The Catholic Book Club discussion

2. What do you think Max should have done after Hitler came to power? Why do you think he acts as described in the novel?

I think that Max had not been able to do very much. Perhaps he could do it as Louis de Wohl to exile of germany, because you disagree with Hitler, and colaborate with his enemies to stop him. He also could be with him and imitate the example of Cardinal von Galen, Sophie Scholl, or Oskar Schindler he could try to do something good in the shelter of the evil. He could do something similar to Ernst Jünger be critic with Versailles treatment, and spoke well of Germany, but he could oppositte to Adolf Hitler. Pearce wrote about a Nazi Strasser that he converted to the catholic religion, and he was killed in a purgue of the party. We have the case of Joachim Fest when the german people said that everybody had been nazi. He said with proud that he had not nazi. He could follow the example of Adenauer, because although it was not said the opposition to Hitler it was not the SPD. Hitler has more fear to Stressman, and Brüning that the SPD party. The zentrum was authentic enemy of Adolf Hitler. The own von Galen stopped the Euthanasia against minded ill.
More risky is the case of Stauffenber that he tried to kill Adolf Hitler, or White Rose of Sophie Scholl and Probst that they oppositte to the NASDAP, and they paid with their lives.
This examples can be followed by Max.

I forgot saying in my previous intervention. There was a very interesting case. The case of the semanarist franciscan Gereon Goldman, which wrote his story in the autobiography "The shadows of his wings" this man was forced to be a member of SS, but he continued his apostolate in secret. He was captured in Italy, and he was a french concentration camp, at finally he was missionary in Japan living at least 80-90 years at least.
I did not say in my intervention, but Hitler was less voted in the catholic regions in Germany, perhaps it was because the Zentrum was very strong in this zones. The most success with Hitler had with the women, students and some workers.

It is hard for me to criticize Max for his behavior in the face of Hitler's rise to power. We look back on this story with the knowledge of what is to come and in our heads we think he should get out right away, while the getting is good, but it is hard, when you have been trained in a field that is not transferrable to walk away from it. Especially if, as with a judge, you may be in a position to do good. Max stays next to the volcano until the last possible moment before leaving.

John wrote: "It is hard for me to criticize Max for his behavior in the face of Hitler's rise to power. We look back on this story with the knowledge of what is to come and in our heads we think he should get o..."
I agree i think that he did that he could do it, however i put examples of persons, who Max had been able to follow them.

Fonch wrote: "John wrote: "It is hard for me to criticize Max for his behavior in the face of Hitler's rise to power. We look back on this story with the knowledge of what is to come and in our heads we think he..."

Those were certainly routes open to people. One also thinks of Pope Benedict's youth, drafted into the German Army at the end of the war. Of course, with his Jewish identity, any attempt by Max would have ended with his death in one of the camps.

John wrote: "Fonch wrote: "John wrote: "It is hard for me to criticize Max for his behavior in the face of Hitler's rise to power. We look back on this story with the knowledge of what is to come and in our hea..."
I agree with you John, indeed in the catholic zones there was more resistance to the nazism. Benedict XVI felt fascinated for a Nazi teacher, but he could see the evil of nazism, and his ideology. He was forced to belong the Volkstrum the last cam of Hitler, whom there were children, teens and old people because Hitler could not find more man in age to combat. Ratzinger escaped of a suicide. Hitler commited a suicide, and with him he tried that germany follow to his suicide, indeed ermany disappeared for four years. Max did not have other option, because he was blood half, and he would concluded in a killing field. Zweig for example committed suicide in Petropolis, because he lost the hope of seeing the nazis defeated. Other comitted suicide Primo Levi, and Jean Amery, only a few escaped stronger of his experience, something as Shoa can destroy you, or doing stronger, and the religion assisted to you in this situation. One of the tragedies was that a lot of Jews give up believing in God after this terrible experience. The exit of Max looked to me sensible and intelligent, after can collaborate with United Kingdom, and United States to defeat the nazism.

This was a nail-biter, wondering if Max would get out in time, before everyone knew he was Jewish by race. Somehow he seemed to think this wouldn't come to light, but the warning signs are very strong for the reader. Especially when the judge rebuffs his objections--twice--with stern warnings, it should have been clear to him that he was powerless to do any good.

Jill wrote: "This was a nail-biter, wondering if Max would get out in time, before everyone knew he was Jewish by race. Somehow he seemed to think this wouldn't come to light, but the warning signs are very str..."

I put examples that Max could follow. Of course we can not ask for that he killed to Adolf Hitler, but he could follow the example of the characters that i mentioned in my message. He could do the same as Louis de Wohl. With all there is a sequel of this novel if it is read, perhaps we could guess that he did in the second world war.

The preface mentions that he eventually got involved in England's war effort against Hitler, being released from the "enemy alien" camp at least to dig ditches.

Jill wrote: "The preface mentions that he eventually got involved in England's war effort against Hitler, being released from the "enemy alien" camp at least to dig ditches."

He didsomething similar to the german writer Louis de Wohl, who collaborated with the United Kingdom Army.