ability To Explore The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Arguments - Both The Survivors' And Other Historians' - Is What Sets His Work Apart From Other Studies That Have Attempted To Get To The Root Of The Motivations For The Holocaust, And It Is Also What Marks Ordinary Men As One Of The Most Important Works Of Its Generation.--provided By Publisher. Cover; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table Of Contents; Ways In To The Text; Who Is Christopher Browning?; What Does Ordinary Men Say?; Why Does Ordinary Men Matter?; Section 1: Influences; Module 1: The Author And The Historical Context; Module 2: Academic Context; Module 3: The Problem; Module 4: The Author's Contribution; Section 2: Ideas; Module 5: Main Ideas; Module 6: Secondary Ideas; Module 7: Achievement; Module 8: Place In The Author's Work; Section 3: Impact; Module 9: The First Responses; Module 10: The Evolving Debate; Module 11: Impact And Influence Today; Module 12: Where Next? Glossary Of Termspeople Mentioned In The Text; Works Cited. James Chappel. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 2 Copyright Page......Page 3 Table of Contents......Page 4 Who Is Christopher Browning?......Page 10 What Does Ordinary Men Say?......Page 11 Why Does Ordinary Men Matter?......Page 13 SECTION 1: INFLUENCES......Page 15 Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context......Page 16 Module 2: Academic Context......Page 20 Module 3: The Problem......Page 25 Module 4: The Author’s Contribution......Page 29 SECTION 2: IDEAS......Page 33 Module 5: Main Ideas......Page 34 Module 6: Secondary Ideas......Page 39 Module 7: Achievement......Page 43 Module 8: Place in the Author’s Work......Page 47 SECTION 3: IMPACT......Page 52 Module 9: The First Responses......Page 53 Module 10: The Evolving Debate......Page 58 Module 11: Impact and Influence Today......Page 63 Module 12: Where Next?......Page 67 Glossary of Terms......Page 73 People Mentioned in the Text......Page 80 Works Cited......Page 86 Of all the controversies facing historians today, few are more divisive or more important than the question of how the Holocaust was possible. What led thousands of Germans – many of them middle-aged reservists with, apparently, little Nazi zeal – to willingly commit acts of genocide? Was it ideology? Was there something rotten in the German soul? Or was it – as Christopher Browning argues in this highly influential book – more a matter of conformity, a response to intolerable social and psychological pressure? Browning's ability to explore the strengths and weaknesses of arguments – both the survivors' and other historians' – is what sets his work apart from other studies that have attempted to get to the root of the motivations for the Holocaust, and it is also what marks __Ordinary Men__ as one of the most important works of its generation.