Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Decision to Resist

Abstract

Resistance does not happen unless persons actually resist. The story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45), the German Protestant theologian who was hanged in the concentration camp at Flossenbiirg in the last days of the National Socialist regime, may still provoke some reflections on human destiny and moral choices. Even today this man represents a very poignant case of the gradual involvement in resistance. Although Bonhoeffer's way was unique, his motives and inspiration remain exemplary. His highly personal decisions were grounded ethically and religiously and are still perceived as stimulating in analogical contexts today. 1 As a mediator between a dramatic past and our own time, Bonhoeffer enlightens our understanding of the moral complexities of his situation as well as provides a significant insight into our own moral challenges. In the first section of this essay, I wish to discuss resistance with respect to Hitler's dictatorship. Second, I shall examine Bonhoeffer's motivations for taking part in the resistance against National Socialism. And finally I will attempt to trace the stages of his increasingly radical engagement and to evaluate some consequences of his decision to resist.