Hatten wir 10,3 Millionen Juden getotet, dann ware ich befriedigt und wurde sagen, gut, wir haben einen Feind vernichtet. ... Ich war kein normaler Befehlsempfanger, dann ware ich ein Trottel gewesen, sondern ich habe mitgedacht, ich war ein Idealist gewesen.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Eichmann rationalizes mass murder as a satisfactory act, portraying himself as an idealist rather than a simple follower.
- In plain terms
- He claims killing Jews would satisfy him and calls himself an idealist.
- What can you take from it?
- Self‑justification can mask horrific actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do perpetrators create heroic self‑images?
- How can societies confront such rationalizations?
Another view
He may be attempting to portray himself more favorably after the fact.
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Permalink to quote #4
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