12-16-2010, 08:11 PM
I picked up Lieutenant Colonel (Retired.) Dave Grossman's Book On Killing The Pyschological Cost of Learning How to Kill in War and Society.
A few months later I happened across Joanna Bourke's Book The Intimate History of Killing Face to Face Killing in 20th Century Warfare.
According to both books it's very hard to take Joe Blow and get him to kill his fellow man (In WWII only 15-10% were even willing to fire their rifles). Granted we all can get ticked and roar and rave about making heads roll, or scream things about the guy who cut us off.
But actually ending someone's life is extremely difficult, it's even worse at close range. (It does shed light on Vegetius remark about forcing the Legionaries to thrust instead of cutting)
So, my question is how did the Roman Army motivate and desensitize the Legionaries to the point that they could kill?
Also, what did Legionaries do to deal with their actions? I mean were there any manuals that said something like: "Follow these procedures so that your men don't start screaming and having nightmares." Cleansing Rituals and talking with your comrades on the way home have also been a part of mental healing after combat. Did the Romans do anything like that?
A few months later I happened across Joanna Bourke's Book The Intimate History of Killing Face to Face Killing in 20th Century Warfare.
According to both books it's very hard to take Joe Blow and get him to kill his fellow man (In WWII only 15-10% were even willing to fire their rifles). Granted we all can get ticked and roar and rave about making heads roll, or scream things about the guy who cut us off.
But actually ending someone's life is extremely difficult, it's even worse at close range. (It does shed light on Vegetius remark about forcing the Legionaries to thrust instead of cutting)
So, my question is how did the Roman Army motivate and desensitize the Legionaries to the point that they could kill?
Also, what did Legionaries do to deal with their actions? I mean were there any manuals that said something like: "Follow these procedures so that your men don't start screaming and having nightmares." Cleansing Rituals and talking with your comrades on the way home have also been a part of mental healing after combat. Did the Romans do anything like that?