In 1945 several men fled to Christ in the face of the enormity of their sin. Major Henry Gerecke, a Lutheran army chaplain had been appointed to the accused at Nuremberg. His work was recorded by F T Grossmith in his book The Cross and the Swastika.

When Gerecke prepared the Lord’s table, the guards walked out. He reported it in this way: ‘I shall never forget the sight of those three big men kneeling, asking that their sins be forgiven. So convincing was their bearing that the guards said to me, “Chaplain, you’ll not need us. This is holy business.” And they walked out.’ The Cross and the Swastika by F.T. Grossmith is well worth the read – you might need a box of tissues. Some sound recordings are available. There is also a BBC Radio four production, Nuremberg: The Trial of the Nazi War Criminals, which references the work of the chaplain but looks at the trial from a different perspective.

Sound recordings of Gerecke’s work are [temporarily] available here:

1. Chaplain Corps 5 min: Gerecke introduces himself and provides the background to his appointment
2. The Colonel 6 min: The work of finding the lost sheep commences
3. Ribbentrop 4 min: Religion turns to grace
4. Hess 5 min: Goering takes Gerecke’s part
5. Raeder 4 min: The Lutheran becomes a Methodist
6. Von Schirach 4 min: If any one leads one of these little one’s astray…
7. Dr Frick 6 min: There is much work for a chaplain who meets the families and the lost sheep
8. Goering 3 min: The face of religion without the power
9. Death March 3 min: 16 October 1945 I shall see you again
10. Civic Duty 3 min: Political reflections
11. The Executed 4 min: Application!