Lutherans Against Hitler

by Lowell C. Green

For decades, Lutherans have been accused of a passivistic response to Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. In this careful analysis of original documents and the personal reflections of those involved in the church struggle under Hitler, Green seeks to set history straight. He identifies how Confessional Lutherans faced Nazi threats and survived to uphold the faith of Luther in the country of his birth. Green addresses both the successful statements against Hitler s regime, such as the Bethel Confession, and the divisive documents, such as the Barmen Declaration, that sundered any hope of a coordinated Lutheran, and indeed Christian, resistance to the Nazis. Readers also will discover the stories of courageous church leaders who prevented the Nazis from absorbing Lutheran Churches into the Reich Church.

396 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Isabel Hogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth the effort it takes to read it because it shows how people struggle to find a way forward from impossible situations, not knowing the outcome.
World War II Germany was tragedy on so many levels.
This book teaches us to be more cautious about passing judgement (and wary of those who do so for personal advancement) when looking back on historical events.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm marking this as finished, but honestly... I did not. I can't do it. It's so horribly dry and the language in it is so difficult for me - I simply cannot follow it. I read Bonhoeffer's book in the last year or so which covered much of the same time period, people and places. It was SO much more accessible. At least to me.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my great uncle's book so I'm biased. But. If you want to know how Hitler attempted to incorporate his agenda into the local churches and how the churches responded, this book will provide great detailed information. The book is long, it's very detailed, and it's very collegiate. It is not a light hearted read.