Jocko Podcast 85: Rationalizing Evil Deeds. Burden of Choice. Following Immoral Orders. "Ordinary Men"
Jul 25, 2017
Christopher R. Browning, a historian known for his work on the Holocaust, dives deep into the chilling actions of Reserve Police Battalion 101. He discusses the psychological struggles and moral dilemmas faced by ordinary men who carried out horrific orders. The conversation highlights the dangers of conformity and the rationalization of evil deeds in extreme circumstances. Browning examines how authority and social dynamics can cause ordinary people to commit unspeakable acts, urging a critical evaluation of morals and accountability in the face of authority.
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Graves Dug By Victims And Drunken Shooters
- At Lomazi, Jews were forced to dig mass graves then shot into them while bodies piled high and survivors were buried alive.
- The Hiwi auxiliaries alternated drunken shooting shifts with German policemen.
Choice Increases Responsibility; No Choice Increases Compliance
- Removing choice eliminated moral ownership: when orders left no opt-out, compliance rose.
- Jocko links this to leadership: choice increases burden and responsibility.
Systematic Policy, Not Frenzy, Drove Many Atrocities
- Battalion 101 killed tens of thousands: its actions combined shootings and deportations into extermination camps.
- Browning categorizes these as policy-driven atrocities, not battlefield frenzy.