Ordinary Men or Ideological Executioners? : Finnish SS Volunteers and the Atrocities on the Eastern Front

In 1941, approximately twelve hundred Finns volunteered for the Waffen-SS. They were placed in the multinational Wiking division. Some Finnish volunteers participated in mass executions and other atrocities. This article examines in depth the motivations and ideological influences behind the atrocities that Finnish SS volunteers perpetrated during the Holocaust. To this end, it examines and applies to this case study Christopher Browning’s “Ordinary Men” theory, which posits that perpetrators were often ordinary men motivated by peer pressure and obedience, and Daniel Goldhagen’s “Willing Executioners” theory, which maintains that antisemitism was the primary driving factor in the Holocaust. Ultimately, the evidence shows that Finnish SS men involved in atrocities were among the most ideologically committed to National Socialism and antisemitism. They came from a core group of recruits that were selected and given preferential treatment during the first week of recruitment, and for them, antisemitism and National Socialist ideology were significant motivating factors. While some volunteers refused to participate in atrocities, the majority of those who committed crimes were part of the ideologically committed core group. The study integrates multiple theoretical perspectives to emphasize the role of antisemitism and ideology in driving war crimes.