The Pope’s Jews: The Vatican’s Secret Plan to Save Jews from the Nazis by Gordon Thomas lands on the shelves of my shop, where it will be found in my History section.
London: The Robson Press, 2013, (First Edition) Hardback in dust wrapper.
Contains: Black & white photographs;
From the cover: Nearly seventy years ago, in the autumn of 1943, Romes tight-knit Jewish community underwent its most agonizing trial. In the early hours of 16 October 1943, during the German occupation of Rome, Nazi troops descended upon the 8,000-strong Jewish community. Their intent, following orders from Berlin, was to seize and deport them all.
What happened that day and what Pope Pius XIIs role was in its harrowing events has been debated for decades. Thanks to this extraordinary new book, we can now discover what really took place and the full extent of the Popes role in saving Jewish lives.
In The Popes Jews, Gordon Thomas explores the controversy in depth, revealing dramatic new details about the Catholic Churchs resistance to Hitler and its heroic efforts in saving thousands from Nazi persecution. According to received wisdom, on the day of the Jewish roundup the Pope conspicuously failed to challenge the anti-Semitic proscription taking place right in front of him on the steps of Rome. Historians have traditionally upbraided him for this most heinous acquiescence; however, the true story which emerges shows a man who displayed supreme courage and generosity of spirit in a near-impossible situation.
At last we can resolve one of the great moral questions of the Second World War: why did the Pope not condemn the genocide of Europes Jews?
Very Good+ in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.
Black boards with Silver titling to the Spine. [XX] 314 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½” x 6¼”.
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