New evidence that Hitler plotted to kill Pius XII

[Robert_Bay]

GENERAL REMINDER

Please be charitable in your posting. Discuss the issues, not each other.

If you introduce a controversial fact, you must link to a news article from a main stream news source to back it up. Historical facts can be linked to historical books by reliable academics.

Please don’t pass along “he said,” “she said” rumors. Often what you hear 2nd and 3rd hand is not what the original person said.

Please stay on the topic of the thread, which is: New evidence that Hitler plotted to kill Pius XII

 

[Claude_Kenneson]

Around the time that “Hitler’s Pope” was published, I started keeping news articles from newspapers about Catholics and the Jews during World War II. Two I found recently from the Tallahasee Democrat in Dec. 1933 had to do with Pope Pius XI. One was entitled “Pope Assails Plan of Nazis. Says Sterilization Is Inconsistent;” the other “Storm of Protest Awaits Nazi Plan To Sterilize Germans Who Are Unfit.” Two more articles are from 1942 in the Tampa Tribune. One in Aug. is entitled “Persecution of Jews Like Herod Slaughter, Catholic Paper Says.” Another, in the same paper in Sept. is entitled “Priests Shelter Jewish Children in Free France.” I have NUMEROUS other titles that I have accumulated. Also, in 2008 I came across an article entitled “Jewish leader seeks to restore Pope Pius XII’s legacy.” Gary Krupp, the Jewish founder and president of Pave the Way Foundation is doing his part. Just do a Google search on Pave the Way Foundation and see what they have discovered. Also an interesting article can be found at

catholic.com/library/HOW_Pius_XII_PROTECTED_Jews.asp

While Pius XII may not have been very vocal on the persecution of Jews by Nazis, I would have to say that his actions “spoke louder than his words.” Through his efforts it has been estimated that as many as 700,000 to 860,000 Jews were saved from the Holocaust by housing them through the Church’s religious orders, communities, convents and seminaries throughout Europe. Some were even housed in the Vatican itself. Who else has such a record? Any country? Any group? Any other individual?

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

The newspaper of the Italian bishops conference has published new evidence that Hitler’s security forces had planned to either kidnap or kill Pope Pius XII.

It has long been conjectured that Hitler had ordered the SS commander in Italy, General Karl Wolf, to seize the Vatican and take the Pope, Zenit reports.

New evidence published today by Avvenire now points to the role of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (the Third Reich’s main security office) in devising a plot to take out the Pope.

The newspaper cited the testimony of Niki Freytag Loringhoven, 72, the son of Wessel Freytag von Loringhoven, who during World War II was a colonel in the High Command of the German Armed Forces.

cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=14531

But Hitler was best buds with the Pope. Everyone knows that.

 

[FeralFemale]

It never ceases to amaze me the misinformation out there regarding the Church and its supposed collaboration with Nazi Germany, despite all facts to the contrary.

It disturbs me greatly that such things are being taught in classrooms, but revisionist history is, indeed, alive and well. For example, my friend in college was taught in his African American studies class that Lincoln owned slaves. Totally not true, but this is what he was taught and nothing I could show him would change his mind. I even emailed a well known expert on all things Lincoln. I showed my friend the reply stating that Lincoln most certainly did not own slaves, and my friend still wouldn’t believe it, saying that the expert was only espousing ‘white history’.

Not only is revisionist history being taught, it is practically being indoctrinated to the point that students will not believe even well documented truth.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

It never ceases to amaze me the misinformation out there regarding the Church and its supposed collaboration with Nazi Germany, despite all facts to the contrary.

It disturbs me greatly that such things are being taught in classrooms, but revisionist history is, indeed, alive and well. For example, my friend in college was taught in his African American studies class that Lincoln owned slaves. Totally not true, but this is what he was taught and nothing I could show him would change his mind. I even emailed a well known expert on all things Lincoln. I showed my friend the reply stating that Lincoln most certainly did not own slaves, and my friend still wouldn’t believe it, saying that the expert was only espousing ‘white history’.

Not only is revisionist history being taught, it is practically being indoctrinated to the point that students will not believe even well documented truth.

Very sobering, and quite true, as my friends who either teach or study history have pointed out.

 

[antonivs]

I’m really surprised a man as evil as Hitler was never excommunicated.

 

[JSSebastianoP]

This is history in FACISM.

I know I’m a little late in here but: question. I’ve studied fascism myself and want to say that frankly, the nazis could have been said to follow some tenets of fascism but, well, what definition of ‘fascism’ are you using?
I get kind of touchy on the subject and just wanted to know what kind of fascism you are talking about because the definition I am familiar with is Mussolini’s ~Italian answer to an Italian question~ and is specifically anti-communist, anti-socialist, anti-democratic and anti-pacifist in nature. While the nazis did follow some of these policies, it did not follow all and the nazi party was essentially a party of superiority of race. The fascist Italy can be seen as welcoming other races (initial dislike of the anti-Semitic policies and popular song “Faccetta Nera”). So, I would not label Hitler’s regime as Fascist and as someone who agrees with some (not all, of course; I’m a Catholic above all else) tenets of Mussolini’s fascism, I take offense at describing Hitler as fascist. Also, we should use proper labels; Mussolini was not a nazi and Hitler was not a fascist. Sorry for the rant… but seriously, what definition are you using? Because I know as someone who studies language that terminology can oft be cumbersome…
As for Pius XII and Germany, I think that this ‘deal’ buisness is absurd and agree with what MDK said (and like his examples).

Pax.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I’m really surprised a man as evil as Hitler was never excommunicated.

You have to be in communion to be excommunicated.

And it’s true— the Nazis were socialist, not fascist.

 

[Victorious]

I dont see how this is new evidence. My husband is studying history and a few months ago was learning about this. Right now he is studying Facism. He told me that the pope before this pius pope agreed with Hitler about the Jews. So long as Hitler didnt kill any Catholics he would turn a blind eye. Then the new pope, pius came in and of course said ANY KILLING was wrong. So it ticked Hitler off and was planning on the assasination of the Pope.

DH knows more of the story, He told me about it and I was flabergasted that the previous pope would allow any killing. Sickening really. but hey popes are human and flawed.

DH needs to withdraw from that class. Pius XI published the anti-Nazi encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge. 'Nuff said.

It has long been known that Hitler plotted to kidnap Pius XII – and it was known, not least, to Pius XII himself. He actually released the cardinals from their oath of fealty to him, telling him that the Nazis would never capture Pius XII but only Eugenio Pacelli. In other words, in the event he was captured, they were to consider him as having abdicated, and gather wherever they could to choose a new Pope. It was unthinkable to Pius that the Barque of Peter should be without a captain during such times.

Pius ordered his bishops and priests to stick to their posts, and, despite the pleas of friends and the anger of enemies, he did the same. It is hard to overestimate the value of his presence in Rome, especially during the Nazi occupation. Who could doubt that the occupation would have been much more ruinous if the Pope had not stayed put? No wonder Hitler wanted rid of him.