Otto Dibelius

Otto Dibelius (1880-1967) is considered a prominent figure of the Protestant church in the 20th century. The contributors to this volume examine the stages of his life within the context of Germany's tumultuous history in the 20th century. The young pastor played a role in shaping the separation of church and state following the November Revolution of 1918. During the Weimar Republic, the General Superintendent of Kurmark also emerged as a strong public commentator. In his programmatic work 'Century of the Church' (1926/27), he articulated the independence of the Protestant Church from the state, which was largely undermined between 1933 and 1945. After 1945, as Bishop of Berlin and Chairman of the EKD, he significantly influenced post-war Protestantism. The contributions from historians and theologians collectively form a compendium on Dibelius's life and work. They do not shy away from the darker aspects, such as his anti-Semitism, and often arrive at a reevaluation of his legacy.