European Baptists and the Third Reich




Bernard Green (2008) European Baptists and the Third Reich. Baptist Historical Society, Didcot.

Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in Germany, the domination of the Third Reich over much of Europe, and the resultant World War all made considerable impact upon churches. Whilst German Baptists were slow to recognize the regime’s true nature, across Europe church life was disrupted by Nazi occupation, forced mass movement of peoples, and conscription into the armed forces. Some Baptists made heroic efforts to protect Jews. When the war ended much of Europe was in ruins but churches, doing their best with sparse resources, were reaching out to the many left homeless and to displaced persons and refugees. The book examines how Baptists were quick to help their fellows in other countries, not least those in Germany.