Community Peace and Justice - from a Faith Perspective
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Timeline
| Year (age) | Dietrich Bonhoeffer | Events | Selected Writings |
| Early Years (1906-1932) (0-26) | |||
| 1906 | Dietrich and twin sister, Sabine, born | ||
| 1918 | Oldest brother, Walter, killed in WW I | ||
| 1923 (17) | Began Theological studies at Tubingen University | ||
| 1924 | Continues studies at Berlin University | Germany in turmoil after WW I | |
| 1927 (21) | Completes doctoral thesis – University of Berlin | Communion of the Saints | |
| 1928 (22) | Serves as assistant pastor in Barcelona, Spain | ||
| 1929 (23) | Lectures at Berlin University | Beginning of world-wide depression | |
| 1930 (24) | Union Seminary – New York City – studies with Reinhold Niebuhr – becomes active in black church in Harlem and social justice issues in the city | Severe economic chaos – political instability – fear of the rise of Communism | |
| 1931 (25) | Returns to Germany – 2nd Doctoral thesis | Act and Being | |
| 1932 (26) | Appointed lecturer at Berlin University | Political turmoil in Germany | |
| Rise of Hitler (1933-1937) (27-31) | |||
| 1933 (27) | Bonhoeffer ordained.
Radio address
Bonhoeffer and Pastor Martin Niemöller organize Pastor’s Emergency League
Bonhoeffer leaves for England to serve German church |
– Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
– Jews are banned from public employment – Nazis take over protestant churches – Catholic church “Concordat” |
The Church and the Jewish Question (April 1933) |
| 1934 (28) | Bonhoeffer serving to German churches in England | Confessing Church created
Christ – not the Furher – is the head of the church |
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| 1935 (29) | Bonhoeffer returns to Germany – becomes director of the Confessing Church seminary in Finkenwalde | Nuremberg Laws cancel citizenship for Jews | |
| 1936 (30) | Bonhoeffers authorization to teach at Berlin University is withdrawn | Olympic Games in Germany
Martin Niemöller, Confessing Church leader – arrested |
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| 1937 (31) | Confessing Church seminary in Finkenwalde is closed by Gestapo – 27 students arrested | Cost of Discipleship | |
| Resistance (1938-1942) (32-36) | |||
| 1938 (32) | Bonhoeffer banned from working in Berlin
First contacts with members of resistance Dietrich’s twin sister and her Jewish Human escape to Switzerland |
Austria annexed
Kristallnacht attack on Jews All pastors required to take an oath of allegiance to Hitler |
Life Together |
| 1939 (33) | Bonhoeffer returns to US – decides that he needs to be back in Germany – returns after only one month | Troops invade Czechoslovakia
Invasion of Poland |
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| 1940 (34) | Bonhoeffer forbidden to speak in public – must report to police – begins work on Ethics
Friends and family arrange for Bonhoeffer to work for German military intelligence as way to avoid draft |
Invasion of France
Battle of Britain begins |
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| 1941 (35) | Bonhoeffer forbidden to print or publish
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German Jews to wear yellow star
First deportation of Jews |
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| 1942 (36) | Bonhoeffer continue to travel internationally in his role with German military intelligence (Abwehr). | Plans for “Final Solution” begun | After 10 Years – An Account at the Turn of the Year 1942-1943 |
| Prison (1943-1945) (37-39) | |||
| 1943 (37) | Bonhoeffer becomes engaged to Maria von Wedemeyer
Apr 5 – Bonhoeffer arrested. After months of intensive interrogation – given more privileges in prison: visitors, books, correspondence. |
Joseph Goebbels declares that Germany is now free of Jews. | Bonhoeffer’s letters and other writings of this period were saved by family and friends, including Eberhard Bethge |
| 1944 (38) | October: Bonhoeffer moved to Gestapo prison
December: writes last letter to Maria
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Sept: Gestapo discovers evidence of Abwehr plot to assassinate Hitler. | After the war Bethge collected these papers which became Letters and Papers from Prison |
| 1945 (39) | Feb. Bonhoeffer moved to Buchenwald
Apr 9 – Bonhoeffer executed at Flossenburg |
April 30 – Hitler commits suicide
May 7 – Germany surrenders |
Bonhoeffer’s Ethics was finished by Bethge after the war |