Dem Rad in die Speichen fallen

by Renate Wind

This new biography paints a memorable portrait of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German theologian hanged by the Nazis in 1945. Wind especially brings out Bonhoeffer's early realization of the horror of Nazi treatment of the Jews and his involvement in the resistance against Hitler, his resolve to become "a spoke in the wheel.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Religion, History, War, School, Theology

233 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1992

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Unglaublich fesselnd und packend. Die Geschichte eines so charmanten, intelligenten, mutigen und ehrlichen Menschens.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wurde nicht als "perfekt" dargestellt, sondern als Mensch, der stetig sein eigenes Leben und somit Theologie hinterfragte. Die Autorin zeichnete mit der Beschreibung seiner verankerten Grundsätze und der sich ändernden Ausführung derselben in den verschieden Phasen, ein Bild, was nicht nur realistisch, sondern auch höchst nachvollziehbar ist ... und somit bewegend.

Es war ebenso spannend über das Verhalten der v.A. evangelischen Kirche während der Nazi-Zeit zu lesen. Spannend und frustrierend.

Aber auch auf die Bedeutung "christlicher Werte" wie Liebe, Gerechtigkeit & Versöhnung scheint hier nochmal ein anderes Licht. Werte, die wir wohl in unserer (zu gutem Grunde) so säkularisierten Welt, nicht aus dem Auge verlieren sollten.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Was er selbst tun und was er Gott überlassen muß, hat er in den »Stationen auf dem Weg zur Freiheit« beschrieben:
„Tat: Nicht das Beliebige, sondern das Rechte tun und wagen, nicht im Möglichen schweben, das Wirkliche tapfer ergreifen, nicht in der Flucht der Gedanken, allein in der Tat ist die Freiheit.
Leiden: Wunderbare Verwandlung. Die starken, tätigen Hände sind die gebunden. Ohnmächtig, einsam siehst du das Ende deiner Tat. Nur einen Augenblick berührst du selig die Freiheit, dann übergabst du sie Gott, damit er sie herrlich vollende.“

Eine wunderbare Erzählung, Aufarbeitung und Biographie Dietrich Bonhoeffers, die seine Entwicklung sowie seine Gedankengänge eingebettet in die entsprechende Zeit darlegt. Meiner Ansicht nach wird hiermit die richtige Mischung aus Persönlichkeit, Tätigkeit, zeitlichen Geschehnissen und Reflektionen und Referenzen zur heutigen Zeit getroffen. Sehr zu empfehlen!

[Andy Littleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short biography of Bonhoeffer, which invites you into his theological and political and personal life without overwhelming you. I found it very interesting and helpful.

[Manuel Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read with new insight into the rise of Nazi Germany and the role of the Reich Church on Hitler's hold on power. This is a topic I have never come across, and gained good insight into the person of Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was martyred due to his resistance to Hitler, the collaboration of the German Lutheran Evangelical Churches, and his conspiratorial work in trying to overthrow Hitler.

Reich Church Propaganda: "Germany has experienced a new Pentecost. When Hitler came, there was a wind from heaven. The banner with the swastika which flies before all of us is the Holy Spirit: its fire , which inspires us...what the first disciples had experienced at Pentecost and the enthusiasm which had gripped the German people today were the work of one and the same Spirit of God which we did right to call holy": (pg 100).

"Shocked, he faced the fact that the majority of the German people were rejoicing at the success of the nation and enjoying the fruits of the policy of conquest without asking who was paying the price. After every victory of Hitler's army, services of thanksgiving were held in the churches. And on the belt buckles of the soldiers, as in the time of the Kaiser, was written "God with us!" Who still wanted to go on claiming that God was on the side of the losers?" (pgs 140-141).

This nationalistic and transactional spirit, which permitted the justification of atrocities in order to obtain a political and perceived spiritual gain for the nation, finds frightening parallels in modern day America and the west, and reflects the same justification found is ascendant radical Islam as well as western, nationalistic forms of Christianity. "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". I highly recommend this book; If nothing else I recommend the chapter titles " A Spoke in The Wheel" (pg 65), and "The Masquerade of Evil" (pg 139).

