The Police Army In Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men

Christopher Browning documents everyday experiences and tribulations of Germany men, who were involved in the tragic events of the Holocaust. Browning tries illustrate the reasoning of all the massacres caused by the Reserve Police Battalion 101, so that people could get a clear understanding of what really was going on with these men, physically and mentally. Looking past all the opposing claims of German men, Browning explains how these men were just regular “middle aged family men” who were taking basic orders from higher authorities (1). Throughout the book Ordinary Men, Christopher Browning explains his reasoning of calling these murders ordinary men, the reasoning behind all the massacres, and how these men later on became killers.

Of course to them this seemed harmless, until these men were later on sent to terrorize the areas of Józefów and Łomazy, where they were ordered to shoot infants and small children. Browning explains this horrifying act by stating “along with the elderly and sick, infants were among those shot and left lying in the houses, door ways, and streets of the town” (59). Although opposing viewpoints may say that these men of the battalion were cruel and heartless, Browning states that even after the shooting of those children the policemen would report back “empathically” to each other. Explaining how “even in the face of death” how hurtful it was to watch mothers still hold onto their children sacrificing themselves (59). Ordinary Men also illustrates how even the commander of the Reserve Battalion, Major Wilhelm Trapp encountered multiple breakdowns during his time of serving. For example, Browning explains how Major Wilhelm Trapp was “pale and nervous” his voice filled with “choking and tears,” every time he was told to fulfill a “frightfully unpleasant task” (2). Also the author states another incident where Major Wilhelm Trapp