Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 – April 9, 1945) was a German religious leader and participant in the resistance movement against Nazism. Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and theologian, took part in the plots being planned by members of the Abwehr (Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Hitler. He was arrested, imprisoned, and eventually hanged following the failure of the July 20 1944, assassination attempt.

Youth

Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau, Germany (now Wroc?aw, Poland) into a middle to upper class professional family. His father was a psychiatrist in Berlin; his mother homeschooled the children. At a very young age, he decided to become a minister. His parents supported his decision and when he was old enough he attended college in Tübingen, received his doctorate in theology from the University of Berlin, and was ordained. He then spent a post-graduate year abroad studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. During this time, he would often visit the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem, where he became acquainted with the African-American Spiritual. He amassed a substantial collection of recordings of these spirituals, which he took back to Germany.

Related Topics:
Breslau - Germany - Poland - Homeschooled - Minister - Tübingen - University of Berlin - Union Theological Seminary - New York City - African Methodist Episcopal Church - Harlem - African-American - Spiritual

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