Adolf Eichmann was a traveling salesman before joining the Nazi party. He worked his way up the ranks easily and in 1942 was put in charge of transporting Jews to extermination camps under the “final solution” plan.
Hannah Arendt claims that Adolf Eichmann carried out evil acts without evil intentions. He was able to carry out evil acts because he could not put their impact into perspective.
Banality of evil- people who are not entirely evil but commit evil acts because it is convenient to them. Average people doing evil things without acknowledging the nature of their acts.
The Origins of Totalitarianism is split into 3 essays: Antisemitism, Imperialism, and Totalitarianism. Eichmann argues that totalitarianism distinguishes itself from other oppressive forms of government in that fear is used to suppress populations and not just political opponents. Regimes want to control every part of the lives of their citizens.