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Hitler's Bureaucrats: The Nazi Security Police and the Banality of Evil
For many the name of Adolf Eichmann is synonymous with the Nazi murder of six million Jews. As a perpetuator of the Final Solution he stands alongside Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler as one of history's most notorious murderers, yet ever since Hannah Arendt's seminal book, Eichmann in A Report on the Banality of Evil, there has been disagreement about the essence of Eichmann and, by extension, about the definition of evil action. Was he a human monster or a petty bureaucrat? To what degree did the totalitarian organization to which he belonged absolve him and his staff from individual choice and responsibility for atrocities?
Hitler's Bureaucrats looks at the words and actions of Eichmann and the bureaucrats he worked with in Berlin and throughout the more significant Gestapo offices in Western Europe. It claims that Hannah Arendt's thesis about the banality of evil was wrong. In chilling detail, it presents a group of people completely aware of what they were doing, people with high ideological motivation, people of initiative and dexterity who contributed far beyond what was necessary. While most of these bureaucrats sat behind desks rather than behind machine guns, there was nothing banal about the role they played in the destruction of European Jewry.
The primary motivating force for their actions was a well-developed acceptance of the tenets of Nazi ideology of which racial anti-Semitism was a central component. As the documentation created by Eichmann and his colleagues reveals, not a single one of them ever expressed regret for their actions against the Jews, unless it was regret for having to pay the consequences.
Hitler's Bureaucrats looks at the words and actions of Eichmann and the bureaucrats he worked with in Berlin and throughout the more significant Gestapo offices in Western Europe. It claims that Hannah Arendt's thesis about the banality of evil was wrong. In chilling detail, it presents a group of people completely aware of what they were doing, people with high ideological motivation, people of initiative and dexterity who contributed far beyond what was necessary. While most of these bureaucrats sat behind desks rather than behind machine guns, there was nothing banal about the role they played in the destruction of European Jewry.
The primary motivating force for their actions was a well-developed acceptance of the tenets of Nazi ideology of which racial anti-Semitism was a central component. As the documentation created by Eichmann and his colleagues reveals, not a single one of them ever expressed regret for their actions against the Jews, unless it was regret for having to pay the consequences.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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August 6, 2020
This book is really centered on demonstrating to the reader (and perhaps to the writer as well) how it is that the documents of the Nazi police bureaucracy demonstrate not the banality of evil as Hannah Arendt would have it, but the presence of actual evil, in somewhat terrifying form, that comes from ideological commitment. I found this book pretty chilling to read, because in reading it I knew at least that a great many people on the right and left, including myself, could find ourselves very easily believing that the absence of certain groups of people (especially for political reasons) could make the world a better place, or at least a more peaceful place. The author notes that while people are prone to think of bureaucracy as an unchangeable system, that it must be exploited by people, and that the evil committed in bureaucracies is evil for which people have personal responsibility for, for they have the chance to use bureaucratic means both to seek to carry out policies and build support for them but also to obstruct them, as was done to save Jews by Italian fascists.
This particular book is between 250 and 300 pages long and is divided into 8 fairly large chapters. The book begins with a preface to the English Edition, an explanation of the author's use of archival sources, and tables and charts relating to the SS organizational structure. After that comes an introduction and a discussion of the creativity of ideological SS members in turning their wacky conspiratorial theories about Jews into anti-Jewish practice during the period from 1933-1938 (1). After that there is a discussion of documents in the German bureaucratic system of the Nazis (2) as well as a look at how the Nazi government moved towards the Final Solution (3), and how this was executed in Germany (4) through the connivance of various figures. After that the rest of the book explores how the Final Solution was executed in other countries, like Holland (5), France (6), and Hungary (7), and how it was that different people were able to frustrate the aims of the Nazis in destroying all of European Jewry through their manipulation of bureaucratic channels. The author then concludes with a chilling discussion about listening to the screams of victims and facing the evil of Nazi bureaucrats who show themselves as anything but banal (8), after which there is a bibliography and index.
