First Sergeant Kammer Character Analysis in Ordinary Men

Browning uses “Kammer” as an alias for a First Sergeant in Reserve Police Battalion 101’s First Company. Kammer is an important leader in the executions at Józefów—he has the rather unsavory task of leading the first group of Jews into the forest, matching them up with their executioners, then leading the groups to the mass graves, and giving the orders to shoot. However, he doesn’t seem too bothered by the violence and seems to become even more prone to violence and intolerant of those who opt out over time. This is highlighted by his treatment of men who didn’t want to participate in shootings later that year: he calls them “shitheads” and says they are “good for nothing.” Still, Kammer respects the precedent set by Major Trapp and allows the men who don’t want to shoot walk away from the task. This is a prime example of how the freedom of choice is always present for the men in the battalion, but with the caveat that those men who opt out of shooting will be accused of cowardice by their leaders and peers. After the war, Kammer is found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.

First Sergeant Kammer Character Timeline in Ordinary Men

The timeline below shows where the character First Sergeant Kammer appears in Ordinary Men. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

First Sergeant Kammer leads the first firing squad into the forest outside of town. When the first truckload... (full context)

...shown where to shoot their victims or after taking part in at least one execution. Kammer readily excuses men who ask, but Hoffmann initially refuses to excuse men who say they... (full context)

...and Third Platoon of Second Company all show up to clear the ghetto. First Sergeant Kammer helps supervise and Captain Wohlauf, along with his pregnant young wife, arrives to help. Wohlauf’s... (full context)

...Jewish action, Buchmann is there for it, and he is extremely indignant about Trapp’s orders. Kammer berates some of Buchmann’s men who say they don’t want to shoot either but he... (full context)

...Police Battalion 101 that have the most postwar consequences to face, but Trapp, Buchmann, and Kammer. The three men are extradited to Poland in 1947, and in 1948 they are tried... (full context)