There are no extraordinary men Essay Example

likely candidate to bring an end to this situation. Yet, similar to his comrades, he was simply obeying commands from superior figures. The initial massacre clearly displays his distress, but how does the war environment affect his character? In the same chapter, he undergoes transformation by rejecting the gratitude of Jews who wanted to kiss his hands for rescuing them. However, it is in chapter 11 where we truly witness the profound impact of the war climate on his ability to adjust.

Trapp, stationed in Talcyn, opts to kill the Jewish population instead of the Poles when confronted with a killing quota. It appears that he considers the Jews to be more disposable, suggesting a certain level of desensitization to killing them. In contrast, he still perceives the Poles as individuals worthy of being viewed as human.

He hasn't distanced himself from them like he has been forced to with Jews. The very obvious rule of the German side of this war is that Jews aren't necessary. So when faced with the decision to kill Poles or Jews, Trapp created his own rule that Jews are more expendable then Poles. The man who once weeped for the Jews "no longer had any inhibitions about shooting more than enough Jews to meet his quota" Major Trapp, to me, was the epitome of the ordinary men who didn't enjoy senseless murder evolving into a man who became accustomed to senseless murder.

The concept of the general populace also changed to adapt to the rules of this war. Initially, the Jozefow matter was avoided in conversations. However, eventually people found it more comfortable to discuss it and justify their actions. Some

individuals claimed they did not want to be seen as cowardly, while others argued that the Jews would not have been able to escape their fate regardless. Yet another man rationalized that if one person was shooting the mother, it was acceptable to shoot the child since they could not survive without their mother (Browning, chapter 9, pg 73).

The justifications provided comfort to the men and facilitated their adaptation. By establishing their own guidelines for acceptable behavior, they managed to cope. Consequently, in order to effectively adhere to these rules, they had to invent a set of regulations for themselves. Unfortunately, these self-imposed rules ultimately permitted them to engage in increasingly abhorrent actions over time.

The ruling regarding deportation was evident for the 101st battalion as stated in Browning's chapter 10, page 90. They believed that "out of sight truly was out of mind". Unfortunately, this decision ultimately resulted in the loss of numerous lives, including those from the Jozefow and Lomazy massacres.

Having already been burdened with the task of personally murdering these men, they found it much simpler to delegate the responsibility to someone else. By doing so, they could avoid witnessing the gruesome act of taking another life. Additionally, knowing the destination of the Jews relieved them of the weight of potentially having to shoot any of them.

During the Miedzyrzec deportation, the Jews faced an incredibly brutal treatment, as described by Browning (chapter 10, pg 95). The knowledge that their lives were already condemned made it less difficult for them to take the lives of others. Additionally, their understanding of the composition of the battalion provided certain individuals with a greater ease in carrying

out the killings. Lieutenant Buchmann's refusal to participate was tolerated as long as there were enough men willing to perform the murderous tasks (Browning, chapter 11, pg 103).

By giving the option for individuals who didn't wish to engage in killing activities to abstain, the overall effectiveness of the killings was enhanced. This approach resulted in increased speed and efficiency without causing any intimidation or fear within the battalion.