A Requiem for Hitler and Other New Perspectives on the German Church Struggle

by Klaus Scholder

Professor Scholder's book is a major contribution to our understanding of Christianity under the Nazi regime, in some ways going beyond his definitive history of the German churches under the Third Reich. The volume paints a vivid picture of the problems of living under any kind of totalitarian regime, with a wealth of detailed evidence and insightful judgments. A few illustrations from the After the news of Adolf Hitler's death, Cardinal Bertram of Breslau, the senior German prelate, drafted an order for a requiem mass to be said for Hitler throughout his churches; Under the Hitler regime any resistance in both Protestant and Catholic churches came largely from individuals, officially the churches were interested above all in maintaining their status quo; When Germany entered the Spanish Civil War, Hitler offered the churches support if they would join his battle against Bolshevism. Students, historians, and the general reader will be captivated by Scholder's perceptive and challenging interpretations of the churches in Western Europe prior to and during the Second World War which still have relevance for us today.

Genres: History, Religion

222 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinarily good collection of essays on the German church struggle. Provides key insights into why certain actors made the choices they did. Some of the essays paint a picture of the historical context of the Weimar church and the historical setting. For example, it reveals how the Spanish civil war, among other events, influenced the mindset of church leaders.

Also the insights extend beyond the church struggle to the general political calculus in the third reich. A couple essays give insights into the political modus operandi of Hitler.

Recommended for anyone with an understanding of the events in the third reich and the church struggle who wants some understanding of the motivations of institutional leaders of the day.

As far as the title, the Requiem for Hitler was ordered by the Archbishop upon hearing news of Hitlers death. That this would happen after the long struggle the church had with the Nazi regimes is baffling, but these essays shed light on these dark matters.

The clear and well-written essays are a pleasure to read.

[Mobill76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In his [Cardinal Bertram] own hand he gave all the parish priests of the archdiocese instructions 'to hold a solemn requiem in memory of the Fuhrer and all those members of the Wehrmacht who have fallen...' Despite all the insults to the church, the threats and the persecutions, he continued to see and respect Hitler as the Catholic state head of the Reich. He did not have to live to realize how wrong he was in this. He died on 6 July 1945.