Indeed, this book has several very worthwhile elements to it that should make it a classic read for those who want to understand the evil of the Third Reich, or at least those who were ideologically committed to it. For one, the author deals honestly with the question of evil and in the process undercuts the moral position of rationalists, among whom the author includes himself. Similarly, the author's focus on the way that bureaucracies are run and used by people for purposes that can be either good or evil undercuts the belief that people have about systemic evil. All evil is personal, and those who blame systems lack understanding in how it is that people actually make decisions and seek to enforce them, or use their knowledge of bureaucracy to thwart decisions that they do not want to act upon. To be sure, having a mastery of the skills of handling bureaucracies is not a universal or even a widespread matter, but it does exist, and its existence demonstrates that bureaucracies exist for the use of human beings, and are not independent sources of evil upon which people can put the blame. The blame always rests on someone who is doing something and using institutional power in order to further those evil aims, the evil is not in the institutions itself. That is a lesson a great many could stand to learn today, for evil certainly exists, if not yet on a form like that of Nazi Germany.
This particular book is between 250 and 300 pages long and is divided into 8 fairly large chapters. The book begins with a preface to the English Edition, an explanation of the author's use of archival sources, and tables and charts relating to the SS organizational structure. After that comes an introduction and a discussion of the creativity of ideological SS members in turning their wacky conspiratorial theories about Jews into anti-Jewish practice during the period from 1933-1938 (1). After that there is a discussion of documents in the German bureaucratic system of the Nazis (2) as well as a look at how the Nazi government moved towards the Final Solution (3), and how this was executed in Germany (4) through the connivance of various figures. After that the rest of the book explores how the Final Solution was executed in other countries, like Holland (5), France (6), and Hungary (7), and how it was that different people were able to frustrate the aims of the Nazis in destroying all of European Jewry through their manipulation of bureaucratic channels. The author then concludes with a chilling discussion about listening to the screams of victims and facing the evil of Nazi bureaucrats who show themselves as anything but banal (8), after which there is a bibliography and index.
Indeed, this book has several very worthwhile elements to it that should make it a classic read for those who want to understand the evil of the Third Reich, or at least those who were ideologically committed to it. For one, the author deals honestly with the question of evil and in the process undercuts the moral position of rationalists, among whom the author includes himself. Similarly, the author's focus on the way that bureaucracies are run and used by people for purposes that can be either good or evil undercuts the belief that people have about systemic evil. All evil is personal, and those who blame systems lack understanding in how it is that people actually make decisions and seek to enforce them, or use their knowledge of bureaucracy to thwart decisions that they do not want to act upon. To be sure, having a mastery of the skills of handling bureaucracies is not a universal or even a widespread matter, but it does exist, and its existence demonstrates that bureaucracies exist for the use of human beings, and are not independent sources of evil upon which people can put the blame. The blame always rests on someone who is doing something and using institutional power in order to further those evil aims, the evil is not in the institutions itself. That is a lesson a great many could stand to learn today, for evil certainly exists, if not yet on a form like that of Nazi Germany.
May 17, 2022
I would suggest people watch the movie Conspiracy, then watch The Trial of Adolf Eichmann. This book covers the subject that the Movie and documentary. Eichmann words were "orders were orders".
What is know supreme leaders, such as Hitler, Himmler, and Goering were perplexed by Jewish problem. Not on what they wanted to do, but how to carry it out. Emigration was impossible, Hitler was at war with Europe, paths for legal exists did not possible. The problem was passed out to high officials, that included Heydrich. No supreme leaders were to be present at the meeting. Adolf Eichmann was the lowest ranking person in the meeting, but it was he that would be entrusted with the actual details for the Final Solution.
What is so incredible about the Final Solution that it considered the state, and creditors of Jews, but not that Jewish people, were in fact people, and should have had rights. This is not a vindication of current German people, but of people during the time frame that said they were just following orders.
Adolf Eichmann was a low level administrator, but his efforts made the Holocaust possible. Before Eichmann schedules, chaos, ruled, afterwards under Eichmann's guidance it was a cruel, efficient system. Each Jew on resettlement was to provide 50 Reichsmark to the state, this was to repay debts of jews removed from society. Even people who served in World War I, and fought for Germany, were considered in the equation. The final insult would be thanks for serving, but claiming that these people were now a threat to society to justify sending to a special camp.
