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 so spectacularly 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.In this highly accessible work; José M. Sánchez offers a new approach to the controversy. He discusses the reasons given for Pius' behavior by the significant authors who have contributed to the dispute and evaluates their findings in the light of the published documents. He studies the controversial events that critics have cited to prove their contentions about the Pope; from his role in the negotiation of the German concordat of 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945. Sánchez provides a full examination of Pius' public and private comments on the war and the destruction of the European Jews.This analysis moves outside the traditional views to rephrase the issues. It is the first work to clearly and completely summarize the basic charges and defenses. It is also the first to bring to the dispute a full treatment of Pius' personality in the context of the institutional framework within which he operated. With a conclusion that summarizes the findings and offers the author's judgment on the issues; this study will enable readers to evaluate and understand one of the most heated controversies of modern times.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.REVIEWS"One of the hottest arguments among twentieth-century historians concerns Pope Pius XII's response to the Holocaust. Was Pius Hitler's Pope; as John Cornwell's 1999 best-seller styled him? Or was he; as his apologists insist; the foremost defender of all the peoples Nazism targeted for destruction? Sanchez measures both positions' claims against the available evidence. He is hampered by the same 75-year lock on papal documents that frustrates other researchers (Cornwell gained permission to see some of Pius' papers but; Sanchez argues; viewed them through the lens of disapproval) but not by preconceptions. He sketches Pius' life; the issues; and existing sources of information; then assesses what Pius could have known about the Holocaust; parses his statements about World War II; considers various motives advanced to explain his policies; discusses his personality; and imagines the effects had Pius strongly protested Nazi oppression; especially of the Jews. He concludes that Pius' dual responsibilities as vicar of Christ and leader of the church became impossible to reconcile. Indispensable for; as the subtitle says; understanding the controversy"―Booklist"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 thoughtfully examines the various arguments on both sides of a controversy that will likely never be resolved. In doing so; he presents a dispassionate; 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. . . . Sanchez's treatment is ideal for students of history and anyone interested in an objective analysis of a contro
#320821 in Books The University Press of Kentucky 1997-03-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.30 x 1.63 x 7.31l; 3.00 #File Name: 081312008X552 pagesGreat product!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Excellent overview of the Commonwealth's rich historyBy Adam HarpoolAs both an admirer of history and a person who traces his family ancestry back to Kentucky for well over 200 years; A New History of Kentucky provided hours upon hours of enjoyable reading. The book's easy-to-follow style means that it does not "read like a history text"; and the modular design permits either a complete cover to cover read (as I did); or a more focused study of particular areas in history.And without doubt; the book's focus on underlying; consistent themes throughout Kentucky's historical developments provides a higher level of utility and modern-day relevance than other texts on the state that I have studied; whether it be frontier-oriented nature of the people; the (unfortunate) lack of emphasis on education; power struggles between eastern and western regions; the interplay of Southern and Midwestern cultural elements; the effects of tobacco; the perennial dominance of Louisville; or many others. The sections covering modern political developments were particularly well-developed; and the last section - providing an integration of Kentucky's past with its needs for the future - was both highly uplifting and of critical urgency.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. my bro loves itBy CustomerMy bro lives in KY - he reads a lot and is up in years now. I wanted to give him something different from political stuff. he can hardly put it down as he sits in his easy chair -says it's entertaining and he has learned lots of things (some you'd never read about in other history books) about KY he knew nothing about0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy SamsungKellyFor class. Exactly as ordered. Huge book!
