Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a Protestant theologian and a prominent opponent of National Socialism. He developed his own independent theological thinking early on. His reflections on the task of the church (“falling into the spokes of the wheel”) and his consistent actions made him the most prominent and perhaps most influential German theologian of the 20th century, both at home and abroad.

As a representative of the Confessing Church, Bonhoeffer opposed the alignment of the Protestant Church by the Nazi regime. His experiences in Harlem (NY) and the struggle of the black communities against racism in the USA were formative for him. His involvement in the church opposition, his commitment to the training of vicars at the illegal Preachers’ Seminary in Finkenwalde and finally his participation in political and military plots made him a figure in the resistance movement.

Bonhoeffer was arrested in April 1943 and murdered in April 1945 in Flossenbuerg concentration camp. His writings, including “Ethics”, “Resistance and Submission” (letters from prison) and numerous letters, diary entries and sermons, are important points of reference for many Christians today–especially in situations of injustice and oppression.

Biographical milestones

1906: Birth in Breslau (Poland), February 4th

1912: Family moves to Berlin

1923-1927: Studied theology in Tuebingen, Rome and Berlin

1927: Doctorate in Berlin: “Sanctorum communio. An investigation into the sociology of the church”

1928: Vicariate in Barcelona

1930-1931: Studies at the Union Theological Seminary in New York

1931-1933: Private lecturer at the University of Berlin and student pastor at the Berlin Technical University

1933-35: clear rejection of the Nazi regime, pastor of the German Protestant congregation in London-Sydenham

1935-1937: Head of the Confessing Church’s Preachers’ Seminary in Finkenwalde near Stettin (Poland) until its closure

1939: Briefly in the USA, but rejects appointment and returns to Germany

1940-1943: Joins the political and military resistance through his brother-in-law Hans von Dohnanyi in the Office of Foreign Affairs/Abwehr in the High Command of the Wehrmacht.

1943: Arrested by the Gestapo in his parents’ house–today’s Bonhoeffer House–on April 5th

1945: Execution in Flossenbuerg concentration camp on April 9th

Faith and resistance

From the very beginning, Bonhoeffer’s theological work was characterized by the conviction that Christian faith requires not only inner piety, but also ethical action in the world. At a time when many churches confronted the Nazi regime with conformity, he called for a church that stood up for the victims–and not just for its own existence.

His writings address the role of the church in society, silence in the face of state violence and the responsibility of the individual. His famous sentence “Only those who cry out for the Jews may also sing Gregorian chant” sums up this attitude. Bonhoeffer worked not only as a theologian, but also as a pastor, spiritual advisor and internationally networked thinker.

During his time in prison, his examination of questions of guilt, responsibility and discipleship intensified. Bonhoeffer’s later texts, especially his letters from prison, show a deep theological struggle for a faith beyond religion that must prove itself in life.

Bonhoeffer’s legacy

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s spiritual and ethical legacy continues to have an impact around the world today. His writings are part of theological education in many countries and his life is an integral part of church commemoration. Bonhoeffer is regarded as a symbolic figure for Christian-motivated resistance against the unjust regime.

Numerous schools, churches and institutions bear his name. His voice is heard in the ecumenical movement and in human rights movements worldwide. The reception of his work ranges from conservative ethics to liberation theological reflection. Bonhoeffer’s thinking remains challengingly topical, particularly in questions of political theology, ethics of conscience and the church’s responsibility towards the state and society.

His legacy calls for vigilance, courageous advocacy of justice and an attitude that does not separate faith from action. The Bonhoeffer House sees itself as a place to keep this legacy alive.