Who would want them, who would take them. That was Hitler's problem, and he would pass it down to lower ranks, and at the same time cover it up as much as possible. This would indicate perhaps there is some quilt, that needs to be covered up for some very heinous acts to come.
As for Eichmann's claims he was only following orders, after his capture by Mossad of Israel. he in fact did not follow orders, Hitler and Himmler discussed Hungary, and that it had a large population of JEWS, this was in 1945, and it was clear Nazi Germany was coming to an end. Himmler suggested to Hitler lets put "the Master" at work, which referred to Adolf Eichmann. This brought great pride to Eichmann, to know that Hitler was announced of Eichmann's talents as an administrator. Eichmann went to business right away and was brutally efficient, and it is hard thing to use words to describe such heinous, terrible acts. By 1945 one might hope you might survive to see the end of the war, but with Eichmann he was stepping up production to meet the new demands. In fact Hitler and Himmler, ordered to delay the extermination, they were going to use Jewish life's and bargaining pawns to allied forces. Eichmann simply ignored these orders, and considered his task should not be interrupted. Like it was some sick moral work he must finish before the war of Nazi Germany expired in the limited time that was left.
It is so important that books like this feel in the pieces, that in late 30's it was already difficult to resist the Nazi movement, by September 1, 1939 it was virtually impossible to resist. Certainly you could try, but if discovered you could share the fate, or summarily executed. Many suggested Jews could resist, and there many who tired, but these efforts were ruthlessly put down. Excellent book.
What is know supreme leaders, such as Hitler, Himmler, and Goering were perplexed by Jewish problem. Not on what they wanted to do, but how to carry it out. Emigration was impossible, Hitler was at war with Europe, paths for legal exists did not possible. The problem was passed out to high officials, that included Heydrich. No supreme leaders were to be present at the meeting. Adolf Eichmann was the lowest ranking person in the meeting, but it was he that would be entrusted with the actual details for the Final Solution.
What is so incredible about the Final Solution that it considered the state, and creditors of Jews, but not that Jewish people, were in fact people, and should have had rights. This is not a vindication of current German people, but of people during the time frame that said they were just following orders.
Adolf Eichmann was a low level administrator, but his efforts made the Holocaust possible. Before Eichmann schedules, chaos, ruled, afterwards under Eichmann's guidance it was a cruel, efficient system. Each Jew on resettlement was to provide 50 Reichsmark to the state, this was to repay debts of jews removed from society. Even people who served in World War I, and fought for Germany, were considered in the equation. The final insult would be thanks for serving, but claiming that these people were now a threat to society to justify sending to a special camp.
Who would want them, who would take them. That was Hitler's problem, and he would pass it down to lower ranks, and at the same time cover it up as much as possible. This would indicate perhaps there is some quilt, that needs to be covered up for some very heinous acts to come.
As for Eichmann's claims he was only following orders, after his capture by Mossad of Israel. he in fact did not follow orders, Hitler and Himmler discussed Hungary, and that it had a large population of JEWS, this was in 1945, and it was clear Nazi Germany was coming to an end. Himmler suggested to Hitler lets put "the Master" at work, which referred to Adolf Eichmann. This brought great pride to Eichmann, to know that Hitler was announced of Eichmann's talents as an administrator. Eichmann went to business right away and was brutally efficient, and it is hard thing to use words to describe such heinous, terrible acts. By 1945 one might hope you might survive to see the end of the war, but with Eichmann he was stepping up production to meet the new demands. In fact Hitler and Himmler, ordered to delay the extermination, they were going to use Jewish life's and bargaining pawns to allied forces. Eichmann simply ignored these orders, and considered his task should not be interrupted. Like it was some sick moral work he must finish before the war of Nazi Germany expired in the limited time that was left.
It is so important that books like this feel in the pieces, that in late 30's it was already difficult to resist the Nazi movement, by September 1, 1939 it was virtually impossible to resist. Certainly you could try, but if discovered you could share the fate, or summarily executed. Many suggested Jews could resist, and there many who tired, but these efforts were ruthlessly put down. Excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews