THOMAS BALISTRIERI—Contrary to popular belief, the members of the Eistatzgruppen were NOT sadists. The S.S. made a point of weeding out sadists, those that enjoy killing. Himmler influenced the S.S., Gestapo and Eisatzgruppen that they were simply ‘doing their duty’ and had an opportunity to become a part of history, part of a 2000 year Nazi reign!
Thus, Himmler turned around the psychology of what the soldiers experienced, from, “I did horrible things to people’ to ‘What horrible things I had to watch in pursuance of my duties, and that tasks weighs upon my shoulders.’” (Arendt, Eichmann, 1963).