Customer Reviews

Hitlers Cross

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hitler's Cross was very informative and a must read for any serious WWII historian. It answers many questions regarding the role of the church during a most crucial time in German history . It moves fast and reads very well . The author is able to effectively link up many political and religious facts in a most interesting way . It gave me a real appreciation for Democracy and the value of freedom in this country. It also is reflective as to the account of Hitler's strategy and method in taking over Germany , makes one wonder if it could happen again , if conditions were right . This book is a definite asset and companion to Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and How Then Shall We Live by Francis Schaffer.

Erwin Lutzer has taken the lid off Nazi Germany and the life of Hitler, to show an immense knowledge and understanding of what took place prior to the Nazi's rise, as well as how it continued to the very end. Not only that, he writes with compassion and passion about where the Church of Germany stood in relation to Hitler, and how eventually, with the exception of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller and a small handful of believers, the Church of Jesus Christ in Germany fell into the hands of the Fuhrer. Lutzer warns that the Church in the United States faces similar challenges and he shows some similarities between the two nations, and warns that we, too, in this country have to guard against unchecked nationalism and embracing one particular party over another because of the words of the particular leaders. Just because peace, prosperity, and the like is preached and promised, doesn't amount to squat, the Mr. Lutzer gives a stern admonition to those who might believe that our current political system is one which has been sanctioned by God. It was clear that the Nazi's believed that to be the case, and many sincere believers in Germany who believed they were doing God's work. Unfortunately, history showed them to be in error. Highly disturbing and sobering reading. And incredibly and magnificently recommended!!!!!

I've given 'Hitler's Cross' 5 stars even though I am not a Christian and don't hold with many of the author's theological opinions. Still, this is a book worth reading and, although I am a student of Holocaust studies, this book illuminates Naziism in a new light.

The book is well researched and readable. It demonstrates the intelligent and infinitely malign calculation of Hitler as he set about remolding Germany in his own image. The book discusses, at length, Hitler's largely successful corruption of religion, all with the singleminded purposes of producing the perfect Nazi man and woman--people devoid of Judeo-Christian morality, perfect weapons in the strengthening and perfection of the National Socialist State.

The book also draws parallels with the secularization of the Greater Reich and the progressive secularization of America and the West. I'm not religious but I agree with the author on this point. A secularized nation is a nation with weakened values. People, without a solid moral framework, are a people adrift, capable of personal or state-inspired evil.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God' on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

Einstein paid homage to the few believing Christians left in Germany by the time Hitler came to power. Hitler's Cross is the story of the Confessing Church, the remnant who stood against Hitler in the darkening days before WWII. It is also the story of a corrupted and humanistic institutional church that was all too ready to throw out the Cross of Christ for Hitler's "Twisted Cross" and earthly message of Aryan "salvation".

Lutzer does a wonderful job illustrating and detailing the reasons Christians living during the Holocaust failed to rebel against the Thrid Reich. Not only does he help you understand just how it happened, but he warns us just how fickle the human heart can be in that it could very well happen again (even in the seemingly invincible United States).

The content of the book is more "entertaining" than the style of writing, though, whether or not you enjoy the style it is definitely a worthy read.

The book was very well written, easy to follow, and historically accurate. I found especially interesting the parallels drawn between society in Germany in 1933-39 and society as it exists in the United States today.

Dr. Lutzer does an outstanding job of basing his comments regarding what happened in Germany on both on Scripture and historical fact.

While not intended to be an historical text book, I do feel the author could have gone into a little more detail giving specific examples of how the Nazi Party used the church to promote its own agenda.

All-in-all it was a very enjoyable book and is highly recommended.

My own studies and readings of Biblical prophecy over the years, together with my interest in the future rise of the Antichrist, gave rise to personal concerns/fears over the alarming similarities in the rise and power of Adolf Hitler and that pertaining to the future world ruler known in Biblical circles as the Antichrist.

The agendas of both persons being remarkably similar, with their rise being in large part due to the economic situation of their times, the apathy of the world at large, and the inactivity of the Christian church. Not to mention the shared hatred and intent towards the Jewish people.

I never dared discuss these thoughts with anyone until I read this book. Here to my amazement I discovered that Erwin Lutzer appears to be of a like mind.

With this in mind, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a must, must read. We all need to be aware of the facts so ably illustrated here. The book is so easy to read and very well written.

Before reading this book, my knowlege of the Third Reich was somewhat limited, and I had no idea as to the severe depths of Satanism and the occult generally that Hitler and his entourage had delved into.

I used to think that history could not repeat itself but now I am not so sure.

The immense increase of anti-Semitism and the manner in which the public is so easily deluded by the false re-writing/revisionism of history relating to the Jewish people and the Middle East; the ease in which complacent public opinion is manipulated, swayed and distorted by the modern media; the apparent ignorance of vast elements within the 'Church' as to what is going on around them....these factors are far too similar to what happened prior to and during the rise of Hitler.

The time is right and is just waiting for the right person and circumstances for one other to take his place. If you are unsure, then read this book and study the facts for yourself. Don't just take my word for it.

Thanks for listening.

Loved it. Insightful revelations into incremental Nazi schemes which ultimately destroyed Germany and brought disgrace on the Church. A small number of unknown citizens and pastors withstood Hitlers encroachment into religion, and were belatedly exposed for their genuine heroism and martyrdom. This book forces the reader to examine the inner self, and his cultural world, in hopes of recognizing and avoiding similar violations of moral compromise.

Erwin Lutzer was my Pastor at Moody Church when I lived in Chicago. He is a man of integrity and unflinching dedication to God's Word. This book is, in my opinion, perhaps the most important book he's written. Did you ever stop and think what REALLY happened in Germany when Hitler came to power and the majority of Germans - and even more puzzling and disturbing, why Christians - stood by and did NOTHING? Did you ever question if "a hitler" could happen again? READ THIS BOOK!!! It will stir you, shake you and really make you think (and if you're a Believer - pray, A LOT!!) I believe this book is even more important now than in 1995 when Pastor Lutzer first wrote it. Don't ignore this gem. It's not easy to read as it's extremely disturbing. But read it nonetheless!!!

The evil tyrant we see in our rearview mirror was not the Hitler that his conteporaries saw. Through the power of demonic worship, this man wowed the masses and used religion to achieve his wretched goals of establishing a single "master race."

Erwin Lutzer writes a sobering, must-read, chronicling precisely the way in which one man cunningly and under the power of unseen Satanic forces, took over a nation and nearly conquered the world. What's even more sickening is that the Church was more than an innocent bystander. People of faith willingingly partnered in the death and desctruction of the lives of innocent people.

Wrapping himself in the cloth of religion, Hitler convinced church leaders to adopt the Nazi platform, even removing sacred symbols and replacing them with the Nazi regalia.

This book gives further insight into two rarely underdeveloped topics important for believers: 1) the striking parallels between Hitler and the antichrist who will one day rule the world and 2) the well-founded reasons for skepticism on the part of the Jewish people toward evangelicals.

This book is gripping, sobering, educational book.