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A Christian World Order:” Protestants, Democracy and Christian Aid to Germany, 1945-1961 City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 5-2018 “A Christian World Order:” Protestants, Democracy and Christian Aid to Germany, 1945-1961 Ky N. Woltering The Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2589 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] “A CHRISTIAN WORLD ORDER:” PROTESTANTS, DEMOCRACY AND CHRISTIAN AID TO GERMANY, 1945 TO 1961 By KY WOLTERING A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in History in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2018 Woltering | ii © 2018 KY WOLTERING All Rights Reserved Woltering | iii “A Christian World Order:” Protestants, Democracy and Christian Aid to Germany, 1945-1961 by Ky Woltering This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in History in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. March 28th, 2018 Benjamin Hett Chair of Examining Committee March 28th, 2018 Helena Rosenblatt Executive Officer Supervisory Committee: Julia Sneeringer David Nasaw Susannah Heschel Martin Klimke THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Woltering | iv ABSTRACT “A Christian World Order:” Protestants, Democracy and Christian Aid to Germany, 1945-1961 By Ky Woltering Advisor: Benjamin Hett This dissertation examines the relationship between the German and American Protestantism from 1945-1961. I argue that in response to the threat of Nazism and communism, mainline ecumenical American Protestants aimed to create a universalist “Christian World Order” based on liberal democracy and Christian ethics. Only this new order, they argued, could supersede nationalist and materialist agendas and restore world peace. By rhetorically depicting Nazi and Communist "totalitarianism" as anti-Christian, a construction I refer to as the Christian- Totalitarian Dichotomy, these Protestants drove German conservatives away from Nazism and toward Western liberal democracy through association with Christianity. They accomplished this through two primary methods. First, by politicizing Allied occupation policy as "vengeful" and positioning the majority of Germans as "victims" of Nazism, ecumenical Protestants successfully lobbied for political leniency that facilitated the German transition from enemy to ally. Second, American Protestants embarked on a widespread philanthropic aid campaign that brought millions of dollars of goods to Germany. Their aid campaigns continuously emphasized horrific material conditions in postwar Germany, with the necessity of humanitarian aid to stave off both a return of nihilism and an aggressive Soviet-communist advance. By reinforcing the need to spread and defend global democracy, ecumenical Protestants also helped forge a new postwar American nationalism that embraced international responsibility. Woltering | v Acknowledgements Writing this dissertation has been one of the most rewarding, challenging and worldview-shaking experiences of my life. The complexities of the issues I have attempted to unravel are enormous, and my conclusions ought to be treated with careful wisdom and above all more research. My personal stakes in unraveling the connection between National Socialism, the Protestant tradition and democracy could not be higher. I recognize now, even if I did not at the time I began, that my investigation of these issues stemmed from a personal wrestling with the historical significance of these themes and their relationship to transcendent values. That I have found my footing and completed this task at a moment when American Protestants’ relationship to democracy, truth and totalitarianism is at the center of American political life seems somehow portentous. Questions of national-community, inclusion and justice seem just as pressing in Germany. The various foundations and institutions that funded my research and cost of living made the completion of this dissertation possible. I am grateful to the CUNY Graduate Center for six years of fellowship funding and numerous research grants. The Transatlantic Seminar between Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the Graduate Center, as well as Central European History also provided generous travel funds. Barbara Leopold and Kathleen McCarthy at the Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society also offered fellowships at times of great need. My colleague Darius Harwardt and his wife Claudia extended to me friendship and lodgings on two separate occasions in Germany. There are many archivists and library staff who I ought to mention, but two in particularly stand out: Joel Thoreson at the Evangelical Lutheran Archives of America, and Herr Doktor Peter Baier at the Protestant Central Church Archives in Berlin. Woltering | vi Many scholars have molded me into a professional historian over the past decade, but a few stand out as particularly influential. My many colleagues at the Graduate Center created a welcoming, collaborative and inspiring work environment, especially Mila Burns, Diana Moore, Glen Olsen, Chelsea Shields and David Viola. I hope they learned as much from me as I from them. Belinda Davis has stuck with me the longest, guiding me as both an undergraduate and graduate student and I have no doubt I would not be here today without her counsel. The many lengthy conversations I held with Mary Roldán informed my understanding of the relationship between religious organizations and the American government. Constantin Goschler gave me incredibly useful advice in structuring my dissertation. Susannah Heschel and Matthew Hockenos both graciously offered resources and notes, the latter informing my grasp of Martin Niemöller’s trip in America, the former my take on transnational Christian-Jewish dialogue and Holocaust memory. Benjamin Pearson also graciously exchanged resources, time and drafts of his own work on the Kirchentage which proved enormously useful. I would also like to thank the members of this dissertation committee for their time and feedback. Julia Sneeringer’s insightful comments as second reader have refined my arguments and analysis. David Nasaw taught me both as an instructor and gave thoughtful feedback on my dissertation proposal. Of course, all mistakes, errors and failures are of my own making. The only word fitting to describe my relationship with Benjamin Carter Hett is the German “Doktorvater.” He has shamed me with his incredible work ethic and discipline. He has been enormously generous with his time and resources, so much so that I am certain I have squandered his many insights into History and my research. His insightful, patient, challenging, honorable and demanding spirit has guided me through graduate studies as no other. Whether discussing Protestant political-theology in his office or dissecting the German National Team Woltering | vii over a beer in Berlin, he has never accepted anything less than my absolute best in all things. He has molded me into a better writer, historian, citizen and person and for that I am immensely grateful and thankful. This dissertation was also only possible through the many sacrifices of family and friends. My supportive parents Kerry Busick and Reed Woltering have encouraged and facilitated my studies in too many ways to count. My grandparents Robert and Gloria Busick, whose passing engendered much introspection and inspired this project, have long served to guide my path in life. My in-laws Aaron and Ann Kinney, who hosted me through my undergraduate degree and whose many hours of childcare, household maintenance and love have made my studies possible. My children Aundrea, Arabella, Ivy and Jacob have endured many weeks separated from their father as I travelled, and countless hours peering through a sliding glass door but rarely disturbing my studies. They may never fully appreciate how important their patience has been to me, but I love them even more for it. Finally, my wife Ashley. No person has sacrificed more for this dissertation than she has. Her support through the twists and turns of dissertation research, her patience with my insecurities through coursework and the pressures of exams, the overtime shifts taken to support our family and her willingness to put her own ambitions and aims on hold for me speaks tremendously of her character. She is my foundation, inspiration and hope, and I owe everything to her. Woltering | viii ~To my loving, fiery, beautiful wife Ashley Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Woltering | ix Table of Contents Prologue: God’s Task for America ……………………………………………………………….1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………..10
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