Pius XII, the Holocaust, and the Cold War [Hardcover]

Using newly available material from the U.S. National Archives, Michael Phayer sheds new light on the actions of the Vatican and of the man whom some have mistakenly called Hitler's Pope. As a new world war loomed, the Vatican believed it had to make a choice between communism and Nazism. Reluctantly, both Pius XII and his predecessor chose the Nazis as the lesser of two evils. In the balance rested the genocide of European Jews. As difficult as his wartime behavior is to accept, perhaps nothing demonstrates Pius's fear of communism more than his misguided and unethical attempt to thwart its growth in South America by abetting the escape of Nazis and Ustaai war criminals. The story of these Vatican ratlines adds another facet to the complex picture of Pius XII and the Holocaust.

Phayer's text reads like a riveting suspense novelfilled with intrigue, conspiracy, and money laundering. . . . The so-called Pius Wars will not end with this book, but Phayer makes a welcome addition to the debate. . . . Recommended.Diligently researched and documented, judicious in its conclusions . . . compassionate and humane in its outlook.Unlike several passionate recent studies of Pius XII . . . Phayer makes every effort at scholarly restraint and caution. But, in the end, his careful effort produces powerful evidence that will likely add significantly to the controversy surrounding the pope . . . Certainly anyone interested in this fascinating, important, and disturbing topic must read this book.Volume 43, 2010This is an impressive study, which uses the new documentation in a judicious manner to develop credible reinterpretations of papal policy during the war and after. . . . The book makes a particularly valuable and original contribution . . . March 2009

Contents
Preface
Introduction

1. Eugenio Pacelli: 1900 to 1942
2. The Genocides of Polish Catholics and Polish Jews
3. Pius XII's 1942 Christmas Message: Genocide Decried
4. 1943: Pius XII Reversel³*