[Stephen Matlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and engaging book about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the early- to mid-20th century's most insightful people.

Bonhoeffer's past is mined for clues to his radical changes in his outlook and behavior, especially with regards to his Christian (Protestant) faith in a Germany that slid rapidly from muddled and chaotic centrism into pure white, right-wing fascism, taking along with it the lives of ten million people as it destroyed itself. How could the center of Europe that gave the world science and language and art and beauty descend into madness?

It was too great of a thing for one man to comprehend, but Bonhoeffer had to grapple with his own countrymen and own faith-community collapse at the feet of a vicious, fascist ruler whose only tools were hate and destruction—and he did so by turning more and more from being a spoke of a wheel; that is, a small part of the whole that rolls along, to becoming the spoke in the wheel that attempts to stop the chaos and violence and destruction. For opposing the Führer he was executed a few days before the liberation of Germany.

I found it insightful and useful, and while later biographies have perhaps dug deeper, this book is a good primer into who Bonhoeffer is using his own words and the words of those who knew him.

Definitely a book to read to understand how a nation can turn to madness and chaos and destruction because of an unmet wound to pride and a need to find a scapegoat. For Germans enthralled by the Führer, their target for anger and hate was mainly the Jews, but also the Slavs, the Romani, the LGBTQIA, the social democrats, the liberals, and all People of Color and Black people.

It's a good warning for ourselves that our sense of progress can be interrupted by the siren call of nationalism, patriotism, and religiosity, all used to bring us to prostrate ourselves at the feet of a fascist dictator.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein wirklich sehr bewegendes Buch, was aber hauptsächlich an der Person von Dietrich Bonhoeffer liegt. Denn das hier ist keine Biographie, in der irgendwelche Alltagsszenen "dazugedichtet" werden, sodass sich der Leser gut in sie hineinversetzen kann. Stattdessen hält sich das Werk sehr nah an Quellen (z.B. Briefen) und enthält viele Zitate daraus. Alle Interpretationen der Autorin sind damit begründet.
Gerade am Anfang, als es noch hauptsächlich um die Analyse der Entwicklung von Bonhoeffers Persönlichkeit geht, fand ich es auch tatsächlich etwas anstrengend zu lesen, da mich das Thema auch nicht so sehr interessiert hat. Das änderte sich jedoch mit dem Beginn der Zeit des Nazi-Regimes. Hier waren Zitate, Fakten und Zahlen erschreckend und dramatisch genug, auch ohne dass über den Schreibstil zusätzlich Spannung aufgebaut wird. Es wird auch sehr auf das Verhalten der evangelischen Kirche in dieser Zeit eingegangen, was ich sehr interessant fand.
Bei Interesse an der Thematik auf jeden Fall lesenswert, man sollte vielleicht nur wissen, dass es sich nicht wirklich um eine klassische Biographie handelt.

[LadyCalico · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think if you could read only one book about Bonhoeffer, this would be the one. It is not only the shortest, but it covers essentially what you might hope to remember from reading the longer more detailed biographies, if your brain is a leaking sieve like mine. The material in this book is highly concentrated but graspable and retainable. It takes essentially a three prong approach: the salient events in the life of Bonhoeffer, the progressive rise and escalating tyranny and horror of the Nazis and the western powers reactions, or lack thereof, to it; and the evolution and sometimes drastic changes in Bonhoeffer's theology as he traveled, took on new challenges, mixed with different classes and ideologies, and collected experiences in his brief, intense life that he then worked hard to reconcile with his concepts of the relationship of God and man. The theology in this biography may not fit the individual reader's taste, personal opinions, or interests, but one can not grasp what the life of Bonhoeffer has to offer us today by just the facts without examining the motivating forces of his beliefs as well.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a shorter biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this is a good one.

Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran theologian who was born to a comfortable, upper middle class family in 1906. He excelled at academics and music - and was one of the early and most vocal people to push back against the Nazi party. His writings show how his writing, his faith, and his extraordinary care for others grew and was transformed by the cruelty and fear that swept Germany from the early 1930s to the end of the regime in 1945. Bonhoeffer was only 39 years old when he was hanged by the Nazis on April 9, 1945. I will always wonder how his life, work, and example may have changed the world if he had lived a longer life.

