Mission at Nuremberg

An American Army Chaplain and the Trial of the Nazis

By: Tim Townsend

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster

Mission at Nuremberg is Tim Townsend's gripping story of the American Army chaplain sent to save the souls of the Nazis incarcerated at Nuremberg, a compelling and thought-provoking tale that raises questions of faith, guilt, morality, vengeance, forgiveness, salvation, and the essence of humanity.

Lutheran minister Henry Gerecke was 50 years old when he enlisted as an Army chaplain during World War II. As two of his three sons faced danger and death on the battlefield, Gerecke tended to the battered bodies and souls of wounded and dying GIs outside London. At the war's end, when other soldiers were coming home, Gerecke was recruited for the most difficult engagement of his life: ministering to the 21 Nazi leaders awaiting trial at Nuremburg.

Based on scrupulous research and first-hand accounts, including interviews with still-living participants, Mission at Nuremberg takes us inside the Nuremburg Palace of Justice, into the cells of the accused and the courtroom where they faced their crimes. As the drama leading to the court's final judgments unfolds, Tim Townsend brings to life the developing relationship between Gerecke and Hermann Goering, Albert Speer, Wilhelm Keitel, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and other imprisoned Nazis as they awaited trial.

©2014 Tim Townsend (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

An essential source of Nuremberg trial history

Before you purchase this book, you should know that it's more of a biography of Chaplain Gerecke than something dedicated entirely to his duties regarding the first Nuremberg trial. Don't let that discourage your decision to add this book to your Nuremberg reading list, as anything less would not do justice to the Chaplain Gerecke whose devotion to basic Christian decency was so well-regarded by Nuremberg's and the rest of the world's worst, including the nazi Julius Streicher (who is without question one of the most loathsome men who ever existed) and the murderers and rapists of Illinois' most notorious prison paid their respects to him (and in the most surprising and heartwarming manner, to which you will read of in this book.)

This book provides another point of view into the most pivotal trial in the history of the world and does so very well. While I was a bit put off that it took a while to get there, I came to appreciate why whenever it did reach such a point.

An essential book for those who truly want to know

I loved the premise behind this book. Townsend includes enough backstory and discussion of theology to contribute to the narrative, but returns to the story at hand at just the right time.

There are people with whom this book will not resonate well, and some may even be offended by it. However, for those who want to see how God's love and forgiveness was extended to some of the highest ranking members of the Nazi regime, this is a fascinating account.

As far as the narration, I played it at 1.20x speed, which seemed to be a lot more natural. Otherwise, the narration was perfect.

I also regret not purchasing a hardcopy, because there are so many great quotes throughout.

Exemplary

I was able to hold back tears, until the last chapter. I am still speechless.

“God loves you so much than you know”

This truth epitomized the life of Pastor Henry Gerecke. A Lutheran pastor of the early twentieth century who lived and shared the gospel with the most likely and the most unlikely of people. His congregants loved him and grew under his ministry. The inmates in the local prisons saw God’s love in him as did the poor and the homeless of the St Louis streets.
The soldiers he ministered to as a chaplain in the hospitals of England during WWII who came to love him and trust his Savior. But it was the prisoners at the Nuremberg trials that he was assigned to that proved that God can change the hearts of the wickedest humans. Gerecke loved and shared the gospel with the prisoners who would listen and stood with them until the end of their lives. If you love the gospel, or if you only interested in an unusual side of WWII history, this is a fascinating read!

Great Story, Bad Theology

The historical account of the Army Chaplain and Pastor, itsel, is great. The author's theological commentary betrayed that story. Still recommend, but be wary when the author tries to assert what "all Christians believe."