Hello everyone! Today I’m reviewing the book Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich.
Introduction: Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow is a collection of sermons translated by editor Dean G. Stroud, which were given between 1933 and 1944 in Germany. As the subtitle indicates, all of the sermons are, in one way or another, examples of resistance to the Nazi worldview, and in some cases to specific actions taken by the Nazi state. After a preface and acknowledgements, the book opens with a long editor’s introduction. Normally, I skip introductions. You do not want to skip this one.
The introduction provides much-needed* context for the
sermons that are to follow, building a picture of life in Nazi Germany. Much
has been said in recent years about the failure of the church in Germany to
take a strong enough stand against Hitler, especially with regards to the
Holocaust. This book provides a look at those in church leadership who did
oppose Hitler, and how they did it through their preaching.