[Vladimiro Sousa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should say that the edition i read was not this one. i couldn't find mine in here. But this one seems to be similiar, at least in size. Didn't like it. Too short on Dietrich Bonhoeffer motivations to be a spoke in the wheel. Too little about that process of resistance that was real. Characters portrait in the book gave interesting insights about the process that transformes you into a monster. Remind me a lot of Ordinary Men, a book a read a month a go, which was much more profund in that regard.

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aktuell wie nie. Hat mich sehr nachdenklich gemacht.
Bonhoeffer selbst versucht die Autorin als Person greifbar zu machen. Dabei nutzt sie viele ihr zur Verfügung stehende Quellen. Ich habe den Eindruck, das ist ihr gelungen.
Obwohl ich wusste, wie es endet, haben mich die letzten Seiten sehr erschüttert.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't quite decide if it was five stars, definitely a good read for learning about Bonhoeffer and was interesting to see his life and development. it gave me more understanding of him and it seems like he was pretty solid by the end of his life. I am now listening to the Cost of Discipleship because I wanted to hear more from him directly about his views

[Lynn R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this on Audible to share with Ray for his birthday. We listened together while we drove to and from Spirit Mountain casino and then to Tillamook Creamery and back. We both enjoyed learning more about this amazing man.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Introduction to the life of Bonhoeffer.

[Mary Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to read

[Laura Weiant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Class

An easy, quick read that gives much more detail on Bonhoeffer's inner life than other sources I've read on him. Recommend!

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, succinct account of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Thought-provoking.

[Allison Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, short bio on Bonhoeffer's life. Occasionally worded oddly because it is translated from German. Good if you are looking for an overview but not extremely thorough.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine biograhy of Bonhoeffer.

[Graydon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer! It offered a deep and nuanced view of him, and I learned a lot!

[Glen Crawford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look I find the WW2 era really interesting. But this was such a slog of a book. The language used was so inaccessible. It was only 130 pages so i thought I could finish it in a few days but it took me much longer because I kept getting bored. The history is so important to know, but the way this was written was so boring.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book enlightens the reader regarding Bonhoeffer's evolution from skeptic to theologian to dissenter to outright resistance fighter. Bonhoeffer seems to have based his every action on the Sermon on the Mount and the actions to which that sermon would call any man. Bonhoeffer had every opportunity to escape imminent imprisonment, but, as a German with connections and means, he felt he was called to save lives by fighting to destroy the life of the man taking those lives. Most Germans hid beneath the cover of duty to one's superiors and to country. Bonhoeffer called people to a higher duty to humanity that demanded a stand against those other duties.
Quotes worth remembering:
Bonhoeffer: "God is the beyond in the midst of our lives. The God who is with us is the God who forsakes us." [On one level] . . . without people who live and act, God becomes invisible.
DB: [under duress from Allied bombings] "I keep focusing on how the Israelites never uttered the name of God, and I keep understanding it better."
DB: [In contemplation regarding potential imprisonment] "We are learning to pray Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done. By these we learn to forget ourselves and our personal condition and to hold them as of little account. How are we to remain steadfast as long as we remain so important to ourselves?"
DB: [a portion of a poem written shortly before his death] While all the powers of aid attend us/Boldly we'll face the future, come what may/At even and at morn God will befriend us/And oh most surely on each new born day.

[yexxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auch wenn der Eindruck entstehen sollte, hier handle es sich um eine Biographie Dietrich Bonhoeffers: Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Darstellung seiner Auseinandersetzung mit sich selbst angesichts seines Glaubens. Natürlich wird auch sein Lebensweg beschrieben, seine Jahre im Ausland, das Kennenlernen von Menschen die sein Dasein deutlich beeinflussen sollten, die seine Vorstellungen, Werte und Überzeugungen auch in Frage stellten. Doch das zentrale Thema ist immer wieder wie sich Bonhoeffer mit seinem Glauben auseinandersetzt. Wie er versucht mit seiner Kirche klar zu kommen und letztendlich doch seinen eigenen Weg geht, trotz aller Schwierigkeiten und Gefahren die dies mit sich bringt. Für ihn steht die Liebe zum Nächsten im Vordergrund, unabhängig von Rasse, Religion oder politischer Zugehörigkeit, ohne jeden Kompromiss. Dietrich Bonhoeffer muss ein sehr beeindruckender Mensch gewesen sein, voll dem Leben zugewandt und dennoch stark in seinem Glauben verhaftet.
Theologische Aspekte werden angerissen, so dass das Buch auch für Jugendliche (ab ca. 13 Jahren, nicht ab 10 wie ich in einer Rezension las) und 'Theologieverächter' :-) durchaus lesenswert ist. Mein Interesse ist geweckt, noch mehr über diesen Menschen und seine Überlegungen zu lesen.

[Todd Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational?

yes

Well written?

uncertain

since the German/English translation might have missed the mark but what struck me was a lack of "intensity" regarding how Bonhoeffer's opposition to the Nazi regime. It just felt like he was portrayed as a silent protester - hard for me to describe but I guess I expected more of a "larger than life" person given how much I have heard of Bonhoeffer.

For me the most insightful portion of the book was Bonhoeffer's transition from being a wealthy/middle class/elitist who referred to his fellow men of lower social status as "rabble" but eventually he evolves into a universal Christian/we are all God's children thinker which was encouraging to see a member of the clergy come to this eternal truth.

[Jasonlylescampbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good short bio on Bonhoeffer. One of the things that stood out that I remember is how politically charged Discipleship was and what it was implying about social issues and social concern. I thing this is important because this is the book that Evangelicals (more conservative stripes) embrace and want to toss away his later writings ... Like anyone Bonhoeffer grew and changed in his thought, but Discipleship was written after his time at Union and the influence of seeing the liberal social gospel ... for all the negative things he wrote about their level of study, he was struck by their involvement in human struggles, especially in race issues and for the poor.

[Bine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renate Wind bringt auf relativ wenigen Seiten die Entwicklung Bonhoeffers prägnant auf den Punkt. Der Schreibstil baut Spannung auf, lässt durch gut gewählte Zitate und Anekdoten die Ereignisse der Geschichte nahe kommen.
Bonhoeffers Theologie wird stark mit seiner persönlichen Entwicklung und Findungsphase verknüpft, seine Handlungen und Schriften meist dahingehend interpretiert.
Dieses Buch ist ein guter Einstieg und Überblick zu Bonhoeffers Leben, auch wenn einige Interpretationen sicher nicht zwingend sind, bzw. auch andere Schlüsse zulassen würden.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book four stars on account of its subject matter not its writing, although some allowances have to be made for the fact that it's a translation from the German.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers one of the most compelling Christian stories of the 20th century. Other biographies offer a more comprehensive examination of his life as well as a more detailed examination of his theology. This book, although brief, with a tendency to skip over large portions of his story, is a good introduction to the man and his accomplishments.

[Daud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, this biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been wonderfully told by his one of his very close associate, Eberhard Bethge. Although a controversial figure, Bonhoeffer was a remarkable man of great courage, a martyr laid out an example of what church should have done. Must read for the general public and very uselful for begining readers who want to understand the role of Protestant Church during the Holocast. Easy to comprehend and very gripping till the end.

[Doris Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fascinated by this World War II martyr. Recently I read a juvenile book about him. This book is adult. Ms. Wind kept the book interesting. But it was hard to grasp the different German religious sects emerging with the coming of the Nazis. One religion was the Nazi approved. The other sects were protesting the Nazis and also protesting the religion endorsing the Nazis.

[Anna Poppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little hard for me to understand since I wasn’t familiar with all the events and people mentioned and the older style of writing, but I was able to piece together enough to find aspects of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life fascinating and inspirational.

He held tightly to the true Word of God and let it guide his actions, despite societal pressure to twist and ignore it.

[Drew Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's go with a better translation than "spoke in the wheel" please! It sounds like the exact opposite of what he meant!

Otherwise, the book was pretty good for what it was: a very short overview of Bonhoeffer's life.