Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
A Catholic philosopher’s spellbinding fight against Hitler

A Catholic philosopher’s spellbinding fight against Hitler

Last updated on: November 2, 2014 at 11:01 pm by CNA Daily News

A Catholic philosopher’s spellbinding fight against Hitler 2014-11-02T23:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

New York City, N.Y., Nov 2, 2014 / 04:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Dietrich von Hildebrand first earned the hatred of the Nazi party in 1921.

At a political convention in Paris, the Catholic philosopher declared Germany's 1914 invasion of neutral Belgium an “atrocious crime.”

The divisive statement marked the first step in von Hildebrand's years-long battle against Nazism; a battle that inspired one German diplomat in 1937 to dub von Hildebrand “the greatest obstacle to National Socialism in Austria,” where von Hildebrand had launched a political journal.

“There was something probably unintentionally profound and apt in that statement by this Nazi ambassador,” said John Henry Crosby, founder and director of the Hildebrand Project. “But, when he said that, he said something very true. The most profound opponent of Hitler were not his political enemies, they were his intellectual and spiritual foes.”

“von Hildebrand, by devoting his full genius and intellectual power to dismantling National Socialism was, in some sense, a much more total enemy of National Socialism. It’s a tribute to the power of ideas.”

Crosby is translator of von Hildebrand's recently published memoirs, titled “My Battle Against Hitler” (Image). The 352-page book is largely composed of von Hildebrand’s personal recollections during his fight with Nazism.

“My Battle Against Hitler” offers a firsthand look into von Hildebrand's mind as he decides to flee his home in Germany in 1933. Readers also experience von Hildebrand’s pain as he sees Nazi persecution of his past colleagues and friends who questioned his decision to leave Germany.

“Very, very few people in Germany in 1920-1921 already realized that Nazism was a poison,” von Hildebrand's wife, Alice, explained. “People closed their eyes and did not want to see. (Dietrich) saw the danger and he warned people. Many people would call him a pessimist, but unfortunately he was right.”

Crosby said many Catholics in Germany attempted to make peace with Nazism, in the years before World War II. He explained that the Nazi party was likely very attractive in its beginning stages because it promised order and control after years of political violence in Germany.

“It wasn’t maybe quite so completely surprising that (Nazism) would have gained a foothold in German life,” Crosby said. “But, on the other hand, it was clear that a lot of bad things were happening right from the beginning of the Hitler regime. He was a rabid race-hater and he was a terrible anti-Semite. So, there was every reason to be dubious about whether a Catholic could make peace.”

And dubious von Hildebrand was.

In his memoirs, von Hildebrand writes, “In the face of such dreadful movements and heresies as Bolshevism and Nazism, in which the Antichrist raises his head, every attempt to “understand,” every attempt at a certain neutral objectivity, is entirely impermissible.”

Von Hildebrand's memoirs are filled with warnings of danger of becoming morally blunted. He constantly urges his colleagues and friends who stayed in Germany to remain morally alert and to avoid compromise.

Crosby said von Hildebrand's sacrifices and uncompromising battle against Nazism serve as a powerful moral witness for modern-day Catholics.

“I like to say that this book is like a field manual for moral witness,” Crosby explained. “I think the application here is really the question of when do we unwittingly make peace with evil? And particularly in our culture where there’s a lot of evil that’s masked under social acceptability.”

“At the end of the day, it boils down to this idea of complicity,” Crosby said. “At what point does complicity with the culture become so great that I’ve tarnished my person? That I’ve lost my ability to live fully my Christian commitment.”

Alice echoed Crosby's statements.

“I believe intellectually, religiously and spiritually, we are facing a time of crisis,” Alice said. “There are a lot of dangers that are being spread in the younger generation, and you know what happened in Germany might happen in the United States.”

“We have to realize that the hour is very great…and we need a voice who sees clearly what the teaching of the Church has been from the very beginning.”

“My Battle Against Hitler” is now available for purchase online and in bookstores.

Previous Post

November 2, 2014

'Pray for the forgotten,' Pope exhorts on Feast of All Souls

Next Post

November 3, 2014 Pope Francis: Our faith is based on Christ, not 'persuasive words'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A woman with an issue of blood A leper A centurion A blind man