cussand consider the horrors which they perpetrated. Later in the chapter,Goldhagen lists a number of killing operations, and the reported numbers ofvictims. The battalions were given a lot of operational freedom when orderedto clear a Ghetto or when on Search and Destroy missions seeking runawayJews. The men were allowed to complete their missions as they saw fit. Many of these men, however, saw fit to torment their victims before deportingthem to the Death Camps or dispatching the Jews themselves. The menwould often require their victims to remain motionless for hours in the hotsun. If a movement was detected, the perpetrator would be quickly dealtwith. Goldhagen recounts the story of how one German officer took delight indispatching several Jewish children that were unable to remain still.Part IV: Jewish Work is AnnihilationChapter 10: The Sources and Patterns of Jewish Work During theNazi PeriodHere, Goldhagen attempts to answer the perplexing question of why theGermans put Jews to work. Did the Germans employ the Jews for somerational, economic purpose? According to Goldhagen the answer is no. Goldhagen believes the Germans employed Jews because prior to theNazis rise to power, the Jews were seen as a race of parasites, living off thework of Germans. Hitler simply wanted to see the Jews work. It was anachievement in itself, regardless of the worth of the product, Jewish workwas to be done for its own sake. Even while in the midst of a severe laborshortage, Nazi Germany did not mobilize it incarcerated Jewish population. Instead, the Germans utilized French and Polish POWs to supplement theshortage. In the Jewish work camps, the prisoners were often instructed toBuild walls, only to demolish them at the end of the day. Even whenemployed in munitions factories, assisting the Nazi war machine, Jews werenot safe. On November 3-4, 1943, over 43,000 Jews were shot during Operation Harvest Festival. Chapter 11: Life in the ...
