In the summer of 1942, a police battalion from Hamburg (mostly men too old or unfit for the regular Wehrmacht) were recruited into the army and sent to conquered Poland. These men were ordinary German citizens; tradesmen, manual workers, some educated with office jobs. Not all of them were Nazi fanatics.
Once in Poland, they were informed that their assignment was to round up, murder and bury Jews, men, women and children. Contrary to the Nazi standard postwar excuse (I was following orders) they were allowed to opt out of the killing with no other consequence than the disapproval of their comrades and a possible blot in their dossiers. Very, very few took the option; of the rest, some had qualms at the beginning but all became seasoned murderers, some even suggesting improvements to the killing process. Other similar battalions were sent to the USSR after the invasion n in 1941.
After the end of the war, thousands of death squad members were investigated and tried but the rate of conviction was ridiculously small; most walked away as free men. Those convicted served few years, if that much.
This documentary consists of photos of the time and centers in some particular commanders of the death squads. Historians and lawyers try to elucidate the unanswered question: how an ordinary man, no different than you or me could evolve almost naturally into a mass murderer. Highly recommended.
Once in Poland, they were informed that their assignment was to round up, murder and bury Jews, men, women and children. Contrary to the Nazi standard postwar excuse (I was following orders) they were allowed to opt out of the killing with no other consequence than the disapproval of their comrades and a possible blot in their dossiers. Very, very few took the option; of the rest, some had qualms at the beginning but all became seasoned murderers, some even suggesting improvements to the killing process. Other similar battalions were sent to the USSR after the invasion n in 1941.
After the end of the war, thousands of death squad members were investigated and tried but the rate of conviction was ridiculously small; most walked away as free men. Those convicted served few years, if that much.
This documentary consists of photos of the time and centers in some particular commanders of the death squads. Historians and lawyers try to elucidate the unanswered question: how an ordinary man, no different than you or me could evolve almost naturally into a mass murderer. Highly recommended.