Dietrich Bonhoeffer

4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident. A key figure in the Confessing Church, he was involved in the German resistance and was executed by the Nazi regime shortly before the end of World War II.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Life events

Born in Breslau, Germany
4 February 1906

Born into a large, prominent academic family in Breslau (now Wrocław).

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Earned doctorate in theology
1927

Completed his doctoral dissertation Sanctorum Communio at the University of Berlin.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York
1930 – 1931

Spent a formative year studying in the United States.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Helped found the Confessing Church
1934

Became a leading voice in the Confessing Church opposing Nazi influence over Protestantism.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Published The Cost of Discipleship
1937

Released his influential theological work on Christian ethics and grace.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Joined the German resistance
1940

Became connected to the Abwehr resistance circle plotting against Hitler.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Arrested by the Gestapo
5 April 1943

Detained in April 1943 and imprisoned at Tegel military prison.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp
9 April 1945

Hanged by the Nazi regime just weeks before the end of the war in Europe.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