Pius XII and the Holocaust: Understanding the Controversy - Hardcover

Sanchez, Jose M

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813210801 ISBN 13: 9780813210803

Publisher: Catholic University of America Press, 2002

Synopsis

Pope Pius XII's alleged silence in the face of the destruction of the European Jews during World War II has been the subject of a fierce controversy that has continued unabated ever since Rolf Hochhuth's The Deputy made the charge in 1963. Numerous critics have accused Pius of everything from deliberate anti-Semitism to collusion with the Nazi regime, while equally partisan defenders have argued that his silent diplomacy saved hundreds of thousands of Jews and other innocent victims from Nazi terror. So contentious has Pius' role become that the phrase the silence of Pius XII has taken on a life of its own, beyond the facts.

About this title

About the Author

José M. Sánchez is professor of history at Saint Louis University. He is the author of several works, including "The Spanish Civil War as a Religious Tragedy."

From Publishers Weekly

After the hype associated with John Cornwell's 1999 work Hitler's Pope, this careful, scholarly study of Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust is a refreshing contribution to a debate that continues more than a half century after the end of World War II. Sanchez, a professor of history at St. Louis University, thoughtfully examines the various arguments on both sides of a controversy that will likely never be resolved. In doing so, he presents a dispassionate, thoroughly documented tome that exhibits a high degree of fairness. Sanchez began his research in 1998 to provide a fresh, balanced look at a topic on which most authors have found it necessary to weigh in heavily on one side or the other. He assesses claims ranging from allegations that the late pope was an anti-Semite to the defense that the pontiff did not speak out more forcefully against the Nazi persecution of the Jews because he feared he would make things worse for the victims. Sanchez's conclusions offer nods to both the critics and defenders of Pius XII, but because his summary statement is more gray than black or white, readers looking for the sort of spice dished up by Hitler's Pope will doubtless be left disappointed. Sanchez's treatment is ideal for students of history and anyone truly interested in an objective analysis of a controversial figure.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Catholic University of America Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0813210801
• ISBN 13: 9780813210803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 197