And the Witnesses Were Silent: The Confessing Church and the Persecution of the Jews

Year 2000
Pages 304

Worth buying if: You read moral history and church-state studies.

Skip it if: You want a broad overview of World War II military or diplomatic history.

Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780803221659. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.

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Summary

Wolfgang Gerlach examines how members of the German Confessing Church confronted — and often failed — to oppose the persecution of Jews, combining archival research with moral analysis across key congregational and institutional moments.

Why this book now

Re-examining religious resistance and complicity remains urgent as debates over faith, authority, and moral courage continue worldwide.

30-second preview

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1-sentence hook

A meticulous study of the Confessing Church’s response to Nazi persecution and the moral limits of protest.

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Best for readers who...

Good fit if you want...

  • You read moral history and church-state studies.
  • You appreciate archival-driven case studies of conscience and failure.

Maybe skip if...

  • You want a broad overview of World War II military or diplomatic history.
  • You prefer narrative-driven biographies rather than institutional analysis.
  • You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.

Mood / Vibe Tags

sobering analytical documentary Medium length Published before 2020

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Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780803221659

Worth buying if: You read moral history and church-state studies.

Skip it if: You want a broad overview of World War II military or diplomatic history.

Buy This Edition on Amazon

Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.

Reader guide

Cues to help you decide faster.

Reading commitment

Balanced Moderate time

At about 300 pages of scholarly prose, expect careful, evidence-heavy chapters that reward sustained, attentive reading over several sittings.

What stands out here

This University of Nebraska Press edition presents a scholarly, source-based account focused on institutional behaviors and theological debates rather than sensationalized anecdotes.

Best way to approach it

Read slowly with notes: track key figures and church bodies, pause to reflect on cited documents, and consult the bibliography for follow-up sources.

Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780803221659

Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.