Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Auschwitz and the Banality of Evil


DovBear points to this disturbing article and slideshow in today's New York Times. Recently donated photographs reveal the Nazi officers of Auschwitz relaxing in their off time -- enjoying a sing-a-long, lighting a Christmas tree, smiling and looking completely carefree. They look like, as DB titled his post, "ordinary people."

4 comments:

esther said...

I had always heard that the Nazis discouraged accordion music because of its association with American dance music. Apparently they tried to ban accordion bands from playing classical pieces because that was, as Third Reich officials put it, "an abuse of the music of our great masters."

Anonymous said...

Makes me wish we had similar pictures of the Inquisition. Guess I could Photoshop their uniforms.

jewish philosopher said...

Nazis were ordinary people who held unusual opinions. I don't know why anyone is surprised.

jewish philosopher said...

I read recently, and this is supposedly authentic, that a few days before his death, Hitler commented that his only flaw was that he was too often too nice.