Robert Browning's Ordinary Men

Browning depicts the men in his case study as ordinary middle aged men who choose not to commit murder of Jewish men, women, and children as compared to Ordinary Men or Ideological Soldiers, it is clearly stated that men of Police Battalion 310 not only believed Jews as subhuman enemies but as a threat to Germany. The majority of PB 310 consisted of younger men who were consistently exposed to the political and economic turmoil of Germany. These men likely joined Hitler Youth and were exposed to Nazi propaganda through their school education. As stated on pages 49-50, most of these young soldiers were active party members. It also showed figures for men born between 1905-1912 as more susceptible to Nazi ideology.
In fact, men affiliated with National Socialism were deemed desirable for police admittance. “Daluege described this measure ‘as a political necessity’. He further added ‘the politically schooled soldiers of the movement are the guarantors that the National Socialist ideology (Ideenwelt) will serve the general good of the Prussian police’” (44). Clearly, Daluege understood the significance of police men sharing and establishing National Socialist ideology. In addition, Himmler set up propaganda meetings for members of the SS and SA to further enhance their beliefs by including
The majority of men who participated in the killing of men, women, and children were far removed from the idea of Jews and people and sincerely believed their threat to Germany. Police battalions were not forced to commit murder, but instead choose to commit these actions in alignment with their ideology. “PB 310 was in fact only one of thirty-one police battalions operating on the Eastern Front during 1942” (60-61), indicating the numerous men who believed in their action and committed to their