Ordinary Men | 
pickInteresting, brutal account of the lesser known Reserve Police Battalions (specifically 101) that played a major part in the annihilation of Jewry in Eastern Europe. The bulk of the book tells the story of RPB 101 from interrogations in 1960s and written accounts, but also included is a lengthy examination of the psycho-social drivers that turned "ordinary men" into killers.
Necessary non-fiction for WW2 and Holocaust insight.
panWith so many well written books on the subject of WW2, there is just no reason to pick this one up. It‘s drier than 2020 is long... and I need a book that can keep my attention now more than ever!
#booked2020
#aboutgenocide
This is absolutely crazy! All the time I‘ve taught about the Holocaust, I‘ve always understood that there was a punishment for anyone who didn‘t obey orders...clearly this wasn‘t the case! Browning goes on to consider the potential for a ‘fascistic‘ personality, which is so interesting.
This book tells a story that‘s fascinating and horrifying in equal measure. How could such ordinary men commit such atrocities? I know the climate is different than it was in the 1940s, but the basic concepts of good and evil, right and wrong are common to all time periods, aren‘t they?
I‘ve been at the final session of the ‘Lessons From Auschwitz‘ Project today. Day 1 was an orientation seminar in Manchester; day 2 was a day trip to Poland to visit Oswiecim, Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau; day 3 was the final seminar in Manchester again, to debrief and disseminate learning from the visit and course as a whole. In the book of names, I found a Jewish woman who shared my name and birthday. I feel linked to her in a strange way.
Wow. I‘ve read a massive amount about the Holocaust and didn‘t know this. A jaw-dropping fact.
When your boss comes down and asks if you want two of his books... is that even a question? Heck yes, I want your books!
