The Holocaust and Its Religious Impact

354 Pages·2007·2.26 MB·English

The Holocaust and Its
Religious Impact:
A Critical Assessment and
Annotated Bibliography
Jack R. Fischel
Susan M. Ortmann
PRAEGER
The Holocaust and Its
Religious Impact
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The Holocaust and Its
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A Critical Assessment and Annotated
Bibliography
Jack R. Fischel and Susan M. Ortmann
Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies, Number 54
G. E. Gorman, Advisory Editor
Westport, Connecticut
London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fischel, Jack.
The Holocaust and its religious impact : a critical assessment and annotated bibliography
/ Jack R. Fischel and Susan M. Ortmann.
p. cm.—(Bibliographies and indexes in religious studies, ISSN 0742–6836 ; no. 54)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–313–30950–7 (alk. paper)
1. Holocaust, Jewish (1939–1945)—Causes—Bibliography. 2. Christianity and
antisemitism—History—Bibliography. 3. Holocaust (Christian theology)—Bibliography. 4.
Holocaust (Jewish theology)—Bibliography. I. Ortmann, Susan M. II. Title. III. Series.
Z6374.H6F57 2004
[D804.3]
016.94053´181—dc22 2003068984
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2004 by Jack R. Fischel and Susan M. Ortmann
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2003068984
ISBN: 0–313–30950–7
ISSN: 0742–6836
First published in 2004
Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.praeger.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Preface vii
Introduction xi
1. Christian Anti-Judentum 1
2. From Anti-Judentum to Anti-Semitism 43
3. The Moral and Religious Response to the Nazi
Persecution and Genocide of the Jews 95
4. Post World War II Responses to the Holocaust 179
Glossary 303
Author Index 319
Subject Index 331

Preface
Scholars will continue to debate the link between Christianity’s “teaching of
contempt” for Jews, and the Holocaust. Following the end of World War II,
Pope John XXIII initiated a process that led the church to reexamine its liturgy
and responsibility in creating an atmosphere that allowed the Nazis to capitalize
on centuries of Christian anti-Jewish feeling in their war against the Jews. The
Second Vatican Council (1964) subsequently repudiated the notion of the Jewish
people as “rejected, cursed, or guilty of deicide.” This effort by the Catholic
Church to examine its responsibility for creating a climate that ultimately led to
the Holocaust was joined by Protestant theologians and scholars who were
similarly introspective about the nexus between Christianity and the destruction
of European Jewry. In the decades since the Second Vatican Council, scholars
have sought to determine the extent to which Nazi anti-Semitism represented the
transformation of the anti-Judentum of the church fathers into the pseudo
scientific stereotype of Jews based upon race. Also to be investigated is the
question of how difficult it was for the Nazis to convince large numbers of
Germans, and their supporters throughout the rest of Europe, that Jews were
even more dangerous as race defilers, given the centuries of church teaching that
Jews were Christ-killers and guilty of other sins against God.
These are some of the historical problems, which remain unsolved when it
comes to understanding the relationship of Christian anti-Judentum to the
Holocaust. Although it is apparent that Christian anti-Judentum created the pre-
viii Preface
conditions for the acceptance of racial anti-Semitism, it would be an
oversimplification to place blame for the destruction of European Jewry entirely
upon Christianity The appeal of the Nazi Party was based on many factors
including political and economic issues that made possible Hitler’s appointment
as chancellor of Germany in 1933. Furthermore, scholars continue to debate the
circumstances that led to the Holocaust. Was the Nazi genocide of the Jews the
result of a calculated plan that Hitler intended from the moment he took over
leadership of the Nazi Party, or was the Holocaust a functional response to the
nature of the warfare brought on by the German invasion of the Soviet Union in
1941?
What remains undisputed is that with few exceptions, the churches of Europe
did not distinguish themselves in regard to opposing the excesses of the Nazi
regime in general, and the persecution and genocide of the Jews in particular.
Critical studies continue to be written about the reluctance, or what some called
the “silence,” of Pope Pius XII when it came to condemning the Nazi massacres,
in light of his knowledge of the death camps. The flow of literature regarding
the role of the churches during the war and its response to Jewish suffering and
death shows no sign of abating. This annotated bibliography addresses the role
of Christianity in regard to the Holocaust. The reference work is divided into
four chapters plus an introduction, which provides the reader with an historical
overview of the subject. Chapter one describes the literature dealing with
Church anti-Semitism from the New Testament to the modern period. Chapter 2
starts with the Enlightenment and brings it up to the advent of the Nazi seizure
of power in 1933. Chapter 3 deals with the role of Christians and the churches
during the Nazi period, and Chapter 4 examines the way Jews and Christian
have assessed the responsibility of Christianity for bringing about the Holocaust,
and ways in which the “teaching of contempt” can be eliminated from church
teaching and dogma.
This annotated bibliography is intended for non-specialists with some
background in history. It should provide an accessible tool for research.
Furthermore, it is hoped that teachers and students in both high schools and
colleges might use the bibliography. In compiling the information for this
volume, the author has received help from Gary Gorman, the book’s advisory
editor, in regard to structure and content. I would especially like to thank my
student editorial assistant, Sue Ortmann, for whom no task was too difficult, and
no source inaccessible, and without whom this book would not have been
possible. I sincerely thank Maggie Eichler for the assistance that only a
competent secretary can provide. My wife, Julie, displayed extraordinary
patience and support for the project. My children, Joshua and Corrie, displayed
encouragement for their father’s efforts. Finally, I thank Millersville University
Preface ix
for encouraging me to undertake this assignment, and for granting me funds,
which allowed me to employ my student assistant.
Jack Fischel
I would like to thank Dr. Jack Fischel for giving me the opportunity to work
with him on this book. He is truly everything a student could wish for in a
teacher. My children, Jennie, Mindy, and Christopher have been very supportive
of my participation in this project, and I am grateful for their understanding and
affection. My parents, Joseph and Pauline Giandalia, taught me to love
education and books. Their continued encouragement is appreciated.
Most of all I am grateful to my husband, PJ, for the inexhaustible pool of
patience and love he gives to me. Hopefully he knows how important he is in
my life.
Finally, thank you to all the authors who have written about the subject explored
in this text. Your efforts have inspired new ideas, questions, and the motivation
to continue searching for answers.
Sue Ortmann