INTERNATIONAL: Crusade Backfires

Pious indeed has been the voice of Adolf Hitler calling Christian Europe to support his latest conquest, his “holy war” against Russian Communism (TIME, July 7). By this week, however, Christians had made it crystal clear that they wanted no part of his crusade.

In a worldwide broadcast after the war began a fortnight ago, Communism’s stanchest foe, Pope Pius, left Hitler’s crusade strictly alone, spoke no word that could possibly be stretched to favor the Nazi campaign.

Even more resounding was the crusade’s backfire in Germany last week, as Catholic bishops issued a joint pastoral letter, assailing the Nazis for their attacks on Christianity.

In Russia the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Primate Sergei, prayed in public, not for the crusaders, but for the officially atheistic Red Army.