Psychology of the Einsatzgruppen

[David Thompson]

There were Einsatzgruppen set up from 1938, beginning with the annexation of Austria and continuing through the annexation of the Sudetenland, the establishment of the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and the Polish campaign. The Einsatzgruppen didn't start shooting civilians into ditches until the invasion of Poland, however. See the "Einsatzgruppen of the Sicherheitspolizei & Sicherheitsdienst ~ 1938 - 1945" section under the Waffen-SS and Polizei link on fellow-moderator Michael Miller's excellent Axis Biographical Research website at http://www.geocities.com/%7Eorion47/

See also "Hitler and the murders in Poland 1939-1940" at viewtopic.php?t=24138

[Kim Sung]

I've found an interesting account on psychology of Die Einsatzgruppen

The attitude of most of the Einsatzgruppen can be summed up in a quote from SS General Otto Ohlendorf, commander of Einsatzgruppen D, during the Nuremburg Trials:

The men, women, deeply excavated antitank ditches. Then they were shot, kneeling or standing, and the corpses thrown into the ditch. I never permitted the shooting by individuals in group D, but ordered that several of the men should shoot at the same time in order to avoid direct personal responsibility.

He, like most of the Einsatzgruppen, expressed no remorse for his actions and was more concerned about the moral strain on those carrying out the executions than those actually being executed. He went to the gallows believing he had done his duty for his country. He, like most of the Einsatzgruppen, had a special motivation to carry out their work.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/ww ... ation.aspx

Racial hatred wipes out any sense of guilt. In this sense, die Einsatzgruppen are still living with us in our time.

[David Thompson]

Interested readers can take a look at Ohlendorf's testimony at:

Einsatzgruppe 20 Nov 1945 affidavit of Otto Ohlendorf
viewtopic.php?t=60121
IMT testimony of Otto Ohlendorf
viewtopic.php?t=59859
NMT Einsatzgruppe Testimony of Otto Ohlendorf
viewtopic.php?t=59983

For the off-topic-here question of Otto Ohlendorf's academic credentials, see: viewtopic.php?t=59855

[BillHermann]

I fail to understand the theory behind the concept that these men, some or most would not have been affected by the shootings. The comment regarding there was little evidence or reports is not a viable argument because post traumatic or psychological problems were not diagnosed or an issue in Nazi Germany. It is not the same as current diagnosing of combat psychological problems in by NATO counties in Afghanistan.

There would be little way to know the psychological ramifications because there would have been little record. Being that there was no record does not mean that they were not problems. Saying that there were a lack of record would be like saying that any person in history was not affected because there was no record. Not all history is about black and white evidence. Many people even today who suffer from battle fatigue / post tramatic don't end up on official records.

It is obviously that from psychological studies and some historical evidence that it was not easy and that there were problems.

[ChristopherPerrien]

I fail to understand the theory behind the concept that these men, some or most would not have been affected by the shootings. The comment regarding there was little evidence or reports is not a viable argument because post traumatic or psychological problems were not diagnosed or an issue in Nazi Germany. It is not the same as current diagnosing of combat psychological problems in by NATO counties in Afghanistan.

There would be little way to know the psychological ramifications because there would have been little record. Being that there was no record does not mean that they were not problems. Saying that there were a lack of record would be like saying that any person in history was not affected because there was no record. Not all history is about black and white evidence. Many people even today who suffer from battle fatigue / post tramatic don't end up on official records.

It is obviously that from psychological studies and some historical evidence that it was not easy and that there were problems.

I again suggest Hohne's "Order of the Death's Head", as a developing narrative of mostly German police officers and recruits becoming the "Einsanztgruppen" and the problems that developed.