“My Battle Against Hitler: Faith, Truth, and Defiance in the Shadow of the Third Reich,”
by Dietrich Von Hildebrand.
Image Books, New York, 2014, 335 pages, Grades 11 and higher.
Patriotism is the authentic love of one’s nation. This lies in the nation’s soul and is a spiritual space that gives all the members of the nation a sense of identity. It is wholly positive as a result.
Nationalism is radically different than patriotism, in that it measures a nation’s greatness in how much land and power it can attain. So whereas patriotism relies on charity, nationalism is based on selfishness. When a government abandons patriotism and practices nationalism, disastrous consequences result.
In this magnificent autobiography, the famous German philosopher, Dietrich von Hildebrand, tells what happened to Germany when it fell sway to the murderous nationalism of the Third Reich. It is an account filled with courage and determination as von Hildebrand fights the grave evils of the Nazis until the final days when he must flee Austria to avoid assassination.
As a young scholar living in Bavaria, von Hildebrand has a bright future. Having been born into an intellectually vibrant, financially well-heeled family, von Hildebrand converts to the Catholic faith. His deep love and dedication to Christ forms his study of philosophy.
So philosophy does not exist in a vacuum for von Hildebrand, but is a means to discover truth. Of course since Jesus Christ is the totality of truth, philosophy becomes a way for von Hildebrand to know and love the Lord. This becomes his highest good, which is well placed as Christ has told us: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
This beautiful understanding soon encounters the malignant evil of National Socialism. Shortly after Hitler takes over Germany in 1932/33, von Hildebrand must flee Germany or face possible assassination by the Nazi party. He flees to Austria and begins writing a journal entitled Der Christliche Standestaat (The Christian Corporate State).
The journal has the approval of Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. The reason for the support is that von Hildebrand is publishing numerous articles attacking the idolatrous ideology of the Third Reich, and Dollfuss is determined to keep Austria independent of Nazi Germany. With one-minded determination, von Hildebrand exposes the evils of Nazism.
Curiously enough, he is opposed by politicians and churchmen unable to see the evil that is about to descend on Austria. Throughout this autobiography, readers will encounter a veritable Who’s Who of intellectuals, politicians and church leaders fighting against the Nazis and a troubling list of other intellectuals, politicians and church leaders sometimes supporting the Third Reich.
The book moves to the brutal conclusion with the Nazi assassination of Chancellor Dollfuss, the 1938 Anschluss (the political union of Austria and Germany) and the forced resignation of the last Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg. With all political support suppressed, the Nazis move in on von Hildebrand. The book ends in von Hildebrand’s frantic night flight with his beloved wife, Margaret, from the forces of evil.
This is a powerful autobiography of a faithful Catholic scholar combining his intellectual genius and dedicated religious beliefs to oppose grave sin. Von Hildebrand is unsparing in his accounts of Catholic scholars and clergy supporting or turning a blind eye towards National Socialism. As well, he tells the heroic stories of those who gave their lives and honor to oppose the Nazis. Two prime examples being Chancellor Dollfuss, who was assassinated by the Nazis and Chancellor Schuschnigg who was incarcerated during World War II in Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps.
This book is an excellent text for advanced high school students desiring to understand political events of the late 1930s. As well, von Hildebrand’s memoirs recount that martyrdoms did not just happen in Roman times. This highly readable autobiography is highly recommended.
