PREFACE

Much has been published as to whether the Pope remained silent during the persecution of the Jews in Europe, primarily as a reaction to Rolf
Hochhuth's play "The Representative" (Der Stellvertreter in German or in Dutch "Plaatsbekleder"). Not so much, however, has been published
about the attitude of the non-Roman Catholic Churches. When there is a vacuum in our knowledge, it is an excellent breeding place for myths.
We should fill a gap therefore as well as possible.

There exist certain myths, which die hard. Many people still believe that it was Richard III who murdered the princes in the Tower, though this
has been shown to be false. The Dutch people for instance did not behave as courageously during the Second World War as is generally
believed, but the myth seems to be firmly established; just as is the story that the King of Denmark walked through the streets of Copenhagen
wearing the yellow badge in protest against the German measures concerning the Jews.

One should not lightly dismiss the existence of such historical untruths on the assumption that there is always a grain of truth in every myth.
Sometimes a myth is completely false, as in the case of murdered princes. Moreover, this type of myth is sometimes very harmful. We need
only remind ourselves of the infamous ritual-murder myth, suggesting that the Jews used the blood of a Christian child for ritual purposes. <1>

It is undeniable that throughout the ages many Christians took an active part in the persecution of Jews. [43] This fact has been officially and
repeatedly admitted by Christian bodies. Some of the statements in this documentation unequivocally plead guilty in this respect. Small
wonder, then, that many Christians, as well as Jews, honestly believe that "there was a complete and terrible silence on the part of the
Church" [44]. In the process of creation of anti-Jewish myths, there is a tendency to generalize: "The Jews have …" We like to think in general
terms because stereotypes are so easy, whilst it costs us much more mental effort to discriminate. Let us not commit the same offence
against logic as the anti-Semites have and let us remember that it is just as fallacious to talk about "the Churches" as about "the Jews".

It is important for many reasons not to overrate the positive things the Churches did and said. It is also important, again for many reasons, not
to belittle them. We certainly must denounce acts of anti-Semitism, even when outstanding leaders of the Church were the perpetrators, but this
remains a negative. We must also mention the positive, which is more encouraging. I believe this is one of the underlying intentions of "Yad
Vashem's" competent Department in trying to seek out and honour the "righteous of all Nations": non-Jews who helped Jews at the risk of their
own lives. [45] It seems far too early to come to a definite evaluation of many aspects of the holocaust. Far be it from me, to claim that I can say
the last word about that one aspect under discussion here: the attitude <2> of the non-Roman Catholic Churches. I can and must try to be
objective, but I cannot be detached, as probably none of our generation can: we were all involved, in one way or another. [46] But I am convinced
that our generation can and must do the groundwork. It must collect the material that may otherwise be completely lost or forgotten, and
investigate it before even more people, who were personally involved, have passed away.

Collecting these documents was like trying to make a jigsaw puzzle from which many pieces are missing, the difference being that in this case
one often does not even know that something is missing. However, the lack of other pieces is known. [47] As regards my own country (the
Netherlands), I am fairly sure that the collection of documents is well-nigh complete. Some statements issued by Churches were published in
Bulgarian or Slovak, etc., but not in English. Even such documents as were available in English were not generally known. Most of the material in
this book had to be translated from Hebrew, French, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Slovak, Hungarian, Bulgarian or Greek. Initially,
I sent a circular letter to the heads of Churches in Eastern Europe asking for information and I received some replies, though not many. Some
replies stated that no documents were available because everything had been destroyed during the war. This seems quite possible, and
perhaps we must give the Churches in question the benefit of the doubt. Moreover, it was not advisable, for security reasons, to keep certain
documents. Thus, for instance, all documents of the World Council of Churches and its preceding organizations, which might incriminate
Christian leaders in Germany, were destroyed when, in 1940, it was feared that Germany would invade Switzerland. [48] <3> Yet, some Churches,
which probably could have sent material, and which in some cases as, for example, the Churches in Bulgaria and Greece, had a good record of
resistance against anti-Semitism, failed to do so. It would appear that Church archives are sometimes the safest place in the world for
documents not to be found. The Library and Archives of "Yad Vashem", in Jerusalem, had much material. I was also able to spend some days in
the Wiener Library, in London, and in the Library of the World Council of Churches, at Geneva. I could never have succeeded in finding the
material and having it translated without the help of many interested friends, Jews as well as Christians, to whom I am deeply indebted. It would
be difficult to mention all their names, but I should like at least to express here my indebtedness to the late Director of "Yad Vashem", Dr. Arjeh
Leon Kubovy, of blessed memory; and to Dr. Shaul Esh, of blessed memory, who made valuable suggestions for the chapters on Germany. I am
also especially indebted to Dr. J. Robinson, of New York, and Prof. Dr. C. Augustijn, of Amsterdam, who read the manuscript and suggested
many improvements. Of course the responsibility for any eventual mistakes solely rests on me. I am deeply grateful for all the kind help
rendered to me by the Chief Librarian of "Yad Vashem", Miss Ora Alcalay, and her assistants.

Most of the chapters in Part III (During the War) have some particulars about anti-Semitic measures taken by the Germans: I wanted to give
some historical background for the statements issued by Churches. For the background of statements issued in the different countries before
the Second World War, the historical survey and the chapter on Germany in part II should be consulted. One can never have too much
knowledge of the situation and background in the countries concerned, if one is to see facts clearly in their historical context and interpret them
correctly. Thus, more publications are mentioned in the notes for further study. Some figures concerning the membership of Churches are given
in Appendix II, though they are of limited value. Many territorial changes took place in Central and Eastern Europe. Some Churches count as
members all who were baptized, whether they ever attended services or not; others count <4> "communicants"; the Baptists do not count the
children. But one will at least acquire a conception of the numerical strength of a certain Church.

An investigation into the question whether the non-Roman Catholic Churches kept silent, must necessarily have certain limitations. Firstly, no
statement issued by a Church under the authority of the Pope are recorded in this book, with the exception, of course, of joint statements
issued by Protestants and Roman Catholics, as was the case in the Netherlands. Thus I have recorded nothing from the Polish Greek Catholic
Metropolitan Sheptitsky, or from the Maronite Patriarch of Syria, Mgr. Arida. [49] Secondly, this investigation is not concerned with the acts of
individual Christians, unless they were leaders of the Church and clearly spoke in the name of their Church. [50] Thirdly, I have not recorded the
contents of protests issued solely against the treatment of Christians of Jewish origin. It was certainly the duty of the Churches to do all in their
power to protect those Christians, but this is not my subject. I am interested in what manner the Churches acted or failed to act on behalf of the
Jews in general.

This book is first of all an attempt to draw up an inventory, rather than to draw up the balance-sheet. However, the fact that I have often had the
privilege of lecturing on the subject to Jewish, Christian or mixed audiences, always followed by brisk discussion, encourages me to feel that I
have correctly understood some of the problems and questions which arise.

The Introduction arrived only just in time to be printed. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Uriel Tal for his penetrating comment and questions. It
stands to reason that our views need not agree in every detail, but <5> Christians should know that such questions as are raised in the
Introduction are asked by many Jews. It is of the utmost importance for Jewish-Christian relations to discuss them as frankly as Dr. Tal did