why did the germans stop using firing squads?

Question

WWII. 

TOPIC: SYSTEMATIC KILLINGS

Answer 1

Firing squads were much less efficient as other methods. It took much longer than methods such as a gas chambers, it led to great psychological torment on the soldiers in firing squads (if you would like to learn more about that check out the book "Ordinary Men" by Browning), and finally it was much more expensive than other methods. Ammunition was in short supply for the Germans by 1943.

Answer 2

Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, watched numbers of firing squads kill Jews.  In one case, 2 women were not killed immediately, and this distressed him.  He shouted for them to be put out of their misery.  He watched how the firing squad members were affected by killing women and children up close.  He ended the use of firing squads so that his men would not suffer continued psychological effects of this "up-close shooting."