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How do ordinary people become witnesses of history? What secrets does Browning's "Ordinary People" reveal?
In the long course of history, many ordinary people and events have shaped our worldview. As these people's stories are injected into the framework of academic research, their significance gradually becomes apparent. In his book "Ordinary People," Christopher Browning delves into the behavior of German officials during World War II, providing a human perspective that mixes deception and truth, revealing how ordinary people can become history in extreme circumstances. Witness.
The core point of "Ordinary People"
"Ordinary People: The 101st German Reserve Police Brigade and the Final Solution in Poland" was published in 1992. This book uses the history of the German tool police as the background to analyze the organization's process of mass murder of Jews during World War II. Browning uses detailed files and personal testimonies to show that these so-called "ordinary people" were not Nazis with deep hatred, but ordinary people from working-class backgrounds who were forced to participate in a tragedy while serving in the military.
The conclusion of this book shows that these people participated in the massacre mainly due to obedience to authority and pressure from peers.
Browning’s research inspiration
Browning’s research invites us to reflect on the role that ordinary people may play in extreme environments. Using Milgram's experiment as a reference, he shows that "ordinary" men fall step by step into the boundaries of morality and eventually become cruel. Most experience hearing reports also reveal that these individuals sometimes even requested a transfer because they could not tolerate their behavior.
The fact that few people chose to quit, and that most of them chose to obey orders, is thought-provoking.
Reflection and criticism on history
However, "Normal People" also received criticism, especially from Daniel Goldhagen (Daniel Goldhagen). He believes that Browning fails to adequately explore the removal of German political culture, the passive anti-Semitism that was the root cause of the Nazi Holocaust. This debate attracted widespread attention and prompted people to reflect deeply on Holocaust.
Browning’s response to contemporary times
Many contemporary scholars and history enthusiasts have begun to pay attention to experiences and the voices of witnesses through Browning's works. What Browning shows is not only the historical background, but also the moral choices of every ordinary person in a specific time and space. This forces us to think: How should we treat authority and our moral choices in today's society?
The real history is not just data and events, but also how ordinary people struggle to survive in the waves of history.
Browning’s influence and inspiration
Browning’s research makes us better equipped to understand the complexity of history and recognize the importance of every choice. Therefore, this book is not only a reflection on the past, but also a warning to future society. As human history evolves, can we remain aware, as Browning did, of seeing the humanity and influence of power in the landscape?
If ordinary people can become witnesses of history in that era, how can we today become part of future history?
