A Special Mission: Hitler's Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius XII (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series) by Dan Kurzman
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Book Summary Author: Dan Kurzman Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Format: Large Print Published: 2007-09-19 ISBN: 0786298464 Number of pages: 473 Publisher: Thorndike Press |
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Book Reviews of the A Special Mission: Hitler's Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius XII (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series)
Customer Review: Pope Pius vs Adolph Hitler
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a most difficult time for the world in general, and for Pius XII in particular. Hitler's ambition threatened to conquer all of Europe and impose a rule of tyranny. The Pope, while he was Secretary of State and before his election to the papacy, was on record as opposing Hitler and his policies, and was hated by the Fuhrer. A Special Mission was ordered by Hitler to Seize the Pope and transport him to northern Italy, and at the same time to eliminate the high officials in the Vatican government. This mission was given to General Karl Wolff, the SS Commandant in Rome. Wolff perceived this action as a detriment to the Nazi cause, thinking that the tide of public opinion would be overwhelmingly against Germany, and even affect the morale and support of the German troops, a large percentage of whom were Catholic. He also came to believe that Germany would not win the war, and that his efforts to abort the kidnap mission could help Germany to obtain honorable terms for surrender, and even an accord with the Allies to oppose Soviet Russia. Accordingly, the General did everything he could to short-circuit the plan, including warning the Pope about the Special Mission, and asking him to refrain from speaking out against Hitler, to avoid capture and the destruction of the Vatican government.
Kurzman carefully records the many incidents that took place in this drama, many of them related to the exchanges between General Wolff and the Pope. There are many details that perhaps are not common knowledge, and from an historical perspective are quite interesting. While the intention of the author would seem to be vindication of Pius's role during World War II, the subtle questions he poses seem to me to be barbs inflicted for dereliction of duty - cheap shots. All in all, it is an interesting account of the battle between the Vatican and the Third Reich and is worthwhile reading.