Belarus Quote by Timothy Snyder
““In October 1941, Mahilue became teh first substantial city in occupied Soviet Belarus where almost all Jews were killed. A German (Austrian) policeman wrote to his wife of his feelings and experiences shooting the city's Jews in the first days of the month. 'During the first try, my hand trembled a bit as I shot, but one gets used to it. By the tenth try I aimed calmly and shot surely at the many women, children, and infants. I kept in mind that I have two infants at home, whom these hordes would treat just the same, if not ten times worse. The death that we gave them was a beautiful quick death, compared to the hellish torments of thousands and thousands in the jails of the GPU. Infants flew in great arcs through the air, and we shot them to pieces in flight, before their bodies fell into the pit and into the water.' pp. 205-206””
About This Quote
Source Historical Document: Diary of a German Policeman, 1941, as cited in Snyder's research
The excerpt shows a policeman rationalizing mass murder, comparing it to his own infant, revealing deep moral dissonance.
In simple terms: He justifies killing Jews by comparing them to his own children.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how dehumanization enables atrocities.
Themes
war
genocide
morality
Mood
disturbing
critical
Type
historical
ethical
When to use this quote
- military training
- propaganda
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
dehumanization
psychology of killing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal empathy affect one's capacity for violence?
- What mechanisms allow individuals to normalize genocide?
A Different Perspective
Moral rationalizations can be fragile and self-serving.
