Third Reich and the Christian Churches by Peter Matheson

by Peter Matheson

What was the impact of the Third Reich and the tyranny of Adolf Hitler on the Christian Church? This compilation of 68 documents from 1933-43 provides sober yet moving answers.

Paperback

First published November 1, 1981

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of primary source material in English translation concerning the relationship of the state churches and evangelical free churches to the Nazi government in the 1930s and 40s. Includes commentary before each segment. It's important reading in the sense that it illustrates that even political events that, in retrospect, seem so obvious in their moral positioning ... are nowhere near as simple or uncomplicated at the time. Not everything is known or understood. This doesn't justify the ways some of the churches in Germany accommodated to Nazi ideology, but it should be a lesson for contemporary churches - esp. in the U.S. - who submit themselves, whether knowingly or not, to the popular cultural fashions and political ideologies of the moment.

[Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent source for most of the important primary document related to the Churches struggles with National Socialism. Selects documents or excerpt that are most relevant for the associated history. Focused on the political aspects with only a few dealing with theological issues. Most of the documents are fairly short, if not they are excerpted. The longest sources take about 5 pages with the average being 1 or 2 pages. Includes documents from both sides.

[Trevor Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains 68 documents, covering the period from 1920 to 1944. It begins with Article 24 of the NSDAP Programme of 1920, which advocated a 'positive Christianity' shorn of the 'Jewish-materialistic spirit'. It also includes Hermann Sasse's strong criticism of this article in the Church Yearbook of 1932. There are speeches and statements of Hitler, articles and letters by Karl Barth and Martin Niemoller and important statements like that of the Barmen Synod in 1934, and the Papal encyclical of 1937. It mostly consists of short excerpts, useful for those who cannot access the massive German documentation. Some of the documents make for chilling